Hi all,

My 2005 F150 has 107,000 miles on it's 5.4 SOHC. It started making loud metal to metal noises, and the check engine light came on.

The dealership is telling me the the Cam Phaser problem is a known issue, and there is a TSB on it. After they inspected the engine, the told me that the total repair costs would be about 3,700.00 (Phasers, timing chain, cam, guides, etc., etc.).

I think that I'd be better off with putting a rebuilt in it, and am waiting for a quote from the dealership.

Does anybody know if Ford will help with the costs associated with either the the repairs or the replacement. It's not only a known issue, but apparently a very common problem.

From what I can find out, a rebuilt 5.4, out the door, runs about 3,000.00, and about 8 hours labour.

Any advice, help, or comments will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Ed

 

Comments only, I have not played with this series engines. All I do is drive mine. Given the repair of a hundred thousand mile engine that has had metal run through it vs a rebuilt that would have a warranty for a bit more money, I would opt for the rebuilt. Hopefully some of the guys that work on these things will offer real world advice. Best luck. BTW, welcome.

 

Thread moved to the 2004-2008 F150 forum.

WELCOME to FTE!

I would concur, a rebuilt makes a whole lot more sense, IF there was metal going through the engine. What actually happened? Did a cam stop and you have bent valves/broken pistons?

 

What I'm "told" is that the timing chain guides are broken, allowing the chain to slap around, which damaged the chain. The cam is scored, and the phasers, Lash Adjusters, and sprockets have to be replaced.
There is more, but you get the idea, also, they said that there may be damage to the main bearings... good grief.

Anyway, of the 3,518.00 price quoted for a repair, 2,020.00 is parts.

This morning, they quoted me a price for the long block replacement. This is a Ford rebuild, out the door, for 4,600.00 in parts, and 2,070.00 in labor. Add in the tax, and the total price is 7,070.20, with a Ford warranty of 3 years, and unlimited mieage.

I could get an angine shipped to the dealership and have them install it foe about 1,000.00 less, but then no Ford warranty.

A lot of money, but then, I plan on keeping the truck for at least 3 years.

Thanks!

Ed

 

I have seen several 5.4s that have had the cams scored and had to be replaced. The good news is if you do this repair you should be replacing all the weak points of these engines (phasers, timing chain guides and tensioners). I would opt for the repair myself as the bottom end of these engines have shown themselves to be very solid but obviously i have not seen yours to know how much metal could have went through it I am just drawing from past experiences

 

If the cam is scored then the head is scored too. The cams ride on machined journals directly on the cylinder head which is softer metal so anything that scored the cam also scored the head. If you plan on keeping the truck I would put a reman in.

 

I'm a bit worried that I might be being a bit overcharged on the labor to replace the engine. From what I've been told and seen on the internet, that 8 to 10 hours is about right. $ 2,070.00 in labor seems extreme. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks!

Ed

 

Actually in the chilton book it is 19 hours. They are prob charging 16 plus whatever teardown done to the original engine. That's what I charge.

 

How about looking into a used, low milage engine from a salvage yard. Could you pick up one with say 30K or 40K miles and have it installed cheaper.

 

Thanks GCOZMO, I looked into that option. However with the Cam Phasers a know issue in the 2004 through 2007 5.8's I might just be picking up another set of expensive problems. You would think that with Ford having knowing about the problem for more than 6 years, that they would at least help out folks whose engines fail due to that "known issue".

 

When I read that they were charging you 7K my first thought was wow that's cheap. I just had a new motor put into my truck and got it truck back on Friday. The cost was $10,200 installed. Thankfully I had an extended warranty and it only cost me my $100 deductible.

 

But didn't they have a mid year '07 head change that were not supposed to have the plug and phaser problems that we experience? I have read this in some posts because I checked the manufacture date on mine hoping that it was the new design and it wasn't.

Anyhow, it was just a thought but if you can swing the new reman. engine then that would definately be the way to go. GOOD LUCK!! Sounds like you have thought it through.