I know everyone is probably fed up with this topic, but I'm having continued problems with the engine noises related to cam phasers, injector noise, etc., etc. If you haven't ready any of my previous posts, this is the fifth time my truck has been in for these proplems. The order of which my truck has been in is as follows:

8,000 miles - Right side cam phaser/chain replaced
9,500 miles - Left AND right side cam phasers/chains replaced
10,000 miles - Fuel Injector assembly removed and two injectors replaced
12,000 miles - Ford engineer was called and he decided noise was from a stuck relief valve on the oil pump; it then took 28 days to get an oil pump from Ford and have the truck fixed.

Now I sit at 18,000 miles with a truck that I've only owned for 15 months and the noise is back louder than ever, and my dealer has resorted to the "its normal" cop out. The funny thing is that my service advisor, and the oil change technician all thought it sounded horrible. But give it to the heavy line guy and the service manager and all of the sudden it sounds normal to them. You can park it next to any new truck and you cant even tell the other truck is running next to mine. They are all incompetent idiots. What ever happened to customer service.

The first issue is that the truck doesn't always want to start. It will turn over run for a 10th of second and then clunk to a stop like a diesel. It will turn over again, cough and clunk to a stop, and finally start on the third try, idle up well over 2,500 rpm, sometimes blow a puff of smoke and then idle down and run fine. After its started and when cold, while taking off it sounds like a diesel for about 5 miles. When it warms up, the clack starts from the right side of the engine mainly. Audible at idle, but very pronounced and louder when idling back down after the throttle has been opened. Clack clack clack clack clackllllllll. For 8,000 miles this truck was silent and enjoyable.... the best I had ever owned. Now people ask me how many miles I have on it because it sounds like it's been driven hard for 100k plus. I baby my vehicles. This truck hasn't even towed yet, has all regular maintenance done at the Ford dealer every 3,000 miles, etc.

The fact that they wont say anything is wrong or attempt to fix it and the fact that I get a loan car every time I'm there, prevents me from claiming Texas Lemon Law on it. I've tried to trade it, but the damn employee pricing drove trade in values so low it's not worth it. Hell, if it had sounded like this on the showroom floor I would have walked the deal. I had a 1984 Chevrolet that sounded quieter than this truck does. It makes me want to buy an old non computer truck and rebuild it to my liking. Does anyone have any advice? If not, thanks for letting me vent. Y'all have a good one.

 

Sounds like you need to call Ford's 1800 Customer Care number. Sorry, I don't know the number, but if you swung by Ford's site I'm sure you could find it.

Usually a call to them will light a fire under the dealers you-know-what.

 

You don't say where you're located but my advice is to find another dealer. Not all service departments and/or techs are incompetent idiots. In fact, my experience has actually been the opposite. The service manager at my dealership here in Austin has always worked overtime to help me any time I've needed it. texag83

 

Hey texag03, in your owners manual there is a section on what they call a DSB. Kind of like a small claims court ,but with ford, type thing. I would try what txfx4x4 said first and if that doesn't work I would call them up. Congrats on Texas' win over SC. I'm a Seminole and Bama fan but I was pulling for ya'll. I hate SC.

 

texag03 did you go to A&M

 

Texag03, did you have your cam phase sensors replaced before June, July 2005?
Just wondering, because the redesigned sensors were introduced in May from what I understand. Is it possible you may not have the updated sensors? Hope you get the issues resolved.

 

Number one, yes I am a proud Former Student of Texas A&M. Secondly, no other dealer will touch this truck for these issues because the Ford engineer dictated that the dealer that originally started with these issues had to be the one to continue with them. I know not all service technicians/dealerships are complete idiots. I bought the truck from a small family owned dealer in the panhandle who I'm sure would help if I had time to leave it there for a few days. Unfortunately a 6 hour drive and a week of vacation just to get a truck fixed is out of my normal call of duty. Calls to Ford's customer service line at the time I had the truck in for 28 days got me a decreased deductible and higher coverage on the 7 year 100k mile warranty I had already bought, and that was it. Mind you the truck had run at less than half of spec oil pressure for 5,000 miles and they wouldnt so much as pull the pan or valve covers to look for wear or check the bearings. I have had both the old cam phaser sensors and the so called "new" cam phaser sensors. I verified the part numbers on the invoices to be different and cross referenced with the TSB's and a guy I know in parts. Probably shouldn't give this info out, but I've been using Troy Aikman Ford, formally Leadership Ford here in Dallas. I continue to do so because they are the only dealer in town that will give you a loan car when your truck is in the shop. I appreciate the advice guys.

 

Hey brother, I've got the same "ping, clank, diesel" noise problem with my FX4. They replaced my phasers in August and last week had to do some sort of "adjustment" with them because they were "loud". It's still loud and all my friends &^%$ with me about having a gas eng. that sounds like a diesel. I've had service departments tell me it sounds normal to them. It seems to me if an abnormal noise is so common place with the techs that they now deem it "normal".......well Ford has some serious issues. At any rate, now I'm trying to get a terrible (1 qt./600 mi.) oil consumption problem fixed. Good luck to me....they couldn't figure it out, again, so they have me trouble shooting it weekly to track just what my consumtion rate is. And now, since I'm doing their trouble shooting, I can't tow my trailer out to the good ole redneck woods either.
Next truck'll be a GMC.

 

What I don't understand is one technician and the service advisor I use all thought it sounded horrible. My father, a Ford man his entire life said it sounded like I had over 100k on the clock. My father-in-law who is a retired Ford employee and drives a 2004 F150, says it sounds horrible too. The service advisor and heavy line mechanics all claim its normal becuase I think Ford has told them to. This noise wasnt there off the showroom floor and shouldn't be there. I don't think Ford wants to admit a major problem with one of their number one products. I've even talked to a mechanic at a GM dealership who used to work for Ford and he said it sounds wrong. He said if it weren't for Ford's new "black box" recorders that you could just blow the damn thing up. I'm in the same vote. I drive to my ranch in a very remote part of the state and by the time I get there it sounds like its about to blow. Makes me a little nervous considering the phone nor radio works out there. Thanks to Texas for the concealed handgun laws. Makes it a little more comfortable knowing if I'm 80 miles from the nearest town at 11:00 at night that I have some sort of security system. Good luck to you too. Mine uses oil, but not quite a quart yet. Sometimes I just want to run it off a cliff and get the insurance money! Take it easy.

 

The sad part is, I think you're right, Ford is telling the techs to swear there's no problem. Thank God for lemon laws. That's my next avenue of attack.

 

Good luck with the Lemon Law. Here in Texas and according to my wife who just happens to be an attorney, unless they will admit there is a problem, and refuse to give you a loan car then your chances are pretty slim. They actually have to attempt to repair the problem so many times before you can claim Lemon Law. All they will argue is that their technicians find the condition to be normal. Believe me, we tried to start that battle. Even the dealership I bought it from tried to get Ford to buy the truck back. Now I'm stuck with a truck with horrible trade in, no Lemon Law avenue to use, no Ford arbitration to take advantage of, and its too damn noisy to sell to any self respecting individual buyer. The way I look at it is I either drive it until it dies or just suck it up and take the hit and move on. Might as well just live with it and drive it till the wheels fall off. Just hope that's sooner than later. Never thought I would say this, but my next one will be Japanese. I've had both Chevrolet and Dodge... the Ford was my last try at an American truck. If Toyota can finally make a big truck, I'm there to buy one in a heartbeat. Nissan has issues and the Honda isn't even a truck in my opinion.

 

I'm with you guys that the techs have been told to say it sounds normal. My truck started making the deisel sound a couple of months ago, and I have taken it to 3 different dealerships, all who said they do not know what I am talking about.

How much does a cam phaser or cam phaser sensor cost?

Another question for anybody who works at a Ford dealership: Will you get better service if you go to the dealership where you bought the vehicle?

Thanks!

 

The lemon law up here says that if you bring your vehicle back for the same problem 3 times in a years period then they must buy it back. Look further into it.

 

I have a 2004 5.4 Lariat and have the same engine noise you guys are decribing...only for the first 3-5 minutes when cold, worse at idle, or when lifting off the gas pedal. After the engine is warm, the noise goes away. I went to a Ford dealer today and described my concern....they too said it was normal and not to worry about it. Mine isn't that loud, but it does concern me. I'll take it to a different dealership for a second opinion. Please if anyone finds a fix for this...let us know.

 

That is interesting about the Texas Lemom Law. Had never had to test it. About
only thing can say about the 06 so far is every once in awhile have to start it
a couple of times in the morning. The ride is considerably rougher then the
Chevy Avalanche traded in. I'm guessing its the perilli tires.