I'm working on an 05 with a 5.4. I got it with a bad valvetrain noise on the PS, which ended up being a bad cam, and one bad rocker. I changed the bad rocker and any others that showed any wear, the cam, and all 12 lifters on that head.

The truck starts, idles, runs, and drives fine; identical to my own 05. But if I get on it, it has a dead spot around 3-4k rpm, then picks right up again. After a while, I get the p0012 (Variable camshaft timing over-retarded bank 1). After I get it pissed off, the idle gets rough as well and bogs down.

Now I know the cam went it correctly. I used the wedge tool so the phaser never left the timing chain. I marked the chain as well just to be safe, and the phaser only goes on the cam in one position. Also, it idles too nicely, and runs fine under normal acceleration.

Tonight I swapped the VCT solenoids from one side to the other. It took a lot longer to get the code, but finally came up as a freeze frame dtc, and on Bank 1 again, so it's not the solenoid.

So in my mind, all I can think is that the timing chain jumped (which I don't think is likely due to the good running under normal conditions), or the phaser is bad/sticking on Bank 1. I popped off the oil fill tube and the phaser looks fine physically, so I don't think I banged into it somewhere along the line. I also manually excited the Bank 1 solenoid by grounding the purple wire, and it gives my the same rough idle which I get after the p0012.

Any thoughts on this or what my next move should be? It looks like the phaser to me, but I'm open to suggestions. Another mistake I made was not scanning the truck when I first got it. It came right from a repair shop which diagnosed the camshaft, but I would have at least known if they cleared any codes from it.

Thanks in advance.

 

Just a shot in the dark, but you mentioned that you can replicate the condition when you ground a certain wire.

Perhaps you have a wire shorting out?

 

That's an idea, but the wire for it runs in the injector harness so it's pretty well protected. Long shot, but I'll look for and pinchpoints just incase.

 

I could really use some suggestions here...

 

Pulled valve cover, everything looks fine. Any other ideas?

 

I stumbled across this thread today, which shows similar symptoms to mine:
Injector melted piston??? 2006 5.4 3V - Page 2 - F150online Forums

Anyway, I can't figure out what it could be besides the phaser. I ordered a new one today and will install it Sunday.

 

Have you fixed the p0012 on your truck? Did the phasers do anything?

 

Yes, I changed the phaser and everything worked great. Sorry for not updating.

 

I have the same issue as well right after I replaced phaser, solenoid, and cmp sensor... any other thoughts?

 

Have you checked your timing chains?

 

Hello, I am going thru this now.2004 5.4. Went and oil changed 20 mins later truck started a rough idle when I stopped at a light. Put it in N and it snoothed right out ran fine for about an hours got the p0012 code.So to be safe I changed both vct soleniods and the sensors in the heads as well. Ran fine for a while them stopped at a light got the rough idel back again. ??????????????????????? Anyone has a good answer? LOL!

 

Resurrecting this thread because my neighbor is have the same issue. I have read on other forums that some oil change places will leave the oil fill gun in the filler neck and when you start the engine, it bends the cam position sensor "stems" on the front of the phasor. Anyone else have this issue?

 

I have a 2007 F-150 155,000 miles started missing going to work and just died out. Changed coil packs, plugs, mass air flow sensor. Same problem, took it a local shop said engine is bad no oil pressure. Changed engine for a used one I heard run sounded great. Installed new engine but truck runs the same. What am I overlooking?

 

I should also say it has fuel and strong spark