2004 F150 with cam phaser Issue
#1
10-04-2016, 11:25 AM
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2004 F150 with cam phaser Issue
I know there are already a lot of threads on the cam phaser issue. Just looking for some advice on what to do with my truck. Its a 04 with 160K on engine and body. I have the P0345, P0011,P0012,P021,P022 codes coming up. I was told by my local Ford Dealer to replace the engine. 5,195.00 without labor. 3 yr warranty with it. I am looking to find a used motor and possibly put the lock out kit on it prior to installing. Or should I just sell it and call it quits? I am not a engine guru but know my way around the vehicle. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Any idea if I would decide to sell the truck without fixing what kind of price do I put on it?
Any idea if I would decide to sell the truck without fixing what kind of price do I put on it?
Last edited by Brandon85; 10-04-2016 at 02:57 PM.
#2
10-10-2016, 01:17 PM
Senior Member
2004 F150 with cam phaser Issue
My insight is heavily biased with personal experience, and I am far from an expert. But I have gone through the same mental torment. My truck made it a little farther (about 185,000) before developing your same symptoms - + a startup rattle, the signature 5.4L 'tick', and loss of power. Then at 212,000 decided to rebuilt her - based on the following analyis.
1) Added an after market Oil pressure guage - indicated hot idle/ in gear/ with AC on of 12-14 psi. [if lower end or cam bearings are "shot" you will not have that much oil pressure at hot idle].
2) A thourough wet/dry compression check indicated good compression (157 - 174 wet), only slightly less dry. [if it isn't burning oil and has that much compression - rings / cylinder walls and valves are probably OK]
3) Inspecting chains through VCT solenoid holes indicated sugnificant slack in chains - with engine off and at certain engine crankshaft rotation positions - depending on cam lobe locations compressing valve springs. [mine definately had stretched cam chains and broken guides - and probably bad phaser clock springs or worn out phasers] (that much milage on metal cam chains is NOT that bad of service life).
4) An '04 F150 in need of a cam phaser job probably isn't worth $3,000 at very best.
5) Rebuilt PROPERLY might be worth $5,000. But ANY later model used one could have latent problems that are just as bad or develope them at any time, and would probably cost easily $10,000 to $15,000 difference leaving me with 250-300 payments for years. A New one would be 30-50k difference (outside the equation).
So I opted for a little over $3,300 repair cost and replaced EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING incl HV Oil Pump, lifters, roller/followers, injectors, A/C comp., Alt. W/P, Plugs and bunch of other misc stuff. I have never regretted it for a moment (except during the week of hard work in my driveway), and at 220,000 I still love my truck like I did when it was new - and have NO payments.
If I can do it (at 70 yrs old) anybody that has a little mechanical aptitude can do it. Just takes some time and $$$. The best write ups / step by step how to, that I've ran across is here
http://www.f150forum.com/f4/final-re...-sound-141266/
If you avoid a couple of my screw ups: https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...ml#post5185154 you can get out for less than $3k.
^^ There's my two cents worth
Good Luck
1) Added an after market Oil pressure guage - indicated hot idle/ in gear/ with AC on of 12-14 psi. [if lower end or cam bearings are "shot" you will not have that much oil pressure at hot idle].
2) A thourough wet/dry compression check indicated good compression (157 - 174 wet), only slightly less dry. [if it isn't burning oil and has that much compression - rings / cylinder walls and valves are probably OK]
3) Inspecting chains through VCT solenoid holes indicated sugnificant slack in chains - with engine off and at certain engine crankshaft rotation positions - depending on cam lobe locations compressing valve springs. [mine definately had stretched cam chains and broken guides - and probably bad phaser clock springs or worn out phasers] (that much milage on metal cam chains is NOT that bad of service life).
4) An '04 F150 in need of a cam phaser job probably isn't worth $3,000 at very best.
5) Rebuilt PROPERLY might be worth $5,000. But ANY later model used one could have latent problems that are just as bad or develope them at any time, and would probably cost easily $10,000 to $15,000 difference leaving me with 250-300 payments for years. A New one would be 30-50k difference (outside the equation).
So I opted for a little over $3,300 repair cost and replaced EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING incl HV Oil Pump, lifters, roller/followers, injectors, A/C comp., Alt. W/P, Plugs and bunch of other misc stuff. I have never regretted it for a moment (except during the week of hard work in my driveway), and at 220,000 I still love my truck like I did when it was new - and have NO payments.
If I can do it (at 70 yrs old) anybody that has a little mechanical aptitude can do it. Just takes some time and $$$. The best write ups / step by step how to, that I've ran across is here
http://www.f150forum.com/f4/final-re...-sound-141266/
If you avoid a couple of my screw ups: https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...ml#post5185154 you can get out for less than $3k.
^^ There's my two cents worth
Good Luck
Last edited by F150Torqued; 10-10-2016 at 01:19 PM. Reason: spelling