Guide to diagnosing the 5.4L 3V tick
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Iowa
Guide to diagnosing the 5.4L 3V tick
I've read a billion threads, including hundreds of pages in the Final Repair Guide thread, but could we get the DIAGNOSIS of this ticking problem down to a step-by-step process?
Lots of guys come on here daily and ask, "why does my 5.4 tick?" Most of the time somebody immediately fires back with "Cam phasers. It'll cost ya 'bout $3k." Throwing expensive parts (and labor) at a problem doesn't seem to jive with the DIY ethos around here.
So, if you're 5.4L was ticking, what's the first thing you would look at? What can you check and rule out without ripping the engine open? What's step #1?
If we can establish that, maybe we can get step #2. Once it gets narrowed down, then threads like the Final Repair Guide can come to the rescue.
Lots of guys come on here daily and ask, "why does my 5.4 tick?" Most of the time somebody immediately fires back with "Cam phasers. It'll cost ya 'bout $3k." Throwing expensive parts (and labor) at a problem doesn't seem to jive with the DIY ethos around here.
So, if you're 5.4L was ticking, what's the first thing you would look at? What can you check and rule out without ripping the engine open? What's step #1?
If we can establish that, maybe we can get step #2. Once it gets narrowed down, then threads like the Final Repair Guide can come to the rescue.
