New TSB for 3.5 GDI Sartup Rattle 15-0131

[SHOdded]

Guess I gotta go detune.

That sux.

[painterpatt]

The parts do not cross over AFAIK, at best you can see if the revision numbers have been updated.  But it's possible the part numbers are diff for F150 vs SHO/Flex/X/MKS while the actual part is the same.

At least it gives me a list of parts needed, plus the water pump. Only at 54k but may as well while I'm in there

[SHOdded]

Pics & posts aplenty

[68_GT]

just had mine fixed

$3,105.02.

Went in for code P0016 because I couldn't pass inspection.

parts list:
intake manifold gasket
timing chain
timing chain
engine variable timing solenoid
camshaft position sensor X 2
flanged hex bolt
timing chain tensioner arm
guide
valve rocker arm cover x 2
crankshaft oil seal asy
silicone sealant
oil filter
oil
timing chain
bolt
antifreeze

I know I have repeat parts in there but they show different part numbers I can post them all later.

car runs like new no more rattle at start up, no more rattle while driving. I'm at 103K miles. about 95 tuned on Livernois Stage 3 tune.

I'm debating putting the stage 3 tune / 3 bar back in. My car ran ok with the stage 3 tune before this repair but when I flashed it back to stock to take it to the dealer it seemed to run a lot better and more powerful

maybe the car wasn't responding to the tune properly because of the engine codes and mechanical issues ??

[sholxgt]

Ouch!  Glad to hear it's back to running good again.

Boggles my mind that Ford continues to have timing chain tensioner issues.  I would have thought that after they replaced thousands and thousands of timing chain assemblies under warranty on the 4.6 v8's that they would have come up with a better design.

[ZSHO]

I hope you had an ESP to cover most of the bill....total of 103k on the clock with 95k of Texas Tuned heat contributing to extra stress and  wear and certainly questionable IDK considering the TSB but hopefully she is running to her fullest potential once again and make sure to stay on TOP of the maintenance aspect,plugs,oils,fresh fluids changed at frequent intervals and NOT what Ford recommends and best of luck to ya.  Z

[SHOdded]

What, no coolant pump??? LOL!  Yeah, front end work on these engines is EXPENSIVE!  At least you will actually have a warranty on the work.  When work is done under warranty, there is no actual warranty, it is only good until the warranty expires.  So imagine being at the tail end of the warranty when the work is done and having to go back in when out of warranty.  Not fun!

Did they give you any discount on parts and/or labor?  Glad to hear the SHO's back in tiptop condition though, the way it should be

I would give it at least 1 full fuel tank's worth of miles to "break in" and sort out potential issues with the work before putting a tune back on.  Make sure the rattle does not return

[68_GT]

I begged for a deal on it with the guy since I got laid off from my criminal justice career job last October, and have been trying to make it work in a commission only sales gig for a security alarm company (but doing well). Initiallyhe said the repair was $3,700 then the final bill was $3,100 saying they saved 2 hours labor No warranty, no discussion of the tune, service guy says the timing chain stretch is from hot rodding the car, but he also could explain how many cams and cam phasers my engine had either.....

should they have replaced my cam pahsers, or coolant pump while they were in there ?!??!?!?

[68_GT]

this was Ford Gullo in Conroe TX.

they destroyed my Optima Red Top battery and tried to tell me it was bad and I had to replace it. When I went to pick it up the terminal was pulled out of it ! they claim the battery leaked and made that happen lol... Thankfully Advance Austo warrantied it, although I'm not sure why but glad. And they scratched / gauged my front bumper so I complained after seeing it and got into it with them so now they're going to repaint it.

always something.... runs great feels powerful and smooth for stock and only my spark plugs which are probably ready to be replaced and a K&N air filter drop in.

[SHOdded]

The phasers are probably ok not to do, but still since they were right there ...  The solenoid were replaced, and that I would DEFINITELY have had done, because there's no way to tell how badly clogged the internal screens are without a teardown.  I mentioned the coolant pump since it's right there after all that work, doesn't cost much, and you already have 100K on your engine.  Would have been nice to have that done at the same time, for sure.  Only heard maybe 1 or 2 cases of failure on an EB engine, so with any luck, it will continue to be a workhorse

Wonder if they used an engine hoist of some kind.  I mean, how exactly do you pull a terminal out of a battery???  They couldn't disconnect the cable, so they used the jaws of life on it maybe?  Ridiculous.

Repaint?  Have fun, hope it matches!  Maybe they should pay to have it done properly at a shop of your choice.

[68_GT]

they do have a top notch body shop so I'm not worried about the paint work. I guess they screwed up the terminal trying to get the cable off to make the repair. I had it on pretty tight so I guess it bit into the terminal, of course no one else takes care of our cars like we do. I would have spent all day trying to remove the cable before screwing up my battery. Yeah he used a little pulley puller jaws of like this to push the terminal out of the cable connector. Dumb.

[SoCalFlexin]

So i still have this Flex and drive it everyday, it now has 125,000 miles on it and i have been dealing with the startup noise for 120,000 miles and endless trips to the dealer and they couldn't figure it out. I bet they just believe it was a stretched timing chain. Well last weekend i finally took the valve cover off on the front to confirm if i had the old chain set up or the newer one. Luckily i have the newer chain and its never came in contact with anything, not a mark on it. So i was boggled and just changed the VVT solenoid out of pure curiosity and low and behold the start up rattle went away for the first time in many many years. its very frustrating to say the least. I have had to deal with this super loud rattle for 120,000 miles and all the dealer had to do is diagnose the car correctly and fix it, but that never happened.

[SHOdded]

That is good news.  How permanent it is remains to be seen, but fingers crossed!

[SoCalFlexin]

That is good news.  How permanent it is remains to be seen, but fingers crossed!

Well probably shouldn't have spoke so soon, it's only been 3 days. I just left work and it did make a slight rattle on cold start up. The crazy thing is that it has to be something to do with the right side VVT solenoid because all I did was change it and the rattle went away for days. Now that I think about it when I took my car under warranty many many times to the dealer for this rattle when I picked it up most times the rattle was gone for a few days after, I use to think because it wasn't being driven for a few days but now maybe it's because they  reflash the computer and reset the solenoid. Please if anyone can offer anything on this please help


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