HELP. I need my truck for work Monday AM. I have a 94 Ranger 2WD with the 2.3 and 5 spd. I changed the timing belt and tensioner. The belt didn't break but with 254K mile it was way past due.

I went by the Haynes Manual. First thing I did was I set the engine to TDC via the #1 cylinder, verified the cam sprocket mark and the crankshaft keyway at 12 O'clock. The auxiliary shaft has a timing mark but nothing to align it up with so I left it in the position it was in when I started the work.

I installed the belt and new tensioner, set the tension, rotated the crankshaft 4-5 times and checked all the marks. Everything lined up. I buttoned everything back up and went to crank the engine. It started right up but at the upper front right side of the head there is a fairly loud clacking noise that was not there when I parked the truck.

Oil pressure has always been around the 3/4 mark on the gauge and I've always used full synthetic oil and good filters.

It was running fine when I parked it to start the belt swap. What could I have done to cause the clacking noise.

I searched this problem on the forums here but didn't find anything that was helpful in this situation.

It would almost sound like something is out of time. Not exactly sure but that is my guess

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I would concurr with "out of time" -- check the cam and crank marks (turn the crank until the cam is on its mark then check at crank -- this must be dead on)

You could be getting interference (valve/pistion) or a valve getting slapped closed by an ignition/fire pulse (not common).

However... are your spark plugs all happy?? maybe you've got a loose one on #1 ?? (you'd hear the pop)

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I rechecked the timing marks. When the cam sprocket mark is lined up, the crankshaft balancer mark is at "TC" on the belt cover. Does this sound right?

What about the auxiliary shaft sprocket? There is a mark on the sprocket but I didn't see any marks on the inner belt cover. Is there a place to line that sprocket up with?

I pulled the valve cover and all "appears" in decent shape considering it 254K miles on it.

All plugs are happy and tight.

You're working with a different engine from mine but I might be able to help. The dot on the crank shaft lines up with the "notch" in the casting above and behind it. The auxiliary pulley has an arrow that lines up with an arrow on the back cover (you have to clear away the grime to see it), and the cam sprocket has an arrow that lines up with an arrow on the back cover (clean grime again). Now this is for a 2.5l, so the markings might be slightly different and I had to take the crank pulley off to take the cover and old belt off.

EDIT: I just looked at the Haynes manual and it confirms the above. It doesn't specify a specific engine size.

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Well I guess I'm going back in

Well the timing cover is off again and everything is still lined up, nothing changed.

Should I line up the crank by the keyway? When the mark on the cam pulley is on the mark, the crankshaft keyway is at 12 O-clock and the roll pin is at 1 O-clock. I didn't notice a dot on the crankshaft or balancer.

I still can't find a mark to line up the auxiliary shaft pulley.

did you release the Timing Belt Tensioner? the bolt that locks it in place during install? as seen in pic on left side of tensioner


oil pump is triangle to triangle

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Thanks everyone for the reply's!!

Yep, I released the tensioner. I have yet to find a mark to line up the auxiliary pulley. there is a mark on the pulley itself, but none that I could find to line it up with.

The Haynes Manual calls it the auxiliary shaft pulley.

If you can't find the mark, it is supposed to be at about the 12 o'clock position, so line the mark on the auxiliary pulley to that. If I remember correctly, there is a timing sensor that reads off that pulley or something that is driven by it. That might be where your problem is coming from.

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2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

I'll give that a try this morning and update later.

Thanks again!!!

OK, cam sprocket mark lined up, auxiliary shaft sprocket mark set at twelve o-clock, crankshaft keyway set at twelve o-clock. The clacking sound got faster but not as loud. Still shouldn't be there, but better than yesterday.

Now what

oil pump mark is not directly at 12 more like 11:30, and there are 2 marks per pulley diamond and triangle.. if you don't have the mark lined correctly the sensors will not hit there target causing problems

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Just checked again, there is only one mark on the aux. pulley. It is sitting at 12. Gone to look again though. I'm subject to miss things LOL

Should the crank keyway be at 12 also?

Only one mark on the aux pulley. Even cleaned the pulley and used a magnifying glass. Only saw one mark.