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TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
23-2143
3.5L EcoBoost - Cold Start Ticking/Tapping/Rattle With Possible No Restart 04 May 2023
During Auto-Start-Stop Operation
This bulletin supersedes 22-2200.
Model:
Ford
2018-2020 Expedition

Built on or before 30-Nov-2019

2017-2020 F-150

Engine: 3.5L EcoBoost
Built on or before 30-Nov-2019

Lincoln
2018-2020 Navigator

Built on or before 30-Nov-2019

Summary
This article supersedes TSB 22-2200 to update the production fix date, Action statement and customer symptom.
NOTE: Certain parts may now be reused for this repair. Refer to the Service Procedure for details.
Issue: Some 2017-2020 F-150 and 2018-2020 Expedition/Navigator vehicles built on or before 30-Nov-2019 and
equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover area
of the engine on initial start-up after a cold soak of 6 hours or more that may last for 2-5 seconds. Some vehicles
may also exhibit an intermittent condition with no auto restart during auto-start-stop operation with or without
diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C present in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to a worn
variable camshaft timing (VCT) unit. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure to replace the VCT units.
Action: Follow the Service Procedure to correct the condition on vehicles that meet all of the following criteria:
• One of the following vehicle lines:
- 2017-2020 F-150
- 2018-2020 Expedition/Navigator
• Built on or before 30-Nov-2019
• 3.5L EcoBoost engine
• Customer symptom of ticking/tapping or rattle noise from the front cover area after a cold start
NOTE: Dealers should only order parts for customer vehicles that require repairs. Because of parts
constraints, dealers may experience situational short-term backorders on some parts. Customers should
continue to drive the vehicle while parts are on order.
Parts
Service
Part
Number

Quantity Description

HL3Z-6256CD

2

HL3Z6C525-CD

2

HL3Z-6279A

4

ML3Z-6584G

1

HL3Z-6584-

1

Intake VCT Unit
Exhaust VCT Unit
VCT Unit Bolt
Left Valve Cover Gasket
Right Valve Cover Gasket

Unit of Piece
Issue Quantity
1

2

1

2

1

4

1

1

1

1

Note

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A
W503275S437

1

W503280S437

1

W714498S900

1

AA5Z9E583-A

1

HL3Z-8507A

1

BR3Z-8527A

1

HL3Z6A340-A

1

XW4Z6700-AA

1

BR3Z-6020A

1

BR3Z6C535-A

1

AA5Z-6714A

1

High Pressure Fuel Tube Retaining Bolt
High Pressure Fuel Tube Retaining Bolt
High Pressure Pump Mounting Bolt
High Pressure Pump O-ring
Coolant Pump Gasket
Coolant Pump O-ring
Crankshaft Pulley Shaft Bolt
Front Crankshaft Seal
Front Cover Coolant Pipe Seal

Oil Filter

As
Motorcraft® High Performance Engine
Needed RTV Silicone

ZC-30-A

As
Motorcraft® Silicone Gasket Remover
Needed

ZC-31-B

As
Motorcraft® Metal Surface Cleaner
Needed

VC-13-G

As
Motorcraft® Yellow Antifreeze/Coolant
Needed Concentrated (All Markets Except
Canada)

CVC-13-G

As
Motorcraft® Yellow Antifreeze/Coolant
Needed Concentrated (Canada Only)

XO-5W30Q1SP

As
Motorcraft® SAE 5W-30 Premium
Needed Synthetic Blend Motor Oil (All Markets
Except Canada)

ZC-20

1

4

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Oil Pump Electrical Connector Seal

TA-357

CXO-5W30LSP6

4

Oil Pump Electrical
Connector Seal and VCT
Oil Control Seal are the
same service part number

As
Motorcraft® SAE 5W-30 Super Premium
Needed Motor Oil (Canada Only)
As
Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo and
Needed Degreaser

PM-4-A

As
Motorcraft® Metal Brake Parts Cleaner
Needed (Compliant With Low Volatile Organic
Compound Requirements As Required In
Some USA States)

PM-4-B

As
Motorcraft® Metal Brake Parts Cleaner
Needed (Not Compliant With Volatile Organic
Compound Requirements)

Parts
Parts To Inspect And Replace Only If Necessary
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Service Part
Number

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Quantity Description

Unit of
Issue

HL3Z-9439-C

If
Valve Cover Intake Port
Needed Gasket

3

HL3Z-9H486A

If
Upper Intake Manifold
Needed Gaskets

6

BR3Z-6C535A

If
VCT Oil Control Seal
Needed

1

BR3Z-6C535B

If
Spark Plug Tube Seal
Needed

1

HL3Z-9417-A

If
High Pressure Pump
Needed Mounting Plate Seal

1

BL3Z-9374-A

If
High Pressure Pump
Needed Mounting Plate O-ring

1

HL3Z-8507-D

If
Thermostat Housing ONeeded ring

1

HL3Z-8527-B

If
Thermostat Housing ONeeded ring

1

HL3Z-8590-A

If
Water Pump Outlet O-ring
Needed

1

HL3Z-9J323-C

If
High Pressure Pump to
Needed Rail Tube

1

Note

Oil Pump Electrical Connector Seal and VCT Oil
Control Seal are the same service part number

Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number required to repair the vehicle.
Unit of Issue refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package.
Piece Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle.
As Needed indicates the amount of the part may vary and/or is not a whole number. Parts can be billed out as nonwhole numbers, including less than 1.
If Needed indicates the part is not mandatory.
Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Emissions Warranty/Service
Part Warranty (SPW)/Special Service Part (SSP)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior
approvals are not altered by a TSB. NVLW/Emissions Warranty/SPW/SSP/ESP coverage limits are determined by
the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.
Labor Times
Operation
No.

Description

Time

2017-2020 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost: Replace All Four (4) VCT Units (Do Not Use With Any
Other Labor Operations)

232143A

9.6
Hrs.

2017-2020 F-150 Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost: Replace All Four (4) VCT Units (Do Not Use With
Any Other Labor Operations)

232143B

9.7
Hrs.

2018-2020 Expedition: Replace All Four (4) VCT Units (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)

232143C

9.8
Hrs.

2018-2020 Navigator: Replace All Four (4) VCT Units (Do Not Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)

232143D

9.8
Hrs.

Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part:

6256

Condition Code: 42

Service Procedure
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NOTE: The following parts may be reused for this repair if no damage is present.
• Upper intake manifold gaskets (HL3Z-9H486-A)
• Valve cover intake port gaskets (HL3Z-9439-C)
• High pressure fuel tube (HL3Z-9J323-C) may be reused for this repair, if it has not been previously
reused. Tighten the high-pressure fuel pump to fuel rail high-pressure fuel tube flare nuts to 32 Nm +/-2
Nm when reusing the fuel tube for this TSB.
• VCT solenoid seals (BR3Z-6C535-A) and spark plug tube seals (BR3Z-6C535-B) should continue to
be reused if no damage is present.
1. Replace all 4 VCT units. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01. Do not replace any additional VCT or
engine timing related components not included in the Parts List.
(1). It is not necessary to remove the 2 left valve cover camshaft position (CMP) sensors.
(2). All the VCT solenoid and spark plug tube seals require inspection, but not all require replacement.

© 2023 Ford Motor Company
All rights reserved.
NOTE: The information in Technical Service Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional technicians with the knowledge, tools, and
equipment to do the job properly and safely. It informs these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or provides information
that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by "do-it-yourselfers". Do not assume that a condition
described affects your car or truck. Contact a Ford or Lincoln dealership to determine whether the Bulletin applies to your vehicle. Warranty Policy
and Extended Service Plan documentation determine Warranty and/or Extended Service Plan coverage unless stated otherwise in the TSB article.
The information in this Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was current at the time of printing. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to supersede
this information with updates. The most recent information is available through Ford Motor Company's on-line technical resources.

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