4-cyl rpm specific loud timing belt rattle

I've looked at 3 Rangers and 2 of them had this loud racket coming from inside the timing belt cover. You can feel impacts if you simply touch the cover.

This noise is very loud and occurs at at particular narrow rpm range somewhere around 2000-2500 rpm.

Any thoughts?

What years? I'm pretty sure all that I looked at were mid to late 90's.

Now I'm going to look at a 2003 with supposedly the same noise. But I think it may be a different engine type.

If I had to guess, I'd pick an out of adjustment or bad tensioner. Or perhaps the timing belt has stretched and about to fail.

This 2003 this is high miles, ac works, and seems to be a decent truck. Price is $1200. 5-spd and 2wd.

Am considering buying it if a limited repair.

I've looked at 3 Rangers and 2 of them had this loud racket coming from inside the timing belt cover. You can feel impacts if you simply touch the cover.

This noise is very loud and occurs at at particular narrow rpm range somewhere around 2000-2500 rpm.

Any thoughts?

What years? I'm pretty sure all that I looked at were mid to late 90's.

Now I'm going to look at a 2003 with supposedly the same noise. But I think it may be a different engine type.

If I had to guess, I'd pick an out of adjustment or bad tensioner. Or perhaps the timing belt has stretched and about to fail.

This 2003 this is high miles, ac works, and seems to be a decent truck. Price is $1200. 5-spd and 2wd.

Am considering buying it if a limited repair.
If you can do the repair yourself otherwise get a repair estimate. Doing yourself get a parts estimate. http://www.rockauto.com/

Can't be too difficult to fix ... you are on the right track; tensioner, water pump, idler, etc, etc.