lol I could have told you this....it happened to me too....I'm not sure if r134a is illegal to atmospherically purge or not though...

 

I was able to move the accumulator and lines over enough after I took the battery out to get the cover off. It was a pain but once you get the cover at the "magical" angle it lifts right out. It apparently helps if you scream obscenities while trying to find the "magical" angle.

 

Took the AC lines apart got the valve cover off. Close inspection has revealed only a slack chain on bottom left side. No marks on front cover though, could lift it up about an inch off the lower guide. Right side was tight. Noticed that the left cam phaser is stamped with R at the timing mark, seems odd unless they are the same part.

Tomorrow will take out spark plugs and set engine to TDC. Will begin on Friday using this guide page 1 on the removal after marking cam position at TDC. Can you tell me how the cams will stay in place with just the 3 rollers removed on each side. Seems like there is natural tension on them from valve springs.

How do I check the follows/rollers/lash adjusters. Wasn't planning on changing them but maybe I should since no obvious timing problems. Have 12 hours in so far plus about 20 hours of research. Should go back together easier than came apart.

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

The phasers are stamped for both left and right and are the same part. The driver side is the left side of the engine.

 

I've discovered a lot of magical things happen when working on cars once you start screaming and cursing. I think it draws the magic in, like sharks to blood.

 

When I changed my lash adjusters, I held them in a bowl of oil and pumped them up with clean oil, I had 13 or the 24 that would not pump up (prime), I replaced all after I did the same with the new lash adjusters.

 

The phasers are marked driver side (left) marked with R on phaser and passenger side (right) is marked with L on phaser. Set crank to what I thought wa TDC but the colored links on chain do not line up with the marks on the cam phasers. It appears that phasers have been previously replaced. I could be off time 180 degrees so will check that again with a compression gauge. I assume when at TDC the gauge should read the cylinder compression.

When I rotated the engine the tensioner on the left side made the chain tight and the plunger on tensioner was extended unlike when the chain was loose the tensioner plunger was collapsed.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for the test on the lash adjusters, I'll do that.

 

If I understand you correctly, you are confusing the left and right side of the engine. The sides are from the perspective of the driver. They are backwards if you are standing in front of the truck looking at the engine. Both phasers should have both a L and a R on them.

 

I have a 05 5.4l it starts right up with no chain noise or motor noise but a faint tick (you can only hear with the hood opened) and you can feel a small miss. It runs great but it was saying I am getting 9mpg. It was throwing a P0300 multiple cylinder misfire. I put new plugs and coils in and still runs the same and giving the same code. Took it to the dealer for a diagnostic and eec passed, and compression passed. Tech said he monitored the pids and stated the whole left bank one was going crazy (misfiring). They recommend VCT phasers and timing chain tensioners. The thing is I just got the truck and the previous owner said he just had the timing and phasers replaced. I printed this guide and was going to order the parts but thought I would see if anyone had any suggestions first. It would be so helpful! Thanks in advance!

 

That's what I was thinking, but kept getting confused myself!