I never did update this...apologies. I did replace my sensors and the knock is still there. If you unplug the sensor and the knock remains I wouldn't recommend spending the money and replacing the sensors. Glad it worked for some, just didn't work for me. For now I live with the knock.

 

I have a 2005 F150 5.4L with 132,000 miles. I was told I could get rid of the ticking noise by replacing the VCT soleniods. When I was replacing it I lost the screw that holds the VCT soleniod in place. Can anyone tell me what size it is, or a part number. I know it has a T27 trox head on it.

 

i have an 08 f-150 and i have had the cam phaser problem, i had the phasers replaced by a ford tech. noise was fixed for about two weeks then it came back. unplugged the solenoid sensor on the passenger side and the noise was fixed, gettin ready to replace solenoid here soon, i left the sensor unplugged to avoid the noise n it does not really affect my performance to noticibly. i would notice the noise more when i was going through a drive thru. n sometimes it would start knocking when idle down from 1,200-1,500 rpms n would actually start knocking terribly and the whole truck would be shaking like the motor was about to scatter... would have to shut the truck off and restart to get it to stop.... it was a terrrible thing to go thru with a new truck with such low miles. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO MAN THE #%@* UP AND DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT PERMANATLY!!! replacing cam phasers shouldnt be part of a normal maintance tune up... just sayin.. still love my truck tho

 

Can anyone post a pick of the position of where these VCT Solenoids are located at on the 5.4L...

We are fixing to buy an 08 F150 for my son to drive back and forth to college... The truck has 120K miles on it... 3/4 of the miles were highway miles... Salesman drove the F150 back and forth to Houston many many times... The Truck has this same diesel motor sound...

He did have all the maintenance records and showed he had the oil changed every 5k miles and air filter changed once a yr with a Wix... After we bring the truck home in a few days... I already have plans on changing the oil to 5W-20 with M/C filter and have the spark plugs changed along with the fuel filter and hoses and Belt... Then work my way back to the transmission/transfer case/rearend... Then do the front diff last...

Will also clean the MAP Sensor and Throttle Body...

 

Yesterday I drove home from work and with the engine off (but still hot) I unplugged both VCT sensors and started the truck. Diesel tick was still as loud, no check engine light or codes.

Does this indicate that there is no need to replacing the current sensors and this would not be a solution for me?

Thanks for your replies.

Chubs

 

hey chubs did you figure anything out? i have same tick gonna try unplugging sensors and see if the tick goes away.
thanks
joe

 

Where is best place to get VCT solenoid. Napa or auto zone or advance auto...probably all made in Japan.

 

I have a 2006 with 190,000 mile son it and runs great except the fricken ticking noise...drives me nuts...I tried using seafoam to maybe loosen something up but still does it...I'm going to try this...best place to buy VCT's..?

 

Get it from straight from ford. you will have problems otherwise. 56 bucks a piece online, and my dealership also sold them for that.

 

when you replaced the VCT solenoids, did you remove the valve cover...or did you just pop the plastic housing that's inserted in the valve cover that surrounds the VCT solenoid?

 

part 2 of the question: does the valve-cover issue depend on the year of the truck? I've got a 2004 F150 5.4. Heard elsewhere that on 2007 (and up), valve covers need to be removed but not on earlier ones?

 

My 2006 valve covers do not need to be removed..also, get solenoid from fords...I checked price at a local carquest and they wanted 100.00 each and doesn't come with new seal and they didn't have a new one to buy. Ford wanted 30.00 bucks less per solenoid and they have the new seals.

 

Quick question about checking the ones in the truck...can I just unplug the easy side to see if the ticking stops or do I have to do both..? Can't get to the other side without moving power steering.

 

04-06 valve covers do not need to be removed. 07-up do

to unplug the solenoids to see if they are the root of the noise, some say to unplug one, others say both. i unplugged both, without moving ps reservoir (was tough to get my hand in there, but it worked)

If the Check engine light does not turn on, then they are not properly disabled

 

After unplugging one the check engine light should come on..? Will the truck run rough or what. And if the check engine light does not come on then what.