5.0 Ignition Synchronizer Replacement

[V8Pete]

I didn't even know what a synchronizer was until mine started making noise last weekend at 138K miles. Is there any trick to putting the new one in? I know Ford makes a special tool for timing it, but shouldn't the new one go in in the same position that the old one came out?

 

[section525]

Are we talking about the CMP?

 

[V8Pete]

Well, I don't know what the CMP is. The official Ford term is synchronizer. It's basically a distributor shaft, that goes where a conventional distributor used to go on a small block Ford. There's an electrical "cam stator assembly" that goes on top of it, to work like a distributor.

 

[section525]

Yup. It's also called the camshaft position sensor. I have a little experience with installing those on a '96 Explorer. You don't have to use the alignment tool of Ford's. If you find TDC on cylinder number one... the sensor (without the cap on it) shoud look like this:

Make any sense?

 

[V8Pete]

I think so. Nice illustration - what program did you use for that?

Does it have to be at TDC on #1, or can I just match the position of the lip?

 

[section525]

I'm sure you could probably just match up the lip. When I did mine two times.. once was switching a '96-'97 sensor into a '99 motor, and the other was when I put a new camshaft in. So that's why I couldnt just put it in in the same place I took it out.

So yeah, try just swapping it in. If that doens't work, do the TDC thing.

EDIT: Oh yeah.. I just drew that up in Photoshop awhile back.

 

[Rockey]

Yup. It's also called the camshaft position sensor. I have a little experience with installing those on a '96 Explorer. You don't have to use the alignment tool of Ford's. If you find TDC on cylinder number one... the sensor (without the cap on it) shoud look like this:

Make any sense?

For clarity sake I assume you mean TDC on cylinder #1 on the compression stroke and not the exhaust stroke. Being 180 degrees out is not fun. Don't ask how I know.

 

[97BlackX5.0]

just curious but how would you find tdc on cyl one without being able to see it.... is it marked on the harmonic balancer or something....

 

[section525]

I always just watch thru the spark plug hole with a flashlight and have someone hand-turn the motor over. It's pretty easy after having to do it 16 times for my roller rocker install.

 

[V8Pete]

I marked the position of the lip and and the housing, pulled out the old, and put in the new. It took 5 tries to get it right. Still, the whole procedure took less than 45 minutes. The new one is nice and quiet. The old one definitely was not.

Thanks for the help!

Pete

 

[griggs]

Finding TDC, easy. Screw in a very long spark plug that will interfere with the piston. Carefully HAND rotate the crank to contact the spark plug from both directions, mark pully damper for both and find center equidistant between two marks. Thats TDC!

 

[Joey P]

I didn't even know what a synchronizer was until mine started making noise last weekend at 138K miles.

What kind of noise are we talking about here? Mine truck makes noise but I'm not sure if that would be it or not.

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