Mustang P0024 VCT Bank 2 finally fixed.

So yeah, pretty 14 months after noticing the problem and getting it fixed which is pathetic really but sadly I didn't want the engine opened up unless it absolutely needed to be. Now this is on me and also Ford UK cause I did put into them for diagnostic and a fix but instead they took the easy option and just swapped parts about and didn't really bother doing any investigative work. That then lead to merry dance around what they had actually done since the problem was still there despite Ford saying no it's not. Cue one return trip to their workshop and they confirmed the error code was back.

So another garage another trip(s) and the end up we decided change the whole damned lot in the timing gear as we didn't know what was wrong and once you start taking off the valve covers and timing casing, you are not going to change just one component at a time. So, new timing gear the works ordered from US of A, cause it was so much cheaper and then car booked in. During strip down it was discovered that the secondary chain tensioner was not holding pressure and could be compressed by hand whereas the other three tensioners were pretty much minimal deflection. Now I have to say at this point there is some conjection as to whether this was a fault since the engine wasn't running and therefore no oil pressure being fed to the tensioner but the other three were fine and no other component was found to have any obvious fault with them. Once the engine was buttoned all back up it ran fine, just like stock. No stumbling on acceleration after gear change at lowish revs, much more responsive at lower rpm, nicer to drive in motorway traffic, much easier to pull out of junctions as the engine wasn't dying when the clutch was being engaged. 

So what had been happening before with the cam timing not working as it should be I had much lower torque (seat of the pants feeling) requiring more rpm to pull out of junctions, accelerate from speed (under 4krpm anyways) and it sounded like a misfire when applying the throttle. The code flung was a P0024 which indicates the VCT wasn't working on Exhaust Cam Bank 2, this is the left hand bank of the V as you sit in the drivers seat facing forward. 

So lesson to be learned, don't assume the error code is the fault, it is an indication of what is happening not what caused it. As a side note on this, Ford USA had an issue with the secondary tensioners er not tensioning and they released a updated part which is shorter than the original fitted to the 15-17 V8's. This caused much panic when the original ones in my engine came out and the new ones were lined up but indeed it was all good. 

Side note number 2. Ford USA had a recall on a batch of GT350 motors because secondary chain tensioners er weren't and they were compressible by hand while in the engine, in fact some actually failed completed and collapsed into their housing and took the entire engine with them. Lucky I didn't pound my engine while VCT fault code was around.... oops.