Hello, everyone,
Does a bad timing chain causes misfire when a vehicle is IDLE ? Let's say even it just started to worn out, will it cause misfire while being idle or holding breaks at traffic sign ? It's something me and friends are trying to figure out. They say it's either a bad spark plug, spark plug's wire, or ignition coil than needs to be replaced. Even on google, it say a bad timing timing chain will not cause misfire, but I would like to get a definitive answer from here.
2002 Ford explorer sport trac 4.0L V6. Mileage at 170,000 miles with automatic transmission.
Are you getting a check engine light? Have you checked your engine mounts ?
With a basic scanner (or at a good auto parts store), you can read the codes and see if it is one or two cylinders that are misfiring. If that is the case, it is probably a bad spark plug, coil or injector - you can find out which by switching the various items to other cylinders and seeing if the misfire moves. If it's misfiring on ALL cylinders, you might have a timing chain/tensioner problem - which you can check by using a better scanner to see if the spark advance is jumping around.
No, the engine light is not on. As for the timing chain tensioners, I got them replaced last year and both are motocraft parts. It's like light, but noticeable vibration.
Forgot to say it doesn't misfire on all cylinders, but some.
Although, I got the spark plugs replaced last year either during september or october. Motocraft parts.
yes at any speed
There's no vibration while driving or other symptoms and the engine light is not on either. As for the timing chain tensioners, I got them replaced last year and both are motocraft parts. For the vibration while idling only is light, but noticeable vibration.
I have a 2011 Nissan Frontier and I have a very rough vibration at idle. Now my case is different than yours. My truck is not misfiring, and my spark advance at idle is ~15 degrees and stays pretty consistent so it’s not my timing chain. I would make sure you look at ignition or spark advance to see if your timing chain is worn. Mine is just the torque converter being worn out. Now the vibration is still even there in park and Neutral but it’s not as bad as when it’s in drive. But yeah I wish you good luck!
Kind Regards,
Nathaniel J.
Mine has light viberations, but no engine light on and no grinding noise either when starting the truck or driving, which the timing chain does when it's bad. However, I've replaced the spark plugs only last year during september or october, but didn't change the spark plug's wires and ignition coils.