1997 v8 runs like garbage | Page 6 | Ford Explorer Forums

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1997 v8 runs like garbage

Here is the current situation. I purchased an auto line smoke tester machine from eBay. Vacuum leaks I found were EGR, IAC, and intake tube where it meets the tb, and where the elbow for the oil fill vacuum line goes. I made a temporary egr block off plate (for testing purposes), used RTV black to seal the leak on the top cap of the IAC, And use a combination of electrical tape and rtv black to seal the intake tube (all temporary fixes for testing purposes.)

I also had ordered new valve body gaskets, a 2-3 accumulator spring, and superior billet 2-3 piston. I attempted the repair yesterday, vb gaskets were wrong, spring wasn't broken and therefore wasn't needed, just ended up using the piston. I had to reuse the old gaskets which I am not happy about and will need to replace them as I feel like it's not quite right. I did break a small part of gasket around the larger servo plate and used a little black rtv on it, not sure what goes on in that area.

It does not like shifting WOT, but it's also possible that I'm not feeling a bind up when it shifts up past 2 but actually the vacuum leak(s) causing the fuel to lean out and power to cut off rapidly.

I am out driving it at the moment. I just fixed the last of the vacuum leaks listed above this morning, but did not do a smoke test afterwards. It seems to be running ok atm and has not had any weird shifting characteristics, but will not idle smoothly for more than a couple minutes.
 






1997 5.0 has been getting progressively worse or I notice it more. At low rpms (under 1000) step on accel and bog and take off, sometimes backfires. Seems to fall off at high rpm but really trans isn't shifting when it should.

These are the codes I pulled. I disconnect and removed the cps once to pour oil in the oil pump drive. I scanned again multiple times and no cps code, did get the o2 sensor codes. Here's what the scanner will show me. Also have a manifold leak that could throw off the reading. Waiting until I have the money to buy plugs, wires, manifolds, and o2 sensors. Do I need a time to remove the 2nd set of cats?

View attachment 427225 View attachment 427226 View attachment 427227
I had that same camshaft sensor code come up about 6 months ago. And everything you just described happening to your truck was happening to mine would barely start would seem like it was running on half the cylinders and it was a mess and all I did was replace the camshaft sensor cleared the codes and it ran perfectly it shifted it took off and gained everything back.
 






I reinstalled the original MAF today and it is running much better now, but it it still throwing a lean code only on bank 1 now and the long term fuel trims support that fact. It idles much better but not perfect.

Which bank is bank 1?
 






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