Not beat a dead horse or revive a dead thread but I also have a 2006 F150 5.4 3V and have just had the cam phasers replaced as well as I think the VCT solenoid. The dealership I took the truck to has had my truck almost a month now and has finally made the decision after having a field service tech look at it that it's a VCT/oil pressure issue that they can't fix. According to them the only way to fix it is to put in a new engine. After almost $4000 in repairs it needs a new engine. I have read over the years since I got my truck about all the issues with these trucks - I have had all 8 spark plugs replaced at 46,000 miles because the truck was misfiring bad enough to cause the check engine light to come on, after that the passenger's side catalytic converter took a dump (under emmissions warranty though), a few years ago I had the IWE solenoids replaced because they also went bad. Now on top of all those issues I also have the cam phaser issue and am likely looking at having a new engine put in my truck (waiting to hear from the dealership about what Ford is saying regarding my truck needing a new engine.)

I like many of you here have been a loyal Ford customer since I could drive, started with a 90 Tempo, in college got a 93 Mustang GT, sold the Tempo and got a Bronco II as a winter vehicle, Mustang got wrecked by a lady that ran a red light, sold the Bronco II and got an 02 Explorer, got back from a deployment overseas and bought my truck. 3 payments left on my truck and they are telling me it needs a new engine?! Never had these kinds of problems or this many problems with my previous Fords. I live in Michigan and due to the issues with my truck will think long and hard before I buy another Ford. Just needed to vent.

Sorry about the post that turned into a book.

 

No. As wrong as it is, they will chance it first. I had the same issue on my 2012. They showed me two others on the lot doing the same. When I told them to write on the service slip they would replace the engine when it blew out of warranty, they promptly worked on a deal for a new truck. .

 

Hey All. Bustedknuckle here. New to F150 forums. Bought an 04 F150 Lariat with the 5.4 3v triton used with 100K. Been running like a champ for 17K miles. Had the ticking noise when I bought it, and sounds horrible for about 3 seconds every time at cold start, then runs fine. Use Motorcraft filters and MC 5w20 oil. Just recently I was traveling at hwy speeds for a while, pulled to a stop at the end of the exit ramp and it started idling really bad....could hear it lope and sputter and feel it buck, like it was about to stall. I put it in neutral and revved it a little. Straightened right out, no more problems, until a few days later when it happened again. This time it tripped a P0340 code which is for a malfunction in the camshaft position sensor bank 1 circuit. Still happening intermittently but much more frequently now. Sometimes it trips the code, sometimes not. shifting into Park or Neutral when the rough idle and noises start corrects it to run OK. Shifting back into Drive or Reverse, causes the rough idle and noises to return. Oil level is right on. I've read about a hundred posts about the phasers, VCT, CPS, etc. and none describes this situation exactly. I do all of my own work (so far) and don't mind getting greased up and oil splattered. What I do mind is going through all that trouble and having the dang problem come back. Seems odd that it can sound and run so bad and then return to perfect operating condition with a little revving. If something was really broken wouldn't it run and idle badly always? Makes me think oil pump since the VCT/Phasers run on oil pressure. Makes me wonder though if normal oil pressure is masking other troubles. So F150 forum, waddya think? Thanks much for sharing and I don't mean to beat a dead horse with the cam phaser question. Just want to see if you think this is my problem or if there is something else I am not getting.

 

I'd hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge and watch it. I'm betting you have low oil pressure at idle.

 

So my rough idle, cam phaser, vct problem appears to be the result of low oil pressure. Thought I'd start with the easy stuff and change the oil. I had about 5500 miles of normal driving on it, which isn't too bad. New MC filter and 5w20, all is right again. It's been a couple weeks and issue has not returned. Don't want to count my chickens, but if that was it, that will be the easiest fix I've ever had. Anybody out there with the same issue, definitely use only MC filters and oil and change every 3-5K miles depending on towing, conditions, etc.

 

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you are probably in the good until that oil breaks down a bit...then wash, rinse, repeat.

5w-20 was for CAFE/emissions only. If 5w-20 was gospel, I'd have killed the 4.2L in my SCab a long time ago (it's at 229k miles, fwiw).

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...97871&page=all




"XXw-40 is the first grade that's not "energy conserving". Energy conserving grades 5w-30, 10w-30 are designed to thin to borderline 20 weight 1000-2000 miles after an oil change."

Now, imagine what a 20w will do in that mileage...

 

Anybody mind telling me a reasonable price for having the phasers replaced? I try to avoid the Ford dealership as much as possible, due to high labor costs and what not, but I can't find another place around here that will mess with such a job. I plan to get a quote from the dealership in the near future and am wondering what a ballpark figure should be.

 

Mine were changed at my local dealers fleet department...it was around $ 1300 for phasers and solenoids...but...my engine started running really rough about 500 miles after...they say low compression on 3 cylinders...and that I need a new engine...

Phasers went at 175k miles...I'm still driving it...I just don't trust it...no money to pursue further diagnostics...I have put another 2k miles on it since the new engine diagnosis...

 

I am so fustrated with this issue. I was having multiple cylinder missfires and had the sparkplugs replaced and fixed the issue...sort of. Now when I am going up a hill and under load in Overdrive it will knock and start the sputter bad. I don't know if it could be the VCT solenoids or the Cam Phazers. I am willing to spend the cash to fix it....if it will actually fix the problem(s). I love my 07 Fiddy and don't want to spend 40+K on a truck.

 

Thanks and that's what is really concerning me. I've heard of many having them replaced, just to have similar issues come up soon after. Anyhow, mine is in the shop as we speak and I'm waiting on a call about it. I am by no means a mechanic; therefore, I'm not even certain that the phasers are the issue, but with my truck having the engine notorious for that problem, I'm fairly certain they're the culprit. After the engine warms up, it (sometimes) literally sounds like an engine with no oil in it. It also seems to be very sluggish after warming up.

 

Well, they called me back and claim that the phasers aren't the issue. They are telling me that the plugs need to be replaced, along with the fuel pump and module? The lady said that fuel pumps and modules are a common problem with these trucks. My truck is a 2007 with the 5.4 liter. Does this sound at all right? With how loud this "tick" at times is, I'm having a very difficult time believing that the plugs are the culprit. The truck has 77,000 miles on it and might very well need new ones, but I just know that the "tick" will still be there afterwards...

Also, being that I have to have my truck back by Monday, I asked if they would just replace the plugs and be done with it for now. She claimed that, that would be wasting money, being that the pump and module would cause similar issues in the near future? Doesn't add up to me.

 

Are they referring to the FDPM module? If so, change that yourself...should take 15 minutes including dropping the spare tire...plugs are not that bad...10-15 minutes per plug...if none break...remember to disconnect battery, and get the computer out of the way to get to #4...

Do that work yourself and see if it helps...

I will say, Nickel Anti-sieze is hard to find...I ended up buying a large jar of it because it was the only one in town...

Sorry for your troubles!

 

Yes, I believe that is the module they're referring to. I think that's what I'm going to do though. I'm just failing to understand what exactly they're saying the problem is. I might just change the plugs out myself and see what happens. Do you have any idea if that "bad" module and/or fuel pump could cause plug failure of some sort in the near future or does that sound like bs? Man, I'm sorry too lol; I am and always will be a Ford guy, but this 3 valve 5.4 liter engine seems to be garbage. I had a 4.6 liter before this one, which had a ton more miles on it and it was flawless. Had a stud rust through, but other than that, I had zero issues out of it.

 

I think you need to go get a second opinion. I don't see how a fuel pump, FPDM, or spark plugs can cause engine noises.

 

Well, here's the deal: I have found someone who I know personally (someone I trust) who is willing to check out the internals of the engine for me. They went through phasers in theirs personally and know what to look for. However, I am a little mad at the moment, to say the least. I went ahead and had them (the dealership) install a fuel pump, module, fuel filter, and spark plugs/boots. Long story short, the truck runs like absolute crap now. Immediately, I noticed the truck being much louder than it was before I took it in - loud as in a much, much deeper tone in the cab, like one gets when they install an aftermarket exhaust. Also, soon after picking it up, I got on the gas pretty hard and the truck hesitated badly and my check engine light momentarily came on. It only did that once, but it is now very sluggish. I assume the sluggishness is due to plug wires being put back on wrong or perhaps an issue with a plug or plugs, but the increased noise has me at a loss. Out of what was replaced, what could be causing the truck to be so much louder? I don't get it.