Hey all,

I've been hearing an nonrhythmic clattering sound in this area. Its behind the water pump. Any idea what it might be. I took the serpentine belt off but it still makes that sound. It seems to go away when I'm driving.

 

I attached a video too.

 

Welcome to the forum

With fan belt removed and the noise still there then its most likely a timing chain issue

Do you know the history of this engine?
Was it a replacement engine?
Were the timing chains ever replaced?

Picture of what's behind the water pump and front cover of your 4.0l SOHC engine: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e1P5c8qEO8Y/maxresdefault.jpg

2010 most likely doesn't have the lower chain for a balancer shaft
There is also another gear and chain, for right hand head/cam, behind the larger gear you can see

Could be tensioners have come loose, assuming past engine work
Or it broke

Picture here of the left side guide that lost its black "plastic" sleeve: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...019-jpg.64389/
Would make a heck of a racket

 

Thanks. It's pretty quiet for now and I'm taking it in. Because its kind of a random rattling sound I'm thinking its a guide just floating around in there.

I've seen videos of failed timing chains and it doesn't sound anything like that thankfully. I'm just afraid of the cost and finding out something I don't wanna know.

If it is a guide, is labor as crazy as I think. I think it is the front one.

 

Audio on your recording doesn't seem to be the classic rattle from a broken left\right TimingGuide;
suspect it may be a broken LeafSpring TimingTensioner on the main TimingChain behind the WaterPump; shown in RonD's pic above.
Can replace without pulling engin, though SerpBelt+Fan+WaterPump+FrontTimingCover must be removed.
May want to first drop OilPan & check for TimingGuide schrapnel, brown\orange\yellow plastic pieces;
fairly easy to do, need a new OilPanGasket + 5qts of fresh Oil;
check+clean the OilPump SuctionScreen while you're there.

 

Correct, "the Death Rattle" of the 4.0l SOHC's two long timing chains is pretty well documented in audio/video recordings
But this ain't that

Was just suggesting where a noise from the front of any V6/V8 engine can come from if fan belt is removed, taking away accessory noises