Just bought a 04 F150 FX4, with the 5.4 and it has a audible tick or knock to it. Seems to be worse on drivers side, but I can't hear it in the cab or during driving. Got under it this weekend and checked all the exhaust connections and looked for carbon streaks and found none, everything was tight. Sometimes it stops or lessens when you turn the A/C off, but starts back up quickly. Of course the dealer said it was nothing to worry about, never is to them, and I don't really know if I need to be worried or not, runs fine, no other problems, and has great power. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cam phaser is the problem, there's a TSB out on this, look at the tabs up for the full text TSBs

 

I was told it is the cam phasers, the dealer said it is common in the 3valve 5.4's.
They told me there is no problem with it. I don't notice it anymore. I have heard
they have a fix for it but it sometime works and sometimes not.

 

Don't worry about it, my brand new 2006 Lariat has the 5.4 obviously and I told my friend the same thing. I kinda like it. It sounds like a diesel!!!

 

This is the first time we learan a car engin knock and tick and ping and make all strange sounds and it is normal!!.

This can never be right and hope FORD fix it....keep knocking on the dealer's door and keep talking to Ford management until you get their attention....

check TSB 06-4-7, it may apply to your engin.

 

Don't let the stealer get away with it. Check out the TSB's and describe the noise to the dealer as written in the tsb. If they still refuse to fix it try to get the Ford 1800 customer service people involved. And good luck, you will need it.

 

Here is the TSB

 

If you think ticking and knocking is bad, wait till you change the oil for the first time. Your gonna turn white as a ghost!

 

Why? I have a brand new '06 Screw 5.4 and I have no noises.

 

Did you fill the oil filter with fresh oil before you installed it on the engine? If you didn't you are probably listining to your engine run on no oil until the filter fills up!

 

Well I had looked at the TSB's on this site before, but I hadn't seen that one. That is definately going back to the dealer. I can hear the injector tick they are talking about, but its not that. Its loud under drivers front tire, I can't really hear it with the windows up, been too hot to turn the A/C down to try to hear it. And yes I checked the oil, the dealer put the oil in, their filter, and I know what a dry engine sounds like, and that is definately not it!

 

Here is just one thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...+phase+sensors
There are many. If you do a search under "cam phase sensor" , "cam phase sensors" , or "cam phasers" in this forum you will come up with numerous posts on this subject. Most are from late 2004 -2005. I had mine replaced 16K miles ago.

 

I thought some where on this site they said that ford was not changin out the cam phasers anymore. Just like the reflash. I thought I read that some where on this site.




James

 

My 06 f150 that was 3 weeks old did the same thing. I thought it was a cam phaser problem. Went to the dealer and they checked it out. Turns out it was more that that. The engine was setting it self up for complete failure. It actually blew up at the dealer, they were amazed and contacted the factory. Ford said "Ha" it can't be doing that and the dealer said then can you explain why a truck with 800 mi. would blow the engine? Ford then sent the dealer a brand new 2007 engine to replace my old one. It has all of the updated injectors and gadgets that were the problems on the older engines. It cost ford around $10,000 for this mistake, but they made good. That ticking sound was parts grinding and slapping together. You are not supposed to hear that sound it's not a cool sound, your engine is going to blow soon just like mine did. I was told by the dealer when the drained the oil and removed the filter it was nothing but a sea of red oil and metal shards and fragments, they said it almost looked like candy apple red paint due to all of the metallics. Good luck fella's my new engine runs very smooth and has tons of power.... It's not good to hear that ticking or knocking. Get to the dealer "NOW" before you get stranded

 

How loud of a ticking and/or knocking are you hearing? I have a brand new '06 and when I open the hood i can hear the injectors and a slight tick on the top part of the engine. Sounds totally normal to me. However, it doesn't relly sound like a diesel.