Maybe cam phasers? Timing chain?

Thank you, Jb14, Gruz7 and Habbibie. Sorry for the slow response - yesterday this forum said I had insufficient privileges to reply! Jb14 - that is what I am looking for - reliability that I don't have to worry about! It has been my goal to get at least 250K out of this car - so I love what you said about yours having 247K on it.

I am about to order the VCT solenoids (and torx). So far I have had no luck finding any local shop that will put them on though. One place said they had to be programmed and therefore they could not do it. ?? I will keep looking or I will climb up there and do it myself soon. I have been babying it along the last couple of weeks and keeping it parked much more than usual. I took it out today - and several times today it went from running great with only a slight ticking noise to idling kind of rough and then back to very smooth with only the noise. The two most recent Ford dealerships I talked to said that they would change out the cam phasers, the VCT solenoids, the timing chain and tensioners for the quoted price (which was $1500 less than the first jerk's quote). I would feel okay changing the cam phasers and the VCT solenoids by myself - but probably not the timing chain. My Dad and I changed a timing change on a car many years ago - but I don't think that is something I could do by myself.

Thank you all for you wisdom!! Hope you have a nice evening.

Your welcome Fallingapart. I completely understand about reliability and doing what makes you comfortable with your truck is all that matters. Programming the VCT Solenoid?? 1st I never programmed anything I thought it was just plug and play (which I know it is) sorry for the bit of sarcasm its just amazing what these mechanics say. Changing out the timing chain is not a huge job but it is not small either I would have someone do it myself I just dont have the time and if you mess up the timing that could lead to real big issues. Also regarding smooth and rough idle these trucks have a tendency to do that it is just how they run, now if rough you mean almost stalling out then that would be an issue but most likely nothing to do with the CAM Phasers. Again the ticking is just the locking pin in the phasers that is in unlocked position when at idle then locks in when you start to drive so its not the actual phaser that is making the noise so your timing and tolerances are in tacked. That is why changing out the VCT quiets the Phaser noise cuz you are getting the proper lubrication now. If it was actually a CAM Phaser going out you would have more issues than just ticking

Thank you, Jb14. I am kind of a stickler about engines running smooth (my Dad and I worked on a lot of cars and so I try to listen and observe carefully). When I say it was running kind of rough - most of my friends probably would not have even noticed it. At idle, the steering wheel has an intermittent small shimmy - and when that happens, I then can feel the car has a very slight shake to it. But it is not stalling or doing anything near that bad. In fact, most of my friends still can't even hear the ticking noise. I feel sure the VCT solenoids will help and hope I can receive them and get them installed soon. Thank you again for all of your comments and help. I have another question about an intermittent a/c fan issue - but I think I probably am supposed to find another section on this forum to post that question. Hope to talk to you again! Thank you!

My old expedition had this problem, when I would stop at the light, I would have my left foot on the break and with my right foot I would rev it up a lil bit so the engine don't die. My truck was under warranty, so the dealer fixed it, but it was in 2013, so I don't remember what was the problem, I just remember it took them only one day to fix it. After I got it back the truck was running fine. A year after my wife got in an accident and the truck got totaled. Just look it up in TBS.

Thanks, Gapafudus. All of sudden, my 05 has completely quit making the ticking noise and now goes from running perfectly fine to running a little rough at idle. I've ordered the VCT solenoids but have not received them yet. (BTW - what is TBS?)

I drove mine for about 3 hrs yesterday, never heard the noise. The idle is normal, but I'm still going to change my spark plugs. I'm going to visit my father in law in a week, in Colorado, he is a retired mechanic, I'll ask him maybe he knows. I didn't find a TBS on it.

Btw here's a short video of the sound I recorded.