I'm curious how many folks have had problems with their timing chain tensioner? I have a 2004 F150 with a 5.4L with 73K miles. The tensioner failed and destroyed the guides and chewed up some other parts.
Is this a common problem? Any chance of going back to Ford for some dollars?
My other Fords have all made over 150K with no problems.
Thanks,
BJ

 

My 04 F150 5.4L just had Catastrophic Engine Failure as Ford dealer put it. Basically one of the timing chains jumped time (never heard any problems prior to this) and caused engine to get out of time thus causing damage to vavles and possibly cylinder heads. Turck has 83K miles on it. I contacted Ford to ask for assistanace adn they basically told me that they cannothelp as this is not a problme they are aware of (timing chians going bad). I guess they are not keeping a file or records on this stuff as I have found out that the timing chain problem has been around for some time. Cheap parts is what is basically comes down to as I have heard. Not only with the F150 but other Ford makes and models as well. I have owned other Trucks from other manufacurers and ran over 100K each and never had a problem like this. Basically only routine maint. I am now up to my eyeballs in repairing this truck with a new engine.

 

Sorry to hear you had the same problem. All I got was a form letter from Ford pointing me back to the dealer. The dealer replaced the timing chain, tensioner and guides and luckily I noticed the problem before there was any more damage; it was still a very expensive repair. Hopefully this fix will last until I sell the truck... I'm thinking maybe a Tundra?
BJ

 

NEVER heard of it. EVER. Not to say it may not have happened, but it seems pretty isolated, apparently by the number of posts. Are you sure it's a FORD?

 

This hass been happenning since the 5.4 came out. The guides are plastic and they wear prematurely and snap causing the chain to go. Usually happens on the passenger side first. I believe there is a TSB about this from Ford. If anyone wants to run a check on ALLDATA on the 01-03, you should see the TSB. I saw this when the shop I was working in a repair shop last year. I imagine the error wasnt fixed on some 04-07's??

either way, Ford knew/knows about it.

 

Again, I've never seen it. Of course, I've done a lot of heads, on a LOT of vehicles, and ALL of those vehicles use a nylon guide/tensioner for the cam chains...It's not just a Ford thing, and I'll tell you what, a JEEP (Just Empty Every Pocket = JEEP) is the worst for probz with chains jumping time.

 

well the only reason i mention it being a plastic guide is because when you order a new part from ford it is no longer the plastic guide that was in it before, it is either a metal or stronger polyblend of some sort and there is a specific tsb out there

 

I'd have to see one. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I have yet to see an F150 in our shop for other than a broken spark plug, routine maintenance, and the occassional leaking seal, and some other deranged crap.

 

Agreed, I maintain lots of 5.4’s from 99 - 07, some with 300,000+ miles and this is the first I’ve ever heard of it.

 

sorry guys, now that i re-read my posts i see how i came off as implying that it is a very common thing in these engines

that wasn't my intention

what i meant was that this problem (regardless of its frequency in occurring) is one that has occurred in these engines since the 5.4 came out.
that is not to say that it happens a lot, I didn't mean to speak to the frequency in which this problem occurs or is reported/known to happen.

i actually agree that it is extremely rare for a. this to happen and b. an F150 to be at a shop other than in the owner's/mechanic's/tech's parking spot(s)

i saw this occur to only 1 F150 in fact so I couldn't even really speak to the ocurrence of this issue even if it WERE a common thing.

i hope I explained myself the way I intended to do in my head.

sorry about that guys

 

guys, I think what we're actually seeing here is either 1 or 2 trolls. most likely the same guy with 2 screen names.

I have never heard of this timing chain issue either and I follow the F-150 pretty religiously. The OP may not be trolling, but that Tundra comment just makes me wonder. And then the thread getting revived 1 month later by somebody with 1 post....

If I'm wrong, sorry. As the saying goes though. S**t happens. Best of luck

 

I am just wondering if the truck started making an odd noise or any other sound before the timing chain or tensioner let lose. Bc my truck makes an odd noise but cant figure it out any info will help. Thanks

 

Ok I am not the same person I can only speak for my truck. I have heard of issues in the past (2002) with the smaller V8's in the Explorers. And other Ford vehicles as well. This info was provided to me by the Dealer Service Shop Manager who has worked on my truck since purchasing it. This is also the second one he has gotten in in the last two months with the same problem the other was a 2005. All I can say is that this is not common for Trucks with under 100K or even 120K. I can only speak for myself about this problem as I can only use the information I have received and or read. And for someone to sit out there and say Sh** Happens well this is true but it's not your $7800 Sh** that's happening.

 

Oh and I have owned Dodge and Chevy trucks and ran them over 100K and never had any major problems with them other than routine stuff. This is my first Ford and this is not the only problem it has had (@55K rear transfer pinion bearing went bad and had to be rebuilt - Ford did offer up some money but not all of it as they had it as a problem). So it will be my last as I do not believe in "Built Ford Tough".

 

1. if it actually happened
2. if you were dumb enough to actually pay $7800 to repair an engine with top end damage.

you can easily buy a 5.4 engine and pay for the install and come out for under $4k. A pair of heads runs $1-2,000 and labor might be $500-1000. Either way, you're looking $4,000, $4,500 tops to do an engine swap or upper end repair. $7800 sounds like a magical # you pulled out your butt to re-enforce your position that Fords are crap


3. in 1 post you say you've had issues with other Fords (Explorers)...then you immediately repost and say this is your first Ford...which is it?