Hello All. I have a couple of problems I would like to get some input on.

Subject Vehicle: 1993 22R-E extended cab; 88K miles; Mobil 1 5W30 with OEM filter every 5K since I got it at 62K ($3,600 on ebay!); 20K on plugs, wires, and distributor; timing and valves adjusted recently (I will install new valve adjust screws very soon); 750 idle; sounds good (except below); temps good and stable; slow *&^%# truck at my 6,000-ft Utah altitude.

Dirty:


Clean:



1. Rattle On Start Up. I have what sounds to me like timing chain rattle at startup. The rattle, which could almost be characterized as extreme pinging from the cab (donÆt hold me to that sound), lasts about 2 second after starting and is accompanied by the oil light (red oil can on the dash). I donÆt have an oil pressure gauge so canÆt offer anything there. This happens on most startups after the truck has been sitting overnight, unless we go below freezing and I start it up early - in these cases the truck sounds perfect. It doesnÆt happen if the truck has been run within the last few hours. I thought it could have been a defective oil filter anti-drain valve, but a second OEM and then a $10 Fram did not fix the problem. This doesnÆt seem to be the typical timing chain rattling scenario as I canÆt get it to make a peep at any rpm after she has been running a few seconds. I pulled the valve cover last night and inspected the timing chain components. I compared by truckÆs innards with pics on 4crawlerÆs site:

4crawler - timing chain replacement

and things seem to be in very good shape. The plastic guides were in place, the tensioner seemed to be intact and keeping the chain tight. HereÆs my best pics (no help at all, I know):







So, whatÆs wrong with the truck? Oil passages clogged? Could try AutoRx. Should I go to 10W30? Could it be the oil filters (3x)?

2. What is this electrical connector? I canÆt find a home for the connector contained in the pics below. This has been disconnected since I have owned the truck and I donÆt see a home for it. (Do all those white dots mean that something major has been replaced?)





3. Just about every time I shut the engine down I get a little honk from the engine compartment. I looked at all the vacuum hoses and things seem to be ok. Any thoughts on what could be the problem?

Thanks for any input. I am in the process of making this my daily driver and want her to be tip top.

My guess would be that the motor is "missing" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, but none of the pictures seem to have been posted.

UPDATE: Looks like they show up this morning.

How come I can see 'em?

Can anyone see these pics?

John---I can see your pics ....but that rattle could be a timing chain that has lost its plastic guides....may be time for a TC kit from www.engnbldr.com make sure to get the metal backed guide.

I dunno... 88K is a mite early for guides. Possible, but... and you said you see them there. And if they are really gone its not gonna be quiet when its cold and only for a few seconds on startup. I could be mistaken but I would suspect based on your hot/cold experience that
1) 5W30 is a tad light for the 22RE. Try 10W30
2) Your oil filter's anti-drainback doesn't. Mine neither. You could do much better than Fram though.
3) Change the oil, filter, and drive it - and don't worry.

I like, I like. That sounds like the easiest option. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

yeah I would agree, add some heavier oil and drive the truck. A little valvetrain clatter on cold start is pretty typical for most OHC setups. Your top-end looks nice and clean as well.

Only other thing I can think of is your oil pickup screen is clogged. I agree, given those white dots that someone's been working on her.

The reason I say this is that in our extreme cold, using 5W30 oil, is that if there isn't an oil pan heater plugged in, during the first few seconds after start up the engine will rattle, as the oil is so sluggish that it's not getting picked up right way, and your oil light comes on dimly.

It's a bit far fetched, but I'd sure go do some digging around and find out what maintenance was done to that truck before you bought it.

That connector which goes to nowhere is for the A/C if you had it. I would check out the maintenance history on that truck as well, may be a little sketchy since you bought it off ebay, but i could be wrong. Try changing to 10/30 to eliminate the rattling. You realy don't need that much lift, you can easily get 3.5 - 4 inches of lift for around 300 bucks. 2 inch body lift, 1.5 inch ball joint spacers for up front, and 2 inch shackles for the rear.
Nice looking truck by the way...

Hum, I have been using 5w30 for my 22re. Given our canadian winter cold, should i go back up to 10w30? What difference does it make anyway? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />