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.

It's a funny old world

 So I've been fighting with a stumbling mis-fire on the old Mustang and this has been going on for about a year now :(  First off I thought it dodgy petrol but two tanks of V-Power soon disproved that. I did run a code checker with the trusty Torque Pro Android app and no stored codes. Did the MAF clean, did sparkplug change as it was original ones in there from beginning. Spark plug intervals are 100k but really 5yrs in and you think yeah time for a change. Non of this fixed this issue...

So finally i had a look round and realised I could use Forscan for free if all i wanted to do was read stuff from the car and reset error codes. Got myself a cable and downloaded the windows progam and boom there was the fault P0024. Cam timing issue, bank 2 exhaust cam over advanced. Cue much messed around with Ford who did zero diagnostics but instead swapped the VCT solenoids about and said yeah that's it. Um no, it wasn't as the code was still there and i could hear and feel the same issue as before. So knowing how they'd basically done hee haw digging and allegedly swapped the solenoids but how could we know... went back to another trusted and very busy garage and I bought a replacement VCT solenoid (Ford OEM no less) and actually got it swapped out. Sadly this did not fix the issue. The next stage is terrifying.

This is changing the Cam phaser / sprocket but thats inside the head. To get to one phaser you have to 

• remove both valve covers
• loosen the sump
• remove the single piece timing cover
• remove the primary chain if not both primary chains
• remove the secondary chain for the bank you need
• remove the VCT solenoid for the cam you want
• remove the cam with the issue
• replace the phaser / sprocket
• re-assemble in reverse order

Now you can see straight away there is an issue. If you have to take the timing cover off and a primary chain possibly two depending how they are setup, you have all four phasers and all four VCT solenoids siting there looking at you. You have both Primary and Secondary timing chains sitting there looking at you. You have many chain guides sitting there on the floor after you removed them to get to the above. So yeah, as much as it hurts you do it right you do it once. All the timing gear is getting swapped out and new seals for timing and valve covers plus it'll require the coolant radiator being removed to get the extra space to work on this. Kerching... Oil change as well then eh since the sump has to get dropped.

GT-R news. Well it got all new belts, all new fluids, all new brake pads (disks were fine), wheel alignment done, couple of electrical things tidied up, OEM airbox fitted and then it's rained pretty much every day since! Oh, it got MOT'd as well. No issues.

Happy days.

The new car - Gen6 GT V8 Mustang

finally I post an update to the blog. I bought a V8 5litre Ford Mustang GT and holy moses it's a big beast but first let us travel back a bit to understand the journey of how we got here.

Years ago I watched the movie Bullitt and ever since then I've wanted a Muscle Car but never thought I'd ever own one. Couple of reasons for this, firstly they are usually very expensive and perhaps more importantly the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car! Turns out with the gen6 Mustang neither are true, well they aint cheap but they are RHD so that's a major issue resolved. No point having a powerful car if you cant see anything when trying to overtake the camper van in front of you.

The MR2 had rusted through and was BER, the 350Z replacement didn't work out so I started looking to replace that after a mere 7 months of pain. Flitted between getting a boring commuter car and then maybe once things had settled, getting a second car that would be the sporty one. Then discovered the wonder of PCP and that lead me to Finance in general. Looked at an pre registered M2 and it was nice, fancy paddle action gear shift and the twin turbo (dual turbo?) straight six. Then I saw the Mustang.. Drove an auto box one, meh wasn't so good but turns out you can flick it to Sport Mode and it behaves like the fancy M2 box but a 6 speed manual was my choice. Drove one and then that was it, had to have it. The fact it is the same body and wheel colour as the MR2 was is a mere coincidence but it did seal the deal. One owner from new, 15k miles on and i was sold on it. Fast forward seven months of ownership and then Covid hit..

Not a lot been done to it. Badly washed but it has had some miles under it. Hopefully maybe later this year we'll be allowed out again otherwise it's gonna be another long hard year of nothingness. Anyhow, a picture of the barge