My 2015 F-150's cam phasers gave out on the highway near Toledo

I was driving home from a job site last Tuesday when the engine started making a terrible racket, like marbles in a tin can. The truck, a 2015 F-150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost, had just over 110,000 miles on it. The check engine light flashed and it lost all power. I had to coast to the shoulder of I-75. I called a tow to the nearest dealer, who confirmed it was the cam phasers. They quoted me $2,800 to fix it, saying it's a common issue with that generation. I'm stuck deciding if I should pay for the repair or try to do it myself in my garage, but I've never torn into an engine that deep. Has anyone here tackled a cam phaser replacement on a 3.5, and how bad was it?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscar_hunt612mo ago

My buddy Mark had the EXACT same thing happen with his 2014. He’s a pretty good wrench but that job was a NIGHTMARE. He said the timing chain procedure alone took him two full weekends, and he had to buy a bunch of special tools. He saved money on labor but told me he would NEVER do it again himself. That quote sounds about right for dealer work, honestly. If you haven’t been deep in an engine before, this is a rough first project.

robin_foster12mo ago

Yeah, "two full weekends" sounds right, I read a forum post where a guy said it took him 80 hours.

beth_baker691d ago

Oh man. You couldn't pay me to DIY that job. I've been wrenching on trucks for years and I still wouldn't touch those cam phasers. The timing chain setup is a nightmare on those 3.5s, and one mistake means your engine is toast. That 2,800 quote is actually pretty fair for a dealer. Just pay it and save yourself the headache. Your sanity is worth more than the money you'd save.