HELP please. Vct seals
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
HELP please. Vct seals
Hey everyone. I just started to tackle my vct solenoids. I think I may have screwed up. I have an 05 but the new seals seem to be a lot different. I can't get the old seals out to save my life. The pictures show the old seals. Did I screw up by trying to remove these seals? Is this the design where the valve covers have I be removed?
#3
Senior Member
Hmmm...those do look smaller. I do think you have the kind of VCT opening that requires the valve-covers to come off to pull the solenoids ... holy crap. The 2004-5 are much maligned for their issues ... I thought you had to get into a late 06 to have the updated valve covers. Sheesh.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
if thats the case do i need new valve covers then since i ripped that seal trying to get it out? ya I was under the impression that 07+ were the ones that needed the remove the covers and everything previously could be done without removing them.
#5
I replaced these on my 04 and it looks like yours. I got replacement seals also and bent and twisted the old ones out with a flathead and pliers. They were really hard to get out. Then I took a long shaft screw driver with a Torx bit I forget what size and removed and replaced the old solenoid. The hardest part was finding the right driver to fit into such a small opening to get to the Torx screw. But I think your good it looks the same as mine. I can post pics of my solenoids tomorrow at some point if you want. Here's a link to the tutorial I used. http://www.fordtruckclub.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=4066
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I replaced these on my 04 and it looks like yours. I got replacement seals also and bent and twisted the old ones out with a flathead and pliers. They were really hard to get out. Then I took a long shaft screw driver with a Torx bit I forget what size and removed and replaced the old solenoid. The hardest part was finding the right driver to fit into such a small opening to get to the Torx screw. But I think your good it looks the same as mine. I can post pics of my solenoids tomorrow at some point if you want.
Last edited by JaredTanner; 10-04-2013 at 12:37 AM.
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#10
Senior Member
As you can see your openings are considerably smaller and so, I do believe you have the '07 and newer style valve covers. Are they both like this? Have you owned the truck since new? If not, I wonder if someone replaced the valve covers sometime along the way or maybe put a junkyard engine in the truck.
The seals on the the newer style valve covers are still replaceable ... I think you just can't really get them out until the valve cover is off the engine. I've been told there isn't enough clearance, but if it was me, I think I'd try drilling a couple of small holes in the seal and see if it can be worked-out with a 90-degree pick or something along those lines. I don't know what the seating surface looks like under there though.
The seals on the the newer style valve covers are still replaceable ... I think you just can't really get them out until the valve cover is off the engine. I've been told there isn't enough clearance, but if it was me, I think I'd try drilling a couple of small holes in the seal and see if it can be worked-out with a 90-degree pick or something along those lines. I don't know what the seating surface looks like under there though.