I had one cam phaser replaced in my truck while I was out of town. I've read of guys having repeat repairs with these things, so I guess I'll see how mine does now. It did help out a lot though, mine weren't really ticking, it was making more of a hollow knock/thump type noise at idle. Replaced the #1 bank only, BTW.

Part number 3R2Z-6A257-DA.

 

Did the cam phaser make noise when the engine is cold or when it's at normal operating temps. I'm trying to figure out if one of mine is going bad. I can hear a knocking sound say like when I reach a destination, or stop at a light, I hear the knock, but only when the engine is warmed up.

 

Only at hot idle. Variable Cam Timing is disabled until the engine reaches operating temperature, since it uses oil pressure to work. I had our engine guy do mine, and he mentioned something about if you short a wire at the VCT solenoid connector to ground and the sound goes away, you need to replace the cam phaser. I'll give him a call tomorrow and make sure.

ETA - Also, if you raise engine speed up to about 1300-1500 rpm in park and it goes away, you might have a cam phaser problem. I've only heard mine, so I dunno if another one would sound different, but mine made a faint hollow knocking noise at idle, almost like thumping an empty milk jug with your finger or something.

 

I think I am going to have to do some more listening to my truck. Mine sounds similar to the sound you described, but I am sitting here in front of the computer. I can imagine it, but it seems hard to recreate for others. A friend of mine who's a ford mechanic at a large local dealership told me they have only changed one. I am going to have to get the truck over to his house and let him hear it, he had the truck in the shop once already for the driveshaft vibe, but he couldn't make the cam phaser knock so he didn't mess with it. I bet he drove the truck cold. I trust him so I'll go through him.

 

Quinton have they determined if this will cause long term problems??

Im going to do mine before the warranty expires, but would like to get as much info before its done.

 

what is a cam phaser? and what exactly dose it do?

 

The knocking noise? Not that I'm aware of. It was annoying me more than anything, but as far as the running of the engine was concerned, mine wasn't affected at this point in time. That one phaser was really loud compared to another '04 with a new passenger side phaser I listened to next to mine. I'm thinking about replacing the other side as well while mine is still under warranty, just 'cause.

 

It's an adjustible timing gear that retards and advances cam timing based on engine load and RPM using oil pressure and a toothed wheel with a bigass spring in it.

 

this is indeed correct about the solenoid. mine went away with that test. i had both replaced however not just one. why they would only do one is beyond me? have had mine fixed now for at least 1000 miles and just as quiet as it should be!

 

I have a "valve tap" (or at-least that was it sounds like to me) in mine (5.4l w. less than 5000 miles).

I hear it regardless if the engine is cold or hot. I can hear it as soon as I crank the engine in the morning.

I wonder if that's the Cam Phaser??

 

A cam phaser will not make noise with the engine cold. There has been talk of some lash adjuster problems with earlier 5.4 3Vs that may cause some valvetrain noise.

 

Mine sounds like a Powerstroke at idle after reaching operating temperature. Is that the kind of sound you're talking about?

They are supposed to check that out as well when it goes in the shop tomorrow to have the transmission replaced at 3,400 miles.

 

http://www.markwilson.com/mustang_ts...-08ticking.pdf

 

Thanks.

 

Good info ... thanks.

By reading that, I'd say my "tap" is not the cam phaser as I can hear it as soon as the engine starts in the morning.

I either have a VERY loud injector or a valve lash thing going on. Either way, I'm gonna diagnose it myself before I take it to the dealer and they tear into the cam phaser for no reason (which is what they want to do).