Engine problems
#1
Engine problems
So i've had a check engine light on for sometime and i took it to my local ford. Not only an engine light but a knock also. So they threw the scanner on it and they said it's something about cam phasers. Now they wanted to keep my truck for the day to check the oil pressures and as long as their all steady than the motor is still ok. If not they said i need a new motor. But apparantly if I need the cam phaser stuff done they have to tear it completely down and all of this and it comes to $3,000k worth of work. Now i had my grandpa call in because he has old friends from his ford days down there and apparently their not screwing me around. Anyone have any experience with this?
#2
Senior Member
Year, engine? Ask what code it is throwing (should be a P followed by four digits). Can you post a scan of the estimate? That sounds very expensive for the work being done.
#3
I just ask my local dealer about this a few days ago. They said if it's bad enough, it can damage the camshaft and timing chain. If that happens then it's $2,500 to $3,000 per side. I told him you might as well replace the engine, and he agreed. Just the cam phasers was around $2,000+. I've heard of estimates as low as $1,600.
#5
Fords For Life
How loud is the engine when the cam phasers are bad? I have had a slight knock on my engine for awhile now. Its noticeable but not super ridiculous. If it is or possibly is my cam phasers I want to know now since I still have my extended warranty for 800 miles and it is defnitely covered Thanks oh and sorry didnt mean to jack your thread but I have heard estimates that high so sounds like it could be right. I have also heard that the engine can run fine with bad cam phasers so I dont know. Good Luck
#6
Senior Member
^if it is your cam phasers it should be very quiet or not heard at all on cold start up and get louder as engine warms up and go away around 1200 rpms. I would take it to the dealer and let them fix it sometime with in the next 800 miles!
#7
Something
Eh. Well if your phasers are bad then those and your valve lifters need replacing. I need to replace mine here soon, but I only get ping at the top of 2 and 3rd gear range right before the tranny shifts up (due to excessive valve clearance caused by bad valve lifters). The timing chains do stretch over time so if they are pulling the cam stuff out you might as well have the chains replaced, along with the oil pump. Now, as far as a new engine is concerned, I would ask them why they think you need a new engine. Excessive pinging can damage your pistons and cylinder walls, but that takes a lot of knocking. Do they think your pistons are damaged? Time quotes to do this procedure are about 7-8 hrs for both phasers and lifters I believe, and adding the other stuff in would probably add 2-3 more hours of labor, so 11 hrs at 90.00 an hour is 990.00 just in labor costs. Add the price of the components (and if its a ford dealership then they will only use ford parts, including those 40.00 bolts they love to sell that you can find for 8.00 at other stores) that could be 700-800 or more in parts, so you're looking at a 2000.00 job at most. Phasers alone should be 1200 -1400 for everything. A new engine costs 3000 - 4000 I think, and not including labor. I'm not sure why your oil pressure would be dropping unless you have a lot of sludge up around your camshafts, or the crankshaft isn't turning like it should due to a damaged piston or cylinder. I would ask more questions before you do anything, mainly exactly why they think your engine as gone bad, or if a new engine is just cheaper then fixing the one you have now.