taurus cam synchronizer-hold down bolt wont hold

[George Gallen]

Replacing the cam syncrhonizer in my 2002 taurus.
It appeared to the be same as the original.

everything was going too good! (I didn’t even need to move the engine to put the alignment tool on the old one)

when I tighten down the hold down bolt (with the big washer), I can twist the synchronizer still, it’s loose.
It’s flush to the engine.

Do I just put another washer on the bolt ? The bolt won’t tighten any further – and it unloosens fine.

Is this common?

last thing I want to do is tow it to my mechanic with my tail between my legs!!

Thanks

Topic

[college man]

Is the fastener damaged? You may need to either tap the hole threads or run
a dye over the fastener threads.

[George Gallen]

not really sure what the problem was…..
I’m guessing that maybe I wasn’t seated properly on the oil pump rod and off to the side??

I removed the unit again – reseated it – and now this time the hold down bolt kept it in place.
Of course…..I sheared off one of the sensor bolts putting that on, but the other one is pretty tight.

Car started and runs good – the chirp is gone, as is a lot of the other noise.
I still have a whine – much much quieter – but I noticed my idle is slightly higher – maybe because the battery was disconnected

So…now I have to buy another synchronizer and do this all over again……to fix that sheared bolt
given the cost of the synchronizer – it’s easier to replace it than to try to deal with the drilling out the bad bolt.

And now I know what I need to do…..it should take 1/2 the time……right….right….keep telling myself that.

I did call my mechanic and asked him if it ever happened to him (bolt not tightening), and he said he has never had
it happen, and suggested reseating it to make sure it was flush. He did always tell me if I was in a jam to give him a
call – that’s why i like bringing my stuff to him – he’s honest and helpful even when it doesn’t give him $$ at the time.

I’ll have to give him a $20 WAWA card – if you don’t know what a WaWa is……I’m sorry to hear that (like a 7-11 but far better)

GG

[college man]

Glad your making progress. We have wawa here in nj 🙂 Keep us posted on your progress.

[George Gallen]

Just curious, if the synchronizer wasn’t turning the oil pump, would I see any dash lights come on?

Just wondering, I did a quick test drive, everything ran fine, but when I shutdown the car, it made those cooling off noises for longer than I remember it from before.

[college man]

[quote=”gginnj” post=161536]Just curious, if the synchronizer wasn’t turning the oil pump, would I see any dash lights come on?

Just wondering, I did a quick test drive, everything ran fine, but when I shutdown the car, it made those cooling off noises for longer than I remember it from before.[/quote]

If the oil pump was not turning you would have some major clanking. If the car ran fine
I think your over thinking here.

[Author]

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