Ok , so I have a 2007 F150 5.4 its ran great for awhile now but about 2 weeks ago when I would stop at a light or in the driveway it would idle very hard almost die, I did some research found the VCT Solenoids were a good possible option causing this. I bought 2 new ones and went to change them out. Unfortually, the holes in the valve cover are not oval but circle so no way to remove the solenoids with out taking off the valve covers.. While one side looked pretty easy the driver side looked like hell. I decided to just take it some where but until I can I just unplugged them. So first question, will driving with them unplugged cause any extra damage? It seems like its lower on HP but other than that it seems to run good even on idle. With it running better with them unplugged does that seem to point to the solenoids as the issue? Also the engine light never came on, not till I unplugged the solenoids.

Now its been about 3 days or so with them unplugged, and started to notice another trend. Every time I get gas, I would have to turn the key a few times before it would start up and run. Usually on first turn it would just not start, 2nd turn it would usually crank for awhile then start. But now as soon as I put into drive and start driving the gas peddle seems to stop working. As in I can press it all the way down and nothing, it wont rev or go.. usually a few secs later it will start working again.. Then for next few hours it will do that on and off.. more time then not it works correctly. Just a few secs here and there that it stops working. By end of day it never happens again, until I get gas again. Then it starts over.

So not sure if both issues are related? I Tend to think because the engine light never came on that it was not something electrical causing this. Maybe not a solenoid problem at all. Maybe these two issues would make sense to someone on here and could point me in a direction. Thanks for any help
Glen