[2000GTFOOL]

As you all know my 2000 Mustang GT started making a ticking noise, only when it was cold, and only on decel.. Then it slowly got worse and would tick all the time, the noise got more violent and the car was parked. I will include videos later in the thread to show the progression.The dealer was no help and didn't know what was wrong.. The internet told me itwas bearings and the engine was shot.. After further research I found out that these cars are PRONE to timing chain tensioner failure.. I pulled the valve cover back a little and saw that the chain was really loose.. My car had 78k miles at the first sign of ticking... By no means a high mileage car.

First off this is how I repaired the car. These are my costs.. I cannot be held responsible if you damage your car, do all this at your own risk.... Sue someone else, I don't even have the money to take it to the dealer to fix it.... Or I would have..

Step 1- Remove your air cleaner assembly, coolant res.., power steering pump res., remove the PS pump (4 bolts) one is a huge bi-tch so use a open ended #10 wrench then set it to the side

Step 2- Remove the e-fan, and radiator hose that is in the way

Step 3- Remove the S-belt, the idler pulleyand the waterpump pulley.

Step 4- Remove the harmonic Balancer (use the 3 screw puller and make sure the nut and washer are both out of the center....)

Step 5- Next I removed all 19 bolts that hold the front cover on.... Yes there are 19.

Step 6- LOOSEN all the oil pan bolts about 1/16th of an inch in order to gain clearance.. This is hard to do and you need an array of extensions to get the two that are over the steering rack.

Step 7- Loosen the first few bolts holding the valve covers on.. Just to gain clearance.

Step 8- Pull that sucker off gently..

At this point you will see exactly what failed and you will wonder how the hell this happened.....

Step 8- unbolt the tensioners and slide the guides off the mounting pins

Step 9- unbolt the upper guides and drink a coke... grab some lunch.. You are about 3 hours in at this point.

That is about all there is to it.. Do the reverse to re-install.. I am having to flush the oilpan, and am using a magnet to get all the metal shavings and what not from then oilpan, front cover and also the plastic chunks that are all over the place....... Hope this helps..

ON A DIFFICULTY SCALE FROM 1-10 (10 is a full rebuild) I would place this at a 6... You must have a general knowlage of your car and have a manual to do it.. Not for the novice but if you can replace a starter or fuel pump this should be obtainable for you.

Guides and Tensioners from autozone- $115
Gaskets- $60
Oil/filter- $30
TOTAL SERVICE COST- $205..
TOTAL TIME INVESTED- 6 HOURS

[IMG]local://upfiles/57395/86A483C56E254CC69288F480C0829405.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/57395/31370B54125B4315BC21993EDCCB05FE.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/57395/9DEDFEB23EF64A0A90A2A7B5E60E4F46.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/57395/06B3CCCDD7C6444FA295264D6945C9E6.jpg[/IMG]