Just thought I'd start a thread about this well-known problem as something of a PSA. For those who don't know about it, the timing chain tensioner arms tend to wear out prematurely in 2000-2003 MGMs and Crown Vics, and apparently also in 2003 Marauders. Ford has a TSB for "grinding type noise from engine timing chain area", and they updated both the tensioners and the arms.
I was familiar with the problem and knew to be alert for a "sewing machine" type of noise, but I learned recently that the chain can end up wearing into the aluminum part of the tensioner arms without any obvious noise. I haven't heard any noise from my 2000 MGM yet (at over 121,000 miles), but I'm preparing for the eventuality and will likely change the tensioner stuff in the spring/summer. Here's a thread from CVN with further info and links:
I was familiar with the problem and knew to be alert for a "sewing machine" type of noise, but I learned recently that the chain can end up wearing into the aluminum part of the tensioner arms without any obvious noise. I haven't heard any noise from my 2000 MGM yet (at over 121,000 miles), but I'm preparing for the eventuality and will likely change the tensioner stuff in the spring/summer. Here's a thread from CVN with further info and links:
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