I did cam phasers in my garage, and you can too!

[dsiggi]

I've got just under 53k miles and mine is finally just now starting to make a noise on start-up for 5 seconds or so. I did just do an oil change this past weekend and they seem to have gotten better though.

Am I past the warranty cut off or do I still have time? After reading this post I'd really prefer not to try to do it myself.

I believe you have to be under 5/60 powertrain currently or ESP. Or beg and plead with Ford Corporate as the customer sat program is over.

 

[FordTechOne]

In the attached an HLZ part is shown on the left, and the MLZ part is on the right. Previously in this post I stated that I'd not seen a failure mode like the one that started this thread. A disclaimer... Ive looked all over the place on the forums for pictures of failed parts. There aren't many. When Ford does a repair, we don't often get pictures. Maybe in total I've looked a 4 or 5 across several car vendors... Even McClaren and Lambo. Which is an extremely small sample. Of those 4 or 5, the failure mode is always the pin well being reamed out. And I've found patents that call this problem out. But that doesn't mean it's the only failure mode or even the dominant one. The failure mode we see on this thread is presumably, the plastic lock pin spring retainer, wears along the back plate of the phaser, and for whatever reason, disintegrates. Not enough oil perhaps. After that, the oil pressure which drives the pin out of lock, pushes it against the back plate instead of the spring retainer. And in this case it wore a slot in the back plate. The pin probably got smaller too until it either jammed, or the spring was so unaligned it couldn't push the pin back in the well.

I can say with some confidence, this specific failure mode CANNOT happen with the MLZ parts, oil or not. Note the plastic retainer for the HLZ part. The blue thing. It's free standing in the picture. It sits against the back plate at the top of the picture. It's pushed there under the constant pressure of the spring, and in operation, by oil pressure. But it's got play in the cavity which holds it. Note the MLZ retainer. It's red and you can see in on the rotor. It's not removed because unlike the HLZ part, the lock pin spring retainer of the MLZ part is press fit in the rotor. And it's in there tight! So... That plastic retainer is not in contact with the back plate and is thus not subject to wear.

I'm still hoping for pictures of the other 3 retainers. No problem if that's not possible. Just curious...

The next picture is just another view of the parts. There are some other differences but they aren't relevant in this specific case.

What revision of the HL3Z part is that? Also, are they both intake or both exhaust?

 

[Muchmore]

That's EXTREMELY kind of you to say, and perhaps the most genuine and sincere compliment I've received in a long time. Thank you, that means a lot to me!

I completely second this. I was debating doing my own second set myself as well. I have a really good relationship with my local dealer so I talked them down to $2900 AND....with a trip to Vegas this week I can just leave the truck with them.

1st set 30k, second set 116k I'm also interested to check part numbers when they come out. I have asked to keep all the extra parts.

 

[spack]

HLZ is the CD version. Both are exhaust

 

[spack]

I completely second this. I was debating doing my own second set myself as well. I have a really good relationship with my local dealer so I talked them down to $2900 AND....with a trip to Vegas this week I can just leave the truck with them.

1st set 30k, second set 116k I'm also interested to check part numbers when they come out. I have asked to keep all the extra parts.

Take pictures of the old parts if you would. Adds to the knowledge base

 

[Ellison3]

Awesome write up. Gonna save this for future reference.

 

[TomDirt]

Or beg and plead with Ford Corporate as the customer sat program is over.

That might as well be FoMoCo's new motto.

 

[Muchmore]

Take pictures of the old parts if you would. Adds to the knowledge base

Man I was in such a hurry to get out of town to Vegas I forgot to ask them to keep the parts, but mine did get the MLZ part numbers.

 

[TomDirt]

99% of Gen 2 owners trying to diy cam phasers.

 

[OILFIELD RAPTOR]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. I am fixing to take this project on!!