Drewmcg
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- August 27, 2015
- Messages
- 735
- Reaction score
- 99
- Location
- Michigan
- City, State
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2010 XLT 4WD
2002 XLS 2WD
Last October I was driving to Chicago on I-94 for a conference when my 'sploder lost power and bogged down on a slight uphill near Kalamazoo. I pulled off the freeway. I looked under the hood, saw nothing amiss. The truck (4.0L) seemed to idle normally. I cautiously continued west on surface road for awhile, before trying the freeway again. It got worse; I pulled off. Trying to start the car in business parking lot resulted in strange clangs and noises. I had the truck towed home and rented car for the weekend.
My regular mechanic recommended "tearing into the engine" to figure out what was wrong (after charging me an hour's labor). I had the truck towed home (again) for the winter, and bought a used '10 with a newly-rebuilt transmission (which I enjoy a lot).
I'd replaced the engine in the '02, and changed the timing chains & guides with quality Cloyes parts, with a lot of guidance from this forum. I'd also replaced the fuel pump assembly, and much of the wiring due to mice damage. New exhuast from the manifolds back (including cats), suspension components, front end parts, alignment, new brakes, new spark plugs and wires, new (aftermarket) coil pack, fuel filler neck, etc., etc., meant I did not want to give up on this truck too soon--but I lack an indoor, heated garage.
A few weeks ago I managed to get it started again (after a fair amount of clanging noise and fits), and did a compression check. Good cylinder pressure convinced me that the timing had not slipped. So I concluded it must be the transmission and/or torque converter, and towed it to a shop that quoted me $2,500-$2,800 for a quality rebuild.
Two days later the mechanic called and said he had diagnosed a failed coilpack, that was cross firing! The coilpack was an aftermarket one installed by my regular mechanic (in lieu of the OEM part, that I don't think was bad, in hindsight). He installed a Motorcraft coilpack and the truck ran great (again).
I'm blown away. How the heck does a coilpack just up and fail after a few thousand miles running down the freeway at 75 MPH on a moderate temperature day?
I wanted to share this just in case anyone here might find this useful. Thank goodness for sharp (honest) mechanics! Drew.
My regular mechanic recommended "tearing into the engine" to figure out what was wrong (after charging me an hour's labor). I had the truck towed home (again) for the winter, and bought a used '10 with a newly-rebuilt transmission (which I enjoy a lot).
I'd replaced the engine in the '02, and changed the timing chains & guides with quality Cloyes parts, with a lot of guidance from this forum. I'd also replaced the fuel pump assembly, and much of the wiring due to mice damage. New exhuast from the manifolds back (including cats), suspension components, front end parts, alignment, new brakes, new spark plugs and wires, new (aftermarket) coil pack, fuel filler neck, etc., etc., meant I did not want to give up on this truck too soon--but I lack an indoor, heated garage.
A few weeks ago I managed to get it started again (after a fair amount of clanging noise and fits), and did a compression check. Good cylinder pressure convinced me that the timing had not slipped. So I concluded it must be the transmission and/or torque converter, and towed it to a shop that quoted me $2,500-$2,800 for a quality rebuild.
Two days later the mechanic called and said he had diagnosed a failed coilpack, that was cross firing! The coilpack was an aftermarket one installed by my regular mechanic (in lieu of the OEM part, that I don't think was bad, in hindsight). He installed a Motorcraft coilpack and the truck ran great (again).
I'm blown away. How the heck does a coilpack just up and fail after a few thousand miles running down the freeway at 75 MPH on a moderate temperature day?
I wanted to share this just in case anyone here might find this useful. Thank goodness for sharp (honest) mechanics! Drew.