Fellow employee, female, has a 2004 F 150 and recently it suddenly threw a CEL and started chugging and died on her several times. She took it to a local indie shop that told her there were too many codes to count and the motor was seized, requiring replacement. They also told her that "the motor dumped all the oil in the engine", which makes zero sense. 163K miles, it's a 4x4 Lariat SCrew. They offered her $1500.

After hearing her symptoms I offered to have a look at it for her. She told the shop she was having it towed home for someone else to look at, and they offered her $4000. That's a big red flag.

Anyway, they brought it home on a flat bed, started it up and drove it into her garage. So much for a seized engine. I started it and it barely idles. No codes save P1000. She thought the battery may have gone dead. Severe misfire.

I got it up to operating temp by keeping my foot in the gas. It eventually triggered three codes:

P0022 -*Cam Position*Actuator A - Bank 2 Timing Over-Retard

P0171 - System To Lean Bank 1

P2198 - Stuck Rich 2/1

This combination suggests the VCT solenoid on bank 2 is defective. I looked at the O2 sensor on bank 2 and it is indeed stuck rich. Bank 1 has some oscillation.

In addition, she has never replaced the plugs. I'll be doing both plugs and VCT solenoids next week. I'm positive that will fix it. I'll also recommend new O2 sensors and will clean her MAF and TB while I'm at it.

It's obvious they saw a female who doesn't know anything about vehicles and thought they were going to steal her truck. Losers. People like that **** me off.

 

Good morning!

Sadly - stories like that abound. And I wholeheartedly agree - there should be a special place in Hell for these crooks.

Nice to see there are still genuinely good folks like you out there!

Good luck with the R&R (and I also concur - new front O2's are a real good idea. New fuel filter as well, perhaps).


MGD

 

There is. It's behind the wheel of a Chevy....lol.


VTX, I think you got the right idea by changing the solenoids and plugs. I'm sure that truck could use an oil change with a fresh fl820s filter as well... Might as well address the FPDM for the woman too.... It's likely the cat could need some R&R if the misfire as well has persisted for some time..

I can't stand when these crooked shops play games like this. They really could use some good ole fashion public criticism up on Yelp... It does work..

 

nice job VTX...

 

I forgot to mention, absolutely no cam phaser noise either, and she has owned the truck since new. That doesn't mean one isn't broken, but I'm fairly certain the problem is the solenoids.

 

Timing codes, and idling issues, can certainly be the solenoids..

 

It was the driver side VCT solenoid, just as I thought. I showed her where to get both on eBay for $100. Screen on the driver side was broken and had jammed the solenoid. Passenger side was about to break. Replaced both and the engine purrs like new. Working on replacing the plugs for her now.





So, for $100 in parts they were going to steal her truck out from under her. *****holes

 

Good man, way to go.

Sometimes word of mouth spreads like cancer when circumstances are as such. Get the word out and their bottom line will suffer.

 

If she has printed estimate from them I would see about a lawyer. Who know, maybe she wants to own a dealership. Since theirs is broken perhaps she can get it fro cheap.

 

Attaboy VTX!

I doubt she could legally "sock" it to the shop for a written or spoken misdiagnosis, but a good ole fashion yelp! review is a good way to take a swing at em!