Hey everyone, just wondering who has this problem and if you've heard anything about fixing it lately. Currently I've had my 04's PCM reflashed, and the right cam phaser swapped, and I'm still hearing it. Im running the factory spec'd Motorcraft 5w-20 and FL-820S filter. I've been told it's the tensioners for the chain on the cam phaser that are making the racket, but I've been around in circles with speculations for months now. Mechanics, any news out there? I'd really like to find out how to make my motor with less that 10000 miles on it sound like it should.

 

They did $1600 worth of work on mine to stop the value rattle on start up, and still did not fix it, it is better but not gone. Good news was they did not find wear in the motor, he said it looked like it had 5000 miles on it instead of 25000. The service manager said he is waiting/hoping on a new part that holds the oil pressure in the head better when turned off, don't remimber what he called it, he did send all of the parts removed back to ford engineering for them look at.

 

just out of curiosity, what parts did they end up replacing?

 

I just test drove a 2004 supercrew 3 valve 5.4 with 15,000 miles on it, and after driving about 10 miles, i stopped to talk to a buddy, and left it running, and it was knocking something fierce, needless to say i drove my 03 back home that day.

 

I have the sheet at home, I will let you know tomorrow.

 

Got the wife to read off the parts for me:

FMC 1L3z Tensioner Timing C
FMC XL1z Tensioner Timing C
FMC F85z Arm-timing chain T
SPO 2L1z Guide
SPO 4L3z Chain Timing
SPO F85z Tensioner Timing B
FMC 3L3z Coil Asy

Bunch of gaskets

I would bet there is more that my wife missed reading off to me.

 

i replaced my belt tentioner and its gone

 

kgoforth - from the sound of it you sound like you've been to the dealer quite a bit too. are you considering calling it a lemon? after this last one, its been 4 visits for me, but ive still got the rattle. arent there some ford mechanics or powertrain guys on this forum that could try and explain what i'm hearing? it pretty much sounds like 'diesel light' for the first few seconds when i start her up. i know there are more of us out there with the same problem...

 

I wouldn't call it a lemon, my dad's 87 ranger 2.9 v6 sounds worse than mine, and he has never had a problem. It was one to those things where I had them check it out. The main problem I have had with the truck has been the wrapped rotors, as soon as they are replace again I am going to put on some better pads.

 

That is what they first thought, after replacing it, putting it back together it still done it, so they took it back apart and replaced the rest of the stuff on the list, it is not as bad as before, but it still does it.