Engine running rough, sporatic idle

[fordxranger]

With 230,000 on the odo and it being somewhat neglected in the maintenance department, I recently decided to do the plugs in my ex and to run seafoam through it to clean it up. It would ping while going up hills and on the freeway so I thought this would help it out. well I put in the new plugs (e3 diamond fires) and proceeded to suck the seafoam in through the brake booster vacuum line. I only ran about a 1/3rd of the can through the booster and tossed the rest in the tank. to my surprise almost no smoke came out of the exhaust and it started to run like ****. It will idle like its missing, and while driving it will sputter and have no power. so the next day I went out and got some new plug wires for it and it didn't really improve much at all. So then I thought it was the oxygen sensor since I had read of some people saying that the seafoam killed their sensor. I just replaced it today and it didn't do a thing to it, doesn't run any better and didn't smoke any at all. when I did the oxy sensor in my ranger, it sputtered a little and a bunch of smoke came billowing out for about a minute then it ran great. none of that happened when I did it on the ex. its getting really bad fuel economy to boot. I will be replacing the fuel filter in the next few days when I get a free minute too. I am at a loss, I can't afford anything right now and I just spent $100 trying to fix this thing up, I really need this to run properly before fall quarter starts on the 20th so any suggestions will help.


I read in other threads to unplug the Mass airflow sensor to see if it changes the idle, and It didn't at all. there was a list of problem parts if it was still running the same if unplugged, but I can't find the thread now.

 

[megadeth]

I have the same prob replaced all the sensors and intake gasket and still same idle . Still working on it . Alot of great info on here i keep searching
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[fordxranger]

went and got this code scanned at Oreilly auto, got these codes:

DTC 411 (R) Idle speed system not controlling idle properly (generally idle too high) - ISC

DTC 412 (R) Idle speed system not controlling idle properly (generally idle too low) - ISC

538 (R) System did not receive "goose" test - TESTS

I'm thinking Ignition Control Module? anyone have an idea of what it may be? who else has gotten these codes and what did you do to fix it?

 

[MrShorty]

The KOER 538 is almost always operator error. Did you (or the Oreilly employee) perform the "goose" test during the KOER test (see my "notes on pulling EEC-IV codes" thread for more details on the test protocol).

KOER 411 and 412 are usually not very useful. They often simply indicate that the engine was running rough. You might try cleaning the IAC to see if that helps.

Have you had success before with the E3 plugs? I know on my '92 I tried the older Splitfire plugs which made the engine ping real bad. They're cheap, so I might suggest a set of regular copper core single electrode plugs and see if that makes a difference.

I might put a fuel pressure tester on it and see if fuel delivery is doing what it should.

 

[fordxranger]

The KOER 538 is almost always operator error. Did you (or the Oreilly employee) perform the "goose" test during the KOER test (see my "notes on pulling EEC-IV codes" thread for more details on the test protocol).

KOER 411 and 412 are usually not very useful. They often simply indicate that the engine was running rough. You might try cleaning the IAC to see if that helps.

Have you had success before with the E3 plugs? I know on my '92 I tried the older Splitfire plugs which made the engine ping real bad. They're cheap, so I might suggest a set of regular copper core single electrode plugs and see if that makes a difference.

I might put a fuel pressure tester on it and see if fuel delivery is doing what it should.

I did the test myself, but I guess I didn't floor the petal enough. does that have much effect on pulling codes? I will clean the IAC tomorrow and I am also taking off the cat to see if its clogged. there is almost no smoke coming out of the exhaust at all, and I beat it with a ball peen hammer and rust chips came out of the exhaust. I changed the fuel filter too since I had it laying around. It did nothing and it has fuel pressure so I don't think its fuel related. The engine only bogs down hard under acceleration and up hills and such, if I keep it around 3000 rpm it will burn through gas but it will run without much sputtering. this is my first time using the e3 plugs, and supposedly people have used these with great results in other similar ford engines. I tried out 3 junkyard ICM's and cleaned my old one up a bit, not one of them made any difference. I'm not about to shell out $150+ for a sensor i'm not exactly sure is the problem. I'll report back tomorrow if its still problematic after cleaning the IAC.

 

[MrShorty]

I did the test myself, but I guess I didn't floor the petal enough. does that have much effect on pulling codes?

I made that same mistake the first few times, too. I've learned not to be shy when goosing the throttle.

It did nothing and it has fuel pressure so I don't think its fuel related.

How/when did you check fuel pressure? Your symptoms could be consistent with the fuel system not keeping up with engine demand, so I'd be sure to check fuel pressure with the engine at speed (maybe even under load).

I don't know if this looks like an ICM problem to me.

Have you put a vacuum gauge on it to look for a clogged exhaust?

 

[safn1949]

Plugs are cheap,replace them again with a set of NGK's or Autolites and see if it changes anything.The engine started running bad when you changed plugs and seafoamed it so start there.

Get a gauge and check the fuel pressure,do a compression check while you are at it.Find the problem and don't just throw parts at it,you will go broke first.Always look at the basics first.

and what he said on the plugged exhaust.

 

[huntman58]

I have to agree with changing the plugs as reading your fist post it sounded like you changed the plugs first then ran the Seafoam. If this is right there is a good chance that your plugs are now fouled out from deposits from the Seafoam treatment. This is why I change them after the treatment and not before as I had to learn that one the hard way my self. LOL. Next some times I have also gotten no smoke from the Seafoam and other times I was a smoke screen. I found it seemed to matter how fast I let the motor suck it in to how much smoke I got being fast equaled more smoke slow was less.

So to start with check all your plugs especially that it started to run worse during and after the treatment then before it. Next I would do a fuel pressure check and also check the vac line from the FPR (if it has one) for any fuel if there is any in the vac line the FPR is bad right there. A bit of rust flaking from a pipe after a few hits with a hammer would not be a surprise on any system over 5 years old that was still steel piping like the stock one or cheap replacements. Just a thought. also a plug cat could be but most likely I would think not being they use the honey comb ones stock and the old plugged cats were mainly from the old pellet ones from GM. so now to plug on of ours you almost have to melt them or get so much carbon and rust partials in them you would not believe it. Yes it can be done but not easy to do. Now you can kill one very easy with too much fuel and other things but that’s a deferent story then a plugged on.

 

[fordxranger]

I cleaned the IAC valve last night and it did nothing, the intake was caked with carbon buildup though and I now plan to clean up a spare intake I have and switch them out and regasket it. Its raining out right now otherwise i'd start taking out the exhaust to check the cat. The previous owner put on a cherry bomb and the piping from the cat back looks to be in newish condition so I don't think its any of that clogging with rust. I bought a set of used headers/y-pipe for this a few months back so I will have to take the front portion of the exhaust off sometime soon, so the cat will be gutted regardless, I am hoping this is the problem. I highly doubt the plugs already fouled, I took them out right before I bought plug wires and they didn't look damaged at all. I'll pull them again and get a second opinion. I haven't tried using a vacuum gauge to check for an exhaust clog yet, i'll have to source one and give it a go.

 

[fordxranger]

CASE CLOSED, did some more searching on the e3 plugs and found that 5 out of 6 people using the e3 plugs had problems with them on ford engines. I wasted yesterday pulling the cat to check for a non existent clog and I was about to give up. So I put the cat back on and as a last resort went out to buy autolite double platinums for it. I switched them out and the thing runs better than it did before. for anyone searching for these symptoms, don't waste your money on these garbage plugs! Get autolite or motorcraft plugs for your 4.0L, nothing else.