Cam Phaser/Engine Failure Reports

[FordTechOne]

See my post. Ford finally found the issue. All 2019 and some 20’s will have cam phaser issue. They have updated the solenoids as the old once were not actuating properly. My dealership said ford just released this as the cause. My truck was in for phaser replacements when this update was released. I now have updated solenoids and no issues. Dealer said all the cam phaser replacements they did, those people eventually will have to come back to get solenoids updated.

Incorrect. Only vehicles built before 8-April-2019. That is when the issue was corrected in production. Therefore it will only affect some 2019s, and not 2020's.

 

[FordTechOne]

The "Cam Phaser" - VCT TSB is expected to be published 4th quarter of 2019 per the FORD SSM 48168 (SSM = Special Service Message)


per the SSM, Some 2017-2018 F150 vehicles built on or before 10-Jul-2018 and 2018-2019 Expedition/Navigator vehicles built on or before 8-April-2019 equipped with the 3.5L

TSB is to standardize the labor procedures and parts only.

"Just released" when? My phasers (only) were replaced last week under SSN #48168

If they were replaced under the SSM then that is the updated part # and procedure.

"cwh" is incorrect...the solenoids and chain tensioners do not need to be replaced. The issue lies solely with the phasers and PCM calibration.

 

[cwh]

TSB is to standardize the labor procedures and parts only.


If they were replaced under the SSM then that is the updated part # and procedure.

"cwh" is incorrect...the solenoids and chain tensioners do not need to be replaced. The issue lies solely with the phasers and PCM calibration.

 

[cwh]

Welp. That’s not what I was told 3 days ago 9-20-19. Ford just released that updated solenoids have been released. This is what two separate dealerships have told me in Denver. Don’t shoot the messenger.

 

[FordTechOne]

Welp. That’s not what I was told 3 days ago 9-20-19. Ford just released that updated solenoids have been released. This is what two separate dealerships have told me in Denver. Don’t shoot the messenger.

Understood. Unfortunately, dealerships (franchises) often misconstrue information provided to them.

 

[WraptorBoy]

Incorrect. Only vehicles built before 8-April-2019. That is when the issue was corrected in production. Therefore it will only affect some 2019s, and not 2020's.

Hey FordTechOne. First, thank you for the info and responses to this and other threads. Very helpful and appreciated!

I've been wondering why this only happens to some Raptors. Seemingly, most are not affected.

If this problem is caused by a design flaw, then it must affect all vehicles. If the design is sound, then the affected vehicles are likely having issues due to defective parts (and this assumes no one is beating on or otherwise treating their Raptor badly). Just speaking logically here.

From what you are telling, every 2nd gen Raptor, with a 2nd gen 3.5L ecoboost, before the April date you provided, has the original/faulty cam phaser design right? Theoretically, if the design has been accepted by Ford as faulty, and has been updated, then all vehicles with the old design should fail.

Have you gathered enough info that could explain why 75% of the peeps from this forum alone do not have this issue, and 25% do?

If the design is problematic, why do only some have this issue? It should affect all.

TIA

 

[greatone99]

well said , sounds like its luck of the draw

 

[FordTechOne]

Hey FordTechOne. First, thank you for the info and responses to this and other threads. Very helpful and appreciated!

I've been wondering why this only happens to some Raptors. Seemingly, most are not affected.

If this problem is caused by a design flaw, then it must affect all vehicles. If the design is sound, then the affected vehicles are likely having issues due to defective parts (and this assumes no one is beating on or otherwise treating their Raptor badly). Just speaking logically here.

From what you are telling, every 2nd gen Raptor, with a 2nd gen 3.5L ecoboost, before the April date you provided, has the original/faulty cam phaser design right? Theoretically, if the design has been accepted by Ford as faulty, and has been updated, then all vehicles with the old design should fail.

Have you gathered enough info that could explain why 75% of the peeps from this forum alone do not have this issue, and 25% do?

If the design is problematic, why do only some have this issue? It should affect all.

TIA

The issue appears to be a manufacturing issue, not a design flaw. Engineering can design the most robust component in the world, but it is often up to outside suppliers to manufacture that component and provide it to the assembly plant. Unfortunately, issues sometimes only arise once vehicles are built and in the hands of the customer. That's when the investigation into the issue begins and a service message is published, which is what the dealer references to correct the concern.

The vehicles build prior to the cutoff date MAY experience the issue. My 2018 F-150 3.5 XLT had the noise before 10,000 miles; so from my experience if there is an issue with the phasers it will show itself early on. All phasers aren't defective, but if the issue is going to occur, it will be on vehicles before the specified build date. Reason is most likely that they cut off the supply of suspect parts on that date. However, that does not mean that all parts installed prior to that date are defective. Far from it, especially when they build almost 1 million trucks per year, and all models (Expedition, Navigator, F-150) have the potential to be affected

 

[WraptorBoy]

The issue appears to be a manufacturing issue, not a design flaw. Engineering can design the most robust component in the world, but it is often up to outside suppliers to manufacture that component and provide it to the assembly plant. Unfortunately, issues sometimes only arise once vehicles are built and in the hands of the customer. That's when the investigation into the issue begins and a service message is published, which is what the dealer references to correct the concern.

The vehicles build prior to the cutoff date MAY experience the issue. My 2018 F-150 3.5 XLT had the noise before 10,000 miles; so from my experience if there is an issue with the phasers it will show itself early on. All phasers aren't defective, but if the issue is going to occur, it will be on vehicles before the specified build date. Reason is most likely that they cut off the supply of suspect parts on that date. However, that does not mean that all parts installed prior to that date are defective. Far from it, especially when they build almost 1 million trucks per year, and all models (Expedition, Navigator, F-150) have the potential to be affected

Oh. I read in another post of yours that Ford revised the part and updated the PCM calibration and April was the cutoff where vehicles will get the new part number(s).

If Ford revised the part, wouldn't that suggest that the part was a design flaw?

 

[rtmozingo]

Oh. I read in another post of yours that Ford revised the part and updated the PCM calibration and April was the cutoff where vehicles will get the new part number(s).

If Ford revised the part, wouldn't that suggest that the part was a design flaw?

Not necessarily, and in this case most likely not. We are seeing the part failures early, and many repeat offenders. This indicates something else in the engine is causing the issue. While the phasers are the failure point, lack of oil flow to the phasers is the driving mechanism. Revisions of the phaser can make it more robust (ie operate with less oil, greater range of adjustment, etc), but if the problem exists elsewhere, it will fail again.

I've seen over 10 trucks with cam phaser replacements develop the problem again shortly after the fix. This indicates the problem is not with the component itself, but elsewhere. It makes complete sense to me that it would be a failing solenoid.

FWIW, I still calculated less than 1% of all Gen 2 Raptors have seen this problem. My dealer (which sells probably 20 Raptors a year) has only had a handful of regular F150s in for the fix, and no Raptors.