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Symptom Chart: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Mountaineer and 2004 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Symptom Chart

Condition Possible Sources Action
  • Difficult starting
  • Damaged ignition system.
  • Damaged fuel system.
  • Damaged starting system.
  • Damaged charging system/battery.
  • Burnt valve.
  • INSTALL a new valve.
  • Worn piston.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new piston and connecting rod assembly. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new piston.
  • Worn piston rings.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL new piston rings.
  • Worn cylinder.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, REPAIR or INSTALL a new cylinder block.
  • Damaged head gasket.
  • INSTALL a new head gasket.
  • Damaged cooling system.
  • Poor idling
  • Vacuum leaks.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged ignition system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged fuel system.
  • Damaged valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • Damaged valve tappet guide or lash adjuster.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • Incorrect valve-to-valve seat contact.
  • REPAIR or INSTALL a new valve or valve seat.
  • Damaged head gasket.
  • INSTALL a new head gasket.
  • Worn or damaged engine support brackets.
  • INSTALL a new engine support brackets.
  • Worn or damaged engine support insulators.
  • INSTALL a new engine support insulator.
  • Worn or damaged transmission insulator and retainer.
  • INSTALL a new transmission insulator and retainer.
  • Abnormal combustion
  • Malfunctioning or damaged fuel system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged ignition system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged air intake system.
  • Damaged valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • Damaged valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • Burnt or sticking valve.
  • REPAIR or INSTALL a new valve.
  • Weak or broken valve spring.
  • INSTALL a new valve spring.
  • Carbon accumulation in combustion chamber.
  • ELIMINATE carbon buildup.
  • Excessive oil consumption
  • Leaking oil.
  • REPAIR oil leakage.
  • Malfunctioning PCV system.
  • REPAIR or INSTALL new necessary components.
  • Worn valve stem seal.
  • INSTALL a new valve stem seal.
  • Worn valve stem or valve guide.
  • INSTALL a new valve and valve guide.
  • Sticking piston rings.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new piston and connecting rod assembly. For 4.6L engine, REPAIR or INSTALL new piston rings.
  • Worn piston ring groove.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new piston and connecting rod assembly. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL a new piston and piston pin.
  • Worn piston or cylinder.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, REPAIR or INSTALL a new piston or cylinder block.
  • Engine noise
  • Leaking exhaust system.
  • REPAIR exhaust leakage.
  • Incorrect drive belt tension.
  • Malfunctioning generator bearing.
  • Malfunctioning water pump bearing.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged cooling system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged fuel system.
  • Loose timing chain/belt.
  • ADJUST or INSTALL a new timing chain/belt.
  • Damaged timing chain tensioner.
  • INSTALL a new timing chain tensioner.
  • Excessive main bearing clearance.
    CAUTION: Remove the cylinder heads before removing the crankshaft. Failure to do so can result in engine damage.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, ADJUST clearance or INSTALL a new crankshaft main bearing.
  • Seized or heat-damaged crankshaft main bearing.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new crankshaft main bearing.
  • Excessive crankshaft end play.
  • INSTALL a new thrust bearing or crankshaft.
  • Excessive connecting rod bearing clearance.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new connecting rod bearing or connecting rod.
  • Heat damaged connecting rod bearing.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL a new connecting rod bearing.
  • Damaged connecting rod bushing.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL a new connecting rod bushing.
  • Worn cylinder.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, REPAIR or INSTALL a new cylinder block.
  • Worn piston or piston pin.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL a new piston or piston pin.
  • Damaged piston rings.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL new piston rings.
  • Bent connecting rod.
  • For 4.0L engine, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engine, INSTALL a new connecting rod.
  • Malfunctioning valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • Excessive valve tappet or lash adjuster clearance.
  • ADJUST clearance or INSTALL a new valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • Broken valve spring.
  • INSTALL a new valve spring.
  • Excessive valve guide clearance.
  • ADJUST clearance or INSTALL a new valve guide or valve.
  • Insufficient power
  • Malfunctioning or damaged ignition system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged fuel system.
  • Malfunctioning or damaged air intake system.
  • Damaged or plugged exhaust system.
  • INSPECT exhaust system.
  • Incorrect tire size.
  • Dragging brakes.
  • Slipping transmission.
  • Malfunctioning valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • INSTALL a new valve tappet or lash adjuster.
  • Damaged valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new cylinder head. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new valve tappet guide or valve tappet.
  • Compression leakage at valve seat.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new cylinder head. For 4.6L engines, REPAIR or INSTALL a new valve, valve seat or cylinder head.
  • Seized valve stem.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new cylinder head. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new valve.
  • Weak or broken valve spring.
  • INSTALL a new valve spring.
  • Worn or damaged camshaft.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new cylinder head. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new camshaft.
  • Damaged head gasket.
  • INSTALL a new head gasket.
  • Cracked or distorted cylinder head.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new cylinder head.
  • Damaged, worn or sticking piston ring (s).
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, REPAIR or INSTALL a new piston ring(s).
  • Worn or damaged piston.
  • For 4.0L engines, INSTALL a new short block. For 4.6L engines, INSTALL a new piston and piston pin.
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