In the latest installment of 'Dan's Boss is Cursed with Limp Mode'...
Over the course of the last two days, I've stripped the wiring harness out of the car, popped the valve covers off both sides, replaced all 4 VCT sensors to 2013 type and sealed both heads back up.
Today's goal was to put the new 2013 wiring harness in the car and hopefully start it up, until I got to the driver's side exhaust cam VCT solenoid connection. When I had to turn the plug 180 degrees from the intake VCT solenoid, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. My instinct told me no way should these plug in with a different orientation.
Fearing that I had somehow installed the VCT solenoid in backwards, and terrified of cylinder head and cam damage, I took the drivers side valve cover back off. I was so glad to see the solenoid installed in the proper direction.
If you look closely, you can see the exhaust cam solenoid has it's black plastic post for the wiring pigtail on the opposite side from the cam, while the intake side has it's post on the other side (looks more like a shadow in the pic).
However, my biggest concern now is does the solenoid polarity for these VCT cams matter? I realize a solenoid can operate with electrical power across it, in either direction, but it seems like if the other 3 cams and the PCM understand one polarity, the 4th cam should be working on the same polarity. While I can just turn the wiring harness pigtail and plug it in, I'm concerned not just about performance but also potential damage to the top end of the engine.
The box on all 4 VCT solenoids lists the same part number. However, the part number stamped on each solenoid is slightly different. The intake VCT (and I'm assuming the other 2 on the passenger side) says:BR3E-6B297-
DC while the unique VCT solenoid I have is stamped:BR3E-6B297-
DB. Neither of those part numbers is the part number on the boxes, which all say BR3Z-6M280-D, which is what I ordered.
File photo of the Cobra Jet. If you zoom in, both driver's side VCT solenoids and pigtails are oriented the same direction.
https://fordperformanceracingparts.com/pri/images/Downloads/CobraJet_Wallpaper3.jpg
Even if the polarity doesn't matter, sorta disappointed with the quality control on these. And, in general, just getting more and more frustrated with screwing around with this problem.
Paging
@ArizonaBOSS too