Rubrignitz

pulleys!! every sound I've ever heard that made that noise has been pulleys. run down the local parts shop and pick up a mechanics stethiscope... you can locate the noise that way.

solaratomic

Sounds like a phaser, I'm about to replace one myself. It starts out quiet but will get louder. I have not had any driveablity or power loss. Just a loud and embrassing knocking noise coming from the front of my car at traffic lights. I'm puting a new one on my car early next week. I'll report back when I'm finished.

avengence

What was the cost on the phaser?

solaratomic

Originally it was $235 from the ford place, I managed to talk them down to $199. Also you have to have a timing chain wedge to lock the chain on the crank gear. The cheapest I've found one is online for $90. I'm hoping the dealership will let me borrow theirs for 2-3 hours. We'll see on that one. According to the S197 "specialist" at my ford dealer, it's a very straight forward install. Remove the valve cover, insert wedge, R&R phaser, replace valve cover w/new gasket. Again we'll see.

Rubrignitz

I didn't think it would even be that much with what it looks like... ha, you never know.

also the cam phaser bolts are "torque to yield" and will need to be replaced... $12.50/ea from brenspeed, about the same from dealer.

avengence

I guess I will we what part I need when I take it apart. Is there a way to physically tell if the phaser has gone bad?

solaratomic

If I'm not mistaken, when you buy your phaser a new bolt comes with it, the tsb part # says it also includes the bolt.

Also, I am not aware of a way to physically see the damage without tearing the phaser apart. Check out the TSB on the phaser and lash adjusters and make sure that your noise meets all the described criteria. I did read a post one time of a guy who tore them down and put them back together, but he was putting in the lockouts, so wasn't worried about them working anymore. If I remember correctly he recommended not tearing them down, if you wanted them to work. Lots of little parts to lose or misalign...as I recall.

avengence

Ok so I think I got bad gas or something. I had 87 octane in it and for some reason the car just didnt seem "right" it was slow and sort of sputtery and rich smelling. I went and put in some 91 and a bottle of injector cleaner and its a LOT better. I think that noise is just the VCT phaser because if something else was wrong in the drivetrain it would get louder as the RPMs go up. Also it doesnt make the noise till the car comes up to temp, which it says in the TSB that I found for the VCT phaser problem. The other thing it says in there is rev the car to 1200 rpm and if it goes away then its the phaser. Which if I do, the engine totally sounds normal.

Now I guess I am going to take my alt out and bring it in to autozone or something and have them test it. Also, can a hiss over the stereo be a problem with a bad signal from the alt?

solaratomic

On your phaser check these videos, they're extremely boring but it's good information.

http://www.fordtechservice.dealercon...evepisodes.asp

Episodes 17 & 22
22 describes the noises, 17 tells how to fix it, note that the heads and vct are exactly the same on the mustangs and the 5.4L trucks

No idea on the alternator, the electrical system is rediculously complicated in these cars.

avengence

Cool, thanks!

I guess it is just the phaser that is bad, at least I hope thats all it is. I figure other things will cause a loss in power.

As for the electrical, with the weird stuff that was happening, its either a wire rubbing on something or touching the exhaust or the alt is going bad.