Hello folks - haven't passed this way in a while and don't think I've ever posted. I've got an expensive dilemma no matter but...

I have an '05 F150 Super Crew 4x4 with the 5.4L and 130k. For the first time in my vehicle owning life (35yrs) I purchased some fancy wheels & larger tires after installing a 2" leveling kit on the front end just a few months ago.

Now 2 issues:

1) the infamous ticking in the engine probably due to cam phaser - $3500 worse case scenario repair estimate from the dealer & $4500 & up replacement (used/reman).

2) rear end grating noise prob due to thrown bearing/seal. Esitmate $800-1500 depending on damage and parts needed.

Given the recurring cam phaser problem, I really do not know what to do!! I love the truck and planned to drive it until I couldn't drive it any longer - although that has come much sooner than expected.

Any thoughts are appreciated before I take it in to the axle/bearing shop next week. Thought about taking it to CarMax to see what they would give but surely these problems are way to obvious for me to have any hope to even break even.

 

3500 dollars for cam phasers? pheww shop around

 

Yeah, I know. They actually didn't diagnose it as the cam phasers. Cost me $120 to find out that it would cost $700 to diagnose it accurately.

I found this DIY by Steve Bassen. I'm assuming it is the cam phasers here but at least it gives me some hope that I might be able to fix this myself before any further damage is done.

 

That tick won't hurt anything. What kind of oil filter/oil have you been running in the truck? How often was it changed?

 

I've had the truck since 60k and have only used Full Synthetic although probably not the recommended viscosity consistently every 3-6k miles. The tick just started noticably recently. Took it back in to the shop that always does my oil changes and had just done a tune up replacing one of the coils thinking they had goofed up one of the plugs. They thought it might be a stuck lifter. I had them do an engine flush and replace the oil with an additive hoping it would loosen the lifter - it didn't go away.

Got another opinion (mechanic I trust) who told me about the TSB referring to the tick caused by using non-recommended oil and filter. Took it to the Ford place and the rest is history.

 

Yeah, I think you're mistaking the cam phaser ticking as being damaging to the engine. The noise is annoying to hear, but it isn't specifically cause to tear down an engine or drop a couple grand just to get rid of. The rear-end noise is a little less exact, but have you done a fluid-flush and added friction modifier (assuming LS-rear end)?

 

From what I've read, it can lead to a floating valve problem?

Anyway, I'm taking the rear end in to be fixed first thing next week. The local shop inspected the differential and found metal shavings in the fluid but didn't inspect further. I'm unsure of the rear end info although the Ford shop said it was a 3.75. Any place or codes to find out specifics?

 

Look on your door sticker it will be there
Here is a helpful tool

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...r_Decoder.html

 

Thanks Duke. Must be the 3.73LS