Cam phaser replacement, all four cost: shop vs. mobile mechanic
Cam phaser (VCT unit) replacement, all four (twin-cam V6, e.g. Ford 3.5L EcoBoost): estimated U.S. average labor cost at a repair shop and with a mobile mechanic. Labor only; parts not included. Estimates, not quotes.
Average shop cost
$1,195
Range $800–$1,805 (labor)
8.0–13.0 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$1,795
Range $1,200–$2,710 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimate for your state or city →
What the estimate covers
Labor to replace all four camshaft phasers (variable cam timing units) on a twin-cam V6 such as Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost: the front engine cover comes off, the timing chains are removed and the cam timing is reset, so many shops replace chains, guides and tensioners at the same time (extra parts, little extra labor). Phasers, gaskets, seals and any computer update are not included. A cold-start rattle can also come from a stretched timing chain or worn tensioner, so diagnosis comes first. Ford's Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03 (filed with NHTSA) replaced all four phasers on certain 2017-2020 F-150 and 2018-2020 Expedition/Navigator 3.5L trucks with cam phaser noise; its coverage ran until January 1, 2023, but ask a Ford dealer with your VIN about any remaining goodwill.
Labor hours used: 8–13 h (typical 10 h), our own editorial estimate (not taken from a licensed labor guide).
Problem pages that use this estimate
Sourced owner-reported problems on Mechanic Notes where this is the usual repair:
How these estimates work
- Labor hours (Mechanic Notes estimate): each job has our own editorial "typical labor hours" range. Real times depend on the vehicle, engine and condition, and are not taken from any licensed labor guide.
- Shop labor rate (assumption): $100–$139/hour, the band where about half of surveyed U.S. general repair shops put their average labor rate (PartsTech / OEC U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey (about 700 shops, Sept 2025), as reported by Ratchet+Wrench), scaled by your area's mean wage for automotive service technicians divided by the U.S. mean ($27.13/h; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023; verify on bls.gov). States and metros without wage data use the next-wider area.
- Average shop cost = typical hours × estimated shop rate. The headline number uses the middle of both ranges (or a job’s stated typical hours, where the usual job sits near the low end); the range uses low hours × low rate to high hours × high rate. Rounded to $5.
- Average mobile mechanic cost = shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium: travel and convenience are built in). This is a default assumption, not a survey result.
- Parts are not included. Parts prices vary too much by vehicle and brand to estimate honestly here; price parts separately.
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