I recently took my 2004 F150 to my mechanic. After diagnosing the check engine light. I was told that my timing chain was going bad. The truck still runs fine but i can hear the slight rattling when i stop at a light. I have about 250,000 miles on the truck. Is it worth replacing the timing or should i be prepared to get hit with replacing the whole motor.

 

Much cheaper to replace a chain vs the entire engine. If you wait too long and the chain breaks or gets too far out of time, then you will have no choice but to replace the engine.

 

Curious as to what the code was.

 

What engine do you have in your truck?

 

assuming a 5.4. it’s a personal choice, but i wouldn’t pay for a complete timing job or for a new reman in a hi ish mile 04….. unless it had major Major sentimental value. too many examples of people paying to have al that work done only tj have more problems. YMMV

i might take it on DIY if I really liked it and intended to use for several more years.

 

I have the V8 Triton

 

I've been told that it would not be a good idea to just replace the timing because of the high milage amount.

 

If it were me, and I needed to go cheap, I would

Remove the oil pan and clean the oil pump pickup screen making sure to get ALL of the debris that has collected on the screen and below the screen in the cup area. Close it up and see how it goes. Probably cost you $50 in parts and has a small chance, probably 20%, of solving the problem.