HCFX2013

I did use the wedge tool and the chain didn't move. My suspicion is that the timing chain skipped before I did the phaser job.

I found out after having a tech do an advanced scan that all cylinders on that bank are misfiring. Planning on pulling a couple of plugs to check them out, rule out the immediate stuff before calling it a timing issue.

HCFX2013

For those following this thread, we finally figured out what was wrong with the truck. Not sure why, but the catalytic converter was cooked on the driver's side. My suspicion is that the faulty phaser caused a misfire long enough to melt the converter. It was stopped up and dumped bits of platinum all over me and my driveway when I dropped it out of the truck. We put a new(ish) set of cats in, and the truck drove perfect with plenty of power. It never threw a flashing CEL or any efficiency codes which is odd.


A few days later I had a check engine light which was a stuck rich code for one of the upstream 02 sensors. Replaced the sensor (the truck got 4 new sensors in total) and has been running good ever since. How long this engine will go, I don't know. Oil pressure is 18psi and it has quite possibly the loudest chain slap upon warm start I've ever heard. I think he's going to change the oil every 5,000 miles and ride it out until something breaks, then it's his call on whether he wants to put an engine in it or buy a new truck.


The transmission issue was exactly what I predicted, the broken OD snap ring lodged in the overdrive solenoid. Cheap fix ($300). Of course I talked to 3 transmission shops and they all wanted to rebuild it, sight unseen. The truck has had a trans rebuild before, as some of the gaskets were aftermarket and it appeared to have a shift kit in it. Just full of mysteries.


For the meantime this turd of a truck is running okay, but I'm waiting patiently for the next problem to rear it's head. Lemon.