If you own an F150 pickup truck, you might be experiencing what people are calling the F150 Death Rattle. This is definitely something you should be concerned about.
Which F150s Has the Death Rattle?
This problem, or series of problems, is typically with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engines or 5.4L Triton V8 engine from the 2000s models.
3.5L EcoBoost V6 engines
The Death Rattle affects 2017-2020 models and happens as soon as you start the cold truck in the morning. You’ll hear it rattling immediately. You won’t have to wait!
While various things could cause a rattling sound, the Death Rattle involves the Cam Phaser. It sometimes can begin when the truck is brand new, but typically it happens between 80,000-100,000. But there’s reports of it happening with trucks at well over 200,000 miles.
Other issues that cause rattling are a timing chain stretch and carbon buildup. These can happen anywhere from 40,000-100,000 miles.
5.0L Coyote V8
With this model it is the 2018 year that the Death Rattle usually affects.
Typically, the rattle arrives when it is brand spanking new, from day one, it is a piston slap problem that gives the truck a cold start knock. It’s very annoying and concerning, but doesn’t do any damage.
More commonly, at 80,000 miles on trucks that have sloppy maintenance schedules the timing chain starts acting up. Definitely get that fixed ASAP, because it will strand you on the side of the road at the most inconvenient time.
Cam Phaser Problems
This is a very tricky problem and Ford has had a very tough time figuring it out. It is one of those things that you fix one thing and it breaks two others.
Dealers have been going in circles trying to find a perfect fix and so far Ford appears to be chasing their own tail. While there are fixes, you likely need other new parts because the fix wore it out so fast.
Ford did offer an extended warranty to the affected trucks, but that is expired now.
The Short Story
Don’t buy the Ford F150 Pickups that have 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engines, 5.4L Triton V8 or 5.0L Coyote engines. At least not until those problems disappear, you want a model that doesn’t have the Death Rattle.
If you are hearing a rattle with your Ford F150, call us for an appointment and our skilled mechanics will check it out. Maybe it is something easy to fix and we’ll get that taken care of.
