Lesson I learned

[Lefty2053]

I will try to keep this short.

A year ago I had my temp gauge not working. Took it in and a shop changed it out. It still didn't work,he said it must be in the cluster.

Then 6 months ago I thought he might have changed out the wrong sensor so I bought a temp gauge sensor and put it in. From that day on I had a hard starting problem but Temp gauge was working.

After that I had to leave the key on a few seconds before starting or push the petal to the metal to get it to start.

I realized I had put in a Temp gauge sensor in the Coolant temp sensor spot. Two different animals here. So I changed out the Coolant sensor again and the hard starting went away. I guess the temp Gauge sensor must had just starting working for what ever reason(possibly bump it).

In the meantime I started having a slight miss in the car. Well the miss got worst over time until I parked the car thinking it was a wide open Injector. Flashing Check Engine light .

I scanned the car and it said #4 misfire. I changed out the wire and plug and nothing changed. I then found out I wasn't changing out the correct plug or wire.

Today I was watching a misfire video on Youtube(what a wonderful thing). When I got to the part he said a possible fouled out plug I looked up what could cause a fouled out plug. When it said a hard starting problem something in my tiny little brain clicked. I went out and finally change out the real #4 plug and found a really really bad plug in there.

Started the car and took it for a run. Ran better then it has since before I changed the Coolant sensor to a temp gauge sensor.

SO in short I fouled out that plug from having the hard starting problem from having the wrong sensor in.

This is why a mechanic is worth his weight in Gold. And us dumb it's should never try and fix their own trucks.

 

[bill06447]

Nothing wrong with trying to fix your own car. Just know your abilities. And recognize when it's time to summon professional help.

Bill

 

[crunchie_frog]

yes, good point. The problem is finding a good mechanic. Yes, they are worth their weight in gold, but just as hard to find as gold. I have found a good mechanic, he works in my garage.

 

[swshawaii]

Agree 100%. Give yourself credit for attempting the repair, we all learn from mistakes. A detailed repair guide, preferably the
Ford WorkShop Manual, and an inexpensive OBDII trouble code reader would be wise investments to make. And it always helps
to have this great forum as a resource to fall back on.

 

[my98nnj]

Engine coolant temp sensor and the temp sensor for the gauge have different electrical connections. You can't plug the ECT into the gauge connection and vise-vers.
One is a single wire stub, the other is a two wire plastic locking connector.

 

[Lefty2053]

Engine coolant temp sensor and the temp sensor for the gauge have different electrical connections. You can't plug the ECT into the gauge connection and vise-vers.
One is a single wire stub, the other is a two wire plastic locking connector.

They are both a two wire connector on my truck but only one wire is on the Temp Gauge. It still has a place for 2 wires. I had 2 Temp Gauges in the truck. With 2 wires in the Coolant temp sensor spot it still plugged in.

 

[Flash]

I usually do all my own work but when I had to change out the engine in my Limited my back said no.
so I sent it to a mechanic.

When I got it back half the studs and nuts were missing from the exhaust manifolds, the coolant level wasn't right, the trans fluid level wasn't right, there was 6 inches missing from the vacuum line than runs across the bulkhead, TPS wasn't working properly, he didn't fit the plugs I supplied but charged me twice the price I could get them for for new ones, didn't fit the serpentine belt i supplied, got a bigger one because he said the other was too small-it screeched every time the engine was started so I fitted the (correct) belt that I gave him, speedo not connected - they crushed the VSS.

All in all more trouble than it was worth.