Maybe cam phasers? Timing chain?

[Fallingapart]

Thank you, Jb14 and Gruz7. Good info! What kind of filter are you using with the Amsoil? And are you getting the oil and filter locally or are you having to order it? I see it available on Amazon.

 

[Jb14]

I have a local shop that I found that carriers Amsoil the oil change is pricey but technically you can go about 10k between changes (I dont but you could) The shop lets me come in between oil changes and replace filter and will top off at no charge. They have tested out just about every filter so I use the one they provide which has been a good choice.

Amsoil usually only sells through independent dealers with good reps. Hope that helps

 

[Fallingapart]

Thanks, JB14. I went to the Amsoil website and found a local place here in town that sells it. I'll be heading over there tomorrow first thing. I might even see if they'd change that VCT solenoid, too, since I've got a busy next couple of weeks at work and it would be a while before I could try to change it. Thanks for the great suggestions.

 

[Jb14]

Just a thought, If you can buy the Motorcraft VCT from Amazon or Ebay first (Cost about 59 ea, plus the new caps) and take it to the shop. If I remember correctly the VCT from Ford direct is like $135 ea and with this part I was not confidant myself on aftermarket VCT. Just saying who knows where the shop would get the part.

Just my opinion

 

[Fallingapart]

Thank you, Jb14. I've tried a couple of places - and they will not change the VCT solenoids for me. I am hoping to try one more place and if not, will try it myself. Frustrating.

 

[Habbibie]

Thank you, Jb14. I've tried a couple of places - and they will not change the VCT solenoids for me. I am hoping to try one more place and if not, will try it myself. Frustrating.

I just did mine yesterday, took me 10 minutes wrestling to get the caps off but less than a minute to actually change the the VCT it self. I ended up using pliers to pull off the caps the screw driver/ice pick wasn't working for me.

 

[Fallingapart]

Hi Habbibie -
Did it fix the tapping noise?!?!? I am still considering doing the repair myself.

Jb14 and Gruz7 -
An update - I went today to two Ford dealerships and talked to their service managers - and this time felt like they weren't just trying to scam me just because I am a woman. And both said they have had good success with replacing the cam phasers with the Ford re-designed cam phasers. Both said they would not recommend replacing the engine like the "full of it" Ford service desk man at the first dealership insisted was the only true solution. They also were without the drama of the first Ford service desk jerk - they both explained the mechanisms the same way (different from the first jerk but the same as what I've read on this and other websites). And both said that their shops have fixed many of these cam phasers and have not had any problems. The two service managers today also each quoted me a price that was $1500 less than the first one to replace the cam phasers, the timing chain and the VCT solenoids - and they were within $30 of each other on their quotes. I asked them if cost were not a factor and if it was their wife driving this car alone on long trips, would they do this engine repair or would they replace the engine (which the first jerk insisted was my only solution). Both said they would absolutely do this engine repair and both said they felt comfortable that the repair would solve the problem and I should have no further engine problems. (I wonder if I should have asked if they actually like their wife!! ;-) haha!!). So what do you think? Is a "repair" to this engine replacing the cam phasers, timing chain and VCT solenoid going to actually fix it or is the engine still going to be prone to jumping the timing chain later on? I have to make frequent 1300 mile round trips in this car - by myself - and need something reliable. I'm not fond of the side of the road! I can baby it along for about the next 3-4 months (and why I am thinking about changing the VCT solenoids myself in the interim) - but after that I need to get it where I can put it back on the road with confidence.

What do you think?

Thank you!

 

[Gruz7]

Hi Habbibie -
Did it fix the tapping noise?!?!? I am still considering doing the repair myself.

Jb14 and Gruz7 -
An update - I went today to two Ford dealerships and talked to their service managers - and this time felt like they weren't just trying to scam me just because I am a woman. And both said they have had good success with replacing the cam phasers with the Ford re-designed cam phasers. Both said they would not recommend replacing the engine like the "full of it" Ford service desk man at the first dealership insisted was the only true solution. They also were without the drama of the first Ford service desk jerk - they both explained the mechanisms the same way (different from the first jerk but the same as what I've read on this and other websites). And both said that their shops have fixed many of these cam phasers and have not had any problems. The two service managers today also each quoted me a price that was $1500 less than the first one to replace the cam phasers, the timing chain and the VCT solenoids - and they were within $30 of each other on their quotes. I asked them if cost were not a factor and if it was their wife driving this car alone on long trips, would they do this engine repair or would they replace the engine (which the first jerk insisted was my only solution). Both said they would absolutely do this engine repair and both said they felt comfortable that the repair would solve the problem and I should have no further engine problems. (I wonder if I should have asked if they actually like their wife!! ;-) haha!!). So what do you think? Is a "repair" to this engine replacing the cam phasers, timing chain and VCT solenoid going to actually fix it or is the engine still going to be prone to jumping the timing chain later on? I have to make frequent 1300 mile round trips in this car - by myself - and need something reliable. I'm not fond of the side of the road! I can baby it along for about the next 3-4 months (and why I am thinking about changing the VCT solenoids myself in the interim) - but after that I need to get it where I can put it back on the road with confidence.

What do you think?

Thank you!

Min hardly had the phaser noise it was definitely more a VCT solenoids issue in my case because I have almost no noise at all when driving along... My suggestion is obviously to start with the two solenoid because they are cheap and take less than an hour to do and also switch to Mobil 1 full synthetic and synthetic filter from Mobil 1 (helped me)...
From what I've read it is much more cost effective to do the entire job (phasers, tensioners, solenoids, chain, etc) than to do bits and pieces like the just the phasers or just the tensioners because that will make it only a temporary fix. I don't think you need to consider a new engine just yet but if you want to do a piece of it, I recommend the VCT solenoids any other replacements I would go all the way and do the entire cam system.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jb14]

Fallingapart I put about 4k a month on my truck going through the desert from california to nevada about a 600 miles round trip that I do a minimum of 3 times a month (just did yesterday round trip NV to CA and CA to NV in one day it was a 112 degrees with AC on and packed with 2 kids and stuff) This of course is your choice but I would find a Mechanic even a Neighborhood one to replace the VCT first the noise will pretty much go away.

Changing out the CAM Phasers (following Cruz7 recommendation on what to change should be a base line) If you decide to go with replacing the CAM Phasers ask the shop exactly what they are going to change, a typical do it yourself-er can do this in a day in there garage in most cases they are just changing out the phasers and do not replace, chains, tensioners etc (you can look up you tube videos that will show you the job)

As a reference point I have 247K and just did my VCT Solenoid last month and have not timing issues and virtually no noise.

 

[Habbibie]

It reduced it significantly but did not completely eleminate it. There's still a minimal phaser tick present.

 

[Fallingapart]

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.

 

[Jb14]

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

 

[Fallingapart]

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!

 

[Gapafudus]

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.

 

[Fallingapart]

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?)

 

[Gapafudus]

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.

 

[Gapafudus]

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