Cam Syncho
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From: Pedro, OH
Cam Syncho
I have a 2003 base model ford ranger with the 3.0 in it. I bought it used from a fleet, it was once a power company truck in a former life. It has been AMAZING. I've kept the oil changed and the coolant checked and replaced the ball joints plugs and wires in it. I know these motors are known for bad Cam Synch. My question is, how often should these be replaced? Or do simply replace them when you have an issue? Mine has around 171,000 miles on it. I do not daily drive it, i drive it once or twice a week.
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Welcome to the forum
3.0l Cam synchro units will usually start to squeal when the bushing inside starts to fail, but they can be replaced any time after 100k miles without it being a "waste of money"
Ford switched from a 3 wire Cam sensor to a 2 wire cam sensor in 1999 so your 2003 3.0l will have a 2 wire version, just FYI
These do need to be timed but......................since yours is already timed correctly(no timing code) you can just swap them out using current synchros position
Pull off the sensor from the synchro tower
Look inside for the Vane, that part spins when engine is running
Also look at the two sensor screw holes, the sensor alignment
Rotate the engine by hand, socket on crank bolt, until Vane is aligned with either screw hole, this will be the reference point for new synchro, take a picture
Also put a piece of tape on crank pulley with a mark so you have a reference for its position, another picture
Now you can loosen the retaining bolt and remove it so you can lift out the old synchro unit, you will notice the vane will turn as you lift synchro up and out, that's because the gears are angled
Turn the gear on new synchro so its the same as old vane after removal, put it in the hole and it should slide down and turn back into position of old one, i.e. the slanted gear teeth
If it doesn't slide down all the way that's OK
Inside the hole is the oil pump drive shaft, its a HEX drive so the bottom of the synchro shaft must align to the HEX on the oil pumps shaft
This is where the mark on the crank pulley comes in
Turn the crank left a 1/4 turn and right a 1/4 turn and the synchro will drop down when HEX shaft was aligned, then turn it back to the Mark you made
Then install retaining bolt
Line up screw hole to vane, look at picture, lol
Tighten retaining bolt
Install sensor, plug it in
3.0l Cam synchro units will usually start to squeal when the bushing inside starts to fail, but they can be replaced any time after 100k miles without it being a "waste of money"
Ford switched from a 3 wire Cam sensor to a 2 wire cam sensor in 1999 so your 2003 3.0l will have a 2 wire version, just FYI
These do need to be timed but......................since yours is already timed correctly(no timing code) you can just swap them out using current synchros position
Pull off the sensor from the synchro tower
Look inside for the Vane, that part spins when engine is running
Also look at the two sensor screw holes, the sensor alignment
Rotate the engine by hand, socket on crank bolt, until Vane is aligned with either screw hole, this will be the reference point for new synchro, take a picture
Also put a piece of tape on crank pulley with a mark so you have a reference for its position, another picture
Now you can loosen the retaining bolt and remove it so you can lift out the old synchro unit, you will notice the vane will turn as you lift synchro up and out, that's because the gears are angled
Turn the gear on new synchro so its the same as old vane after removal, put it in the hole and it should slide down and turn back into position of old one, i.e. the slanted gear teeth
If it doesn't slide down all the way that's OK
Inside the hole is the oil pump drive shaft, its a HEX drive so the bottom of the synchro shaft must align to the HEX on the oil pumps shaft
This is where the mark on the crank pulley comes in
Turn the crank left a 1/4 turn and right a 1/4 turn and the synchro will drop down when HEX shaft was aligned, then turn it back to the Mark you made
Then install retaining bolt
Line up screw hole to vane, look at picture, lol
Tighten retaining bolt
Install sensor, plug it in
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