Hi S197 forum members - based on scouring other posts & audio files, I think I've got a bad set of cam lashers and cam phaser but would greatly appreciate the input of the folks on this forum. A bit of background:
https://youtu.be/Ws61z_N1bHs
My wrenching skills are average (brakes / suspension / basic engine stuff like swapping plugs / cleaning intake manifolds / fluids / etc) and I think futzing with the cams / timing components are beyond my comfort level. So I'm intending to take it to a local mustang shop but would your respective opinions on:
1) Confirmation / or alternative thoughts on what this noise is
2) Opinions on whether I should flatbed it to the shop or if it can be driven / sustain the 45 mile trip (my gut says to get it towed but welcome thoughts on this)
3) Any thoughts on the labor hours to get this fixed.
4) Anything else I should get done while the mechanic is in there (i.e. thoughts on performance items such as new cams - please keep in mind I live in California and it would need to pass smog every two years -[sigh]).
I appreciate your thoughts & thanks for taking the time to read through this.
- 2006 Mustang GT - 55K miles - manual transmission
- Stock engine with the exception of CAI and Bama 91 Tune
- Don't drive this car everyday - it's a track day car in the making.
- Noise appeared after startup one morning.
- After the noise appeared, pulled the plugs and one came out with the Ground Electrode broke off. I vacuumed out the cylinder but didn't find the missing piece (hope it was ejected out the exhaust). Changed all of the plugs to new.
- Computer is not throwing any codes - have not (yet) set up data logging to see what else is going on.
- The noise is prevalent throughout the entire rev range and is not dependent on engine temp (i.e. present at cold & warm states).
- I tried to use an engine stethoscope to narrow the location but haven't been able to localize the noise.
https://youtu.be/Ws61z_N1bHs
My wrenching skills are average (brakes / suspension / basic engine stuff like swapping plugs / cleaning intake manifolds / fluids / etc) and I think futzing with the cams / timing components are beyond my comfort level. So I'm intending to take it to a local mustang shop but would your respective opinions on:
1) Confirmation / or alternative thoughts on what this noise is
2) Opinions on whether I should flatbed it to the shop or if it can be driven / sustain the 45 mile trip (my gut says to get it towed but welcome thoughts on this)
3) Any thoughts on the labor hours to get this fixed.
4) Anything else I should get done while the mechanic is in there (i.e. thoughts on performance items such as new cams - please keep in mind I live in California and it would need to pass smog every two years -[sigh]).
I appreciate your thoughts & thanks for taking the time to read through this.