Help: Clicky rattle sound in 3.9L V6

From : jason faas

Q: i have a 96 ram with the 3.9l v6 and it has a rattle sound that is only audible at idle. it sounds like something is loose and rattling around. it has been doing this for quite a while a year or more and i have yet to track it down. seems like it might be near the starter but im not sure about that. i am convinced that it is not internal because it runs great uses no oil and the problem hasnt gotten worse. however im trying to sell the truck and this rattle seems to be a sticking point. it will probably be worth it to take it to a shop to get it diagnosed but im wondering if anyone here has any ideas on what it might be. thanks for any help jason .

Replies:

From : steve

i would say its the timing chain. i had a 96 dak that did the same thing and my mechanic had a service bultten on it. seems the chain stretches and they have a kit to fix it without buying a new chain. on sun 28 sep 2003 083443 gmt denny dwdodge@woh.rr.com wrote two things come to mind what little of it i have left. either a cat. converter is rattling or the timing chain has stretched a little and it rattling against the case. the chain will sound like it is coming from the front of the motor the converter you can hear best if you stick your head under the truck behind the front wheel. i cant think of anything common that could be coming from the starter area. denny i have a 96 ram with the 3.9l v6 and it has a rattle sound that is only audible at idle. it sounds like something is loose and rattling around. it has been doing this for quite a while a year or more and i have yet to track it down. seems like it might be near the starter but im not sure about that. i am convinced that it is not internal because it runs great uses no oil and the problem hasnt gotten worse. however im trying to sell the truck and this rattle seems to be a sticking point. it will probably be worth it to take it to a shop to get it diagnosed but im wondering if anyone here has any ideas on what it might be. thanks for any help jason dault@spamattbi.com remove spam for e-mail .

From : jason faas

thanks for the input. im sure its not the cat so ill check into the timing chain. its hard to say for sure where the sound is coming from could be in the front. how would you check to see if the chain has stretched im good with getting stuff apart and back together again but i dont have a shop book and i dont want to get into an all day job at this point. also is the kit a fairly easy diy job or how much is it to have the dealer do it jason steve daults@removecomcast.net wrote i would say its the timing chain. i had a 96 dak that did the same thing and my mechanic had a service bultten on it. seems the chain stretches and they have a kit to fix it without buying a new chain. on sun 28 sep 2003 083443 gmt denny dwdodge@woh.rr.com wrote two things come to mind what little of it i have left. either a cat. converter is rattling or the timing chain has stretched a little and it rattling against the case. the chain will sound like it is coming from the front of the motor the converter you can hear best if you stick your head under the truck behind the front wheel. i cant think of anything common that could be coming from the starter area. denny i have a 96 ram with the 3.9l v6 and it has a rattle sound that is only audible at idle. it sounds like something is loose and rattling around. it has been doing this for quite a while a year or more and i have yet to track it down. seems like it might be near the starter but im not sure about that. i am convinced that it is not internal because it runs great uses no oil and the problem hasnt gotten worse. however im trying to sell the truck and this rattle seems to be a sticking point. it will probably be worth it to take it to a shop to get it diagnosed but im wondering if anyone here has any ideas on what it might be. thanks for any help jason dault@spamattbi.com remove spam for e-mail .

From : denny

two things come to mind what little of it i have left. either a cat. converter is rattling or the timing chain has stretched a little and it rattling against the case. the chain will sound like it is coming from the front of the motor the converter you can hear best if you stick your head under the truck behind the front wheel. i cant think of anything common that could be coming from the starter area. denny i have a 96 ram with the 3.9l v6 and it has a rattle sound that is only audible at idle. it sounds like something is loose and rattling around. it has been doing this for quite a while a year or more and i have yet to track it down. seems like it might be near the starter but im not sure about that. i am convinced that it is not internal because it runs great uses no oil and the problem hasnt gotten worse. however im trying to sell the truck and this rattle seems to be a sticking point. it will probably be worth it to take it to a shop to get it diagnosed but im wondering if anyone here has any ideas on what it might be. thanks for any help jason .