Will not start, Changed CAM phasers, timing chains, tensioners, guides, spark plugs

Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 100,000 MILES
Changed cam phasers, timing chains, tensioners, guides, spark plugs, VVT solenoids, oil pump, and replaced all the gaskets I removed. Marks on chain matched up, rotated engine four revolutions to double check nothing hit, crank sensor is plugged in, but engine won’t start. Cranks but won’t start. What could it be?
Thursday, May 26th, 2022 AT 9:03 AM

29 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,114 POSTS
Ariana,

Great to hear from you. You got yourself into another one. LOL Have you checked the basics such as spark and fuel to the engine? If not, start there. See if it starts for a couple of seconds using starting fluid. If it does and then stalls, we know it's a fuel-related issue. If there is no change, check to see if there is spark to the plugs. Here is a link you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-for-ignition-spark

If we have both spark and fuel, record the engine cranking and upload it for me to hear.

Take care and I'll watch for your response.

Joe
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Thursday, May 26th, 2022 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Figured it out. It was the crankshaft position sensor connector, so I went and got a new pigtail, spliced the wires, and boom. It started right up.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2022 AT 11:00 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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I totally forgot to put RTV on the timing cover. Should I take everything off and take the cover off and out RTV? Also, should it be on the valve covers too? And should I also change the cam position sensors?
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Friday, May 27th, 2022 AT 6:23 AM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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Ariana,

You always get things going. LOL As far as the RTV, the valve covers (where they meet the front cover (timing cover) meet. If you don't put it there, it will likely leak. It is similar where the timing chain cover meets the oil pan.

When you apply the RTV, you need to install the components (finger tight) within 4 minutes. Otherwise, you need to remove the RTV and re-prep the part.

I attached the directions for the LH valve cover. The RH is similar.

Let me know if I can help.

Joe

See pics below.
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Friday, May 27th, 2022 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 374 POSTS
A costly mistake because that means I must drain everything again and fight to remove the valve covers and harmonic balancer to get the timing cover off. What a bummer. Another thing, the chain wasn’t off at all, but the engine is shaking really bad. What could that be? The marks lined up, but I had to move the cams and they did jump when I moved them because of the valve spring pressure or whatever it is. Is that bad?
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Saturday, May 28th, 2022 AT 7:03 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Should this be flush? Could that be why it’s shaking?
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Saturday, May 28th, 2022 AT 8:32 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 374 POSTS
So, forget those last posts lol because I took it apart again fearing it was off a tooth and that’s why it was shaking and sure enough the right-hand chain has slack. Why is that? What did I do wrong? All the black links lined up perfectly.
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Saturday, May 28th, 2022 AT 8:34 PM
Tiny
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Ariana,

Looking at the pulley pic, something is off. They should be flush. If one is sticking out further than the other, it's likely the pulley isn't fully seated, or something is under it.

Yes, that will cause a vibration. With the engine running, watch to see if it wobbles.

As far as the loose chain is concerned, make sure the tensioners are in place. The tensioners on this engine are hydraulic and depend on oil pressure to function. Are they new or did you reuse the old ones?

Let me know,

Joe
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Saturday, May 28th, 2022 AT 10:08 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
  • 374 POSTS
I took it apart and it turns out the pulley is fine because there’s like a little ring on the water pump that’s rusted to the same color as the fan clutch, so it makes it look like it’s not flush, but it is. Also, I had a moment of exhaustion because the chain wasn’t loose. It had gotten a little slack because when I was taking the balancer bolt off it moved back very slightly so that was why there was slack, lol. Everything I did was fine, and it was still in time. Tensioners are new. Phasers oil pump gaskets chains and guided all new. Along with spark plugs VVT solenoids cam sensors crank sensor and crank connector so the only thing I can think of is maybe some debris got into the spark plug holes. I noticed the fuel injector retaining clip was bent. Could that cause the vibration?
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Monday, May 30th, 2022 AT 8:16 AM
Tiny
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If there is a fuel leak, it could cause the vibration, but do you smell fuel that would indicate a leak?

Joe
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Monday, May 30th, 2022 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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No.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Although I did smell fuel in the cabin for a like a minute, then it went away.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 AT 1:55 AM
Tiny
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If it went away, chances it was a residual smell. However, it would be a bad idea to double-check.

If there isn't one, the clip isn't the cause. How rough is it running? Can you take a video and upload it for me?

Let me know.

Joe.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
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All of the injectors have retaining clips on them but two of them were bent and fuel was leaking out. And yes, I’ll take a video when I start it. Right now, I’m charging the battery because the interior lights won’t even turn on. That's how dead it is which I don’t understand because I disconnected the negative cable when I was working on the car.
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Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Ariana,

Chances are the battery is just no good. It shouldn't drain that badly if it was disconnected.

As far as the injectors, just be sure nothing is leaking. Were you able to replace the bent clips?

Joe
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Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 AT 8:25 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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Um, heard a really loud pop and then found this.
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Wednesday, June 1st, 2022 AT 11:24 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
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The plug itself looks fine to me, but here’s what broke.
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 AT 12:29 AM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
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Crazy.
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 AT 12:31 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Ariana,

Did the spark plug stay in the head? These engines have a reputation for having the spark plugs blowing out of the heads.

Was the coil bolted down? I see the housing is broken.

Let me know. I think you found your rough idle.

Take care,

Joe
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
ARIANADANIELLE5345
  • MEMBER
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The plug wasn’t broken at all but no it wasn’t in the head. Threads back in perfectly and tightens and everything. I’m pretty sure it was the ignition coil because that would explain a lot of the stuff the owner of the car was telling me he was experiencing.
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 AT 5:39 PM

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