Not running well and needs help before it gets traded for a TOY!

[KF6NFW]

what are chances it sucked a bottom end gasket? Except, I am not burning any extraordinary amounts of oil.Not leaking any oil other then from valve covers seeping. PCV is not plugged.

 

[acschilling]

Was trying to read back thru your story before I ask...did you ever replace that ECT sensor? The one that talks to PCM

 

[2stroke]

So going back to the beginning, what exactly did the plugs look like? White, black, covered in crud, burned electrode?

 

[natenkiki2004]

what are chances it sucked a bottom end gasket?

Not really possible, it's an o-ring that sits in a channel in the pan, it can't move around. Plus if it did, you'd have oil everywhere and it wouldn't affect running that much (would basically be a minor vacuum leak).

If you can, my vote would be for a junkyard PCM. If that cures everything then you can set out and buy a refurb one and keep the junkyard as a spare.

I don't recall seeing anything about compression numbers either, have you ever done that?

 

[KF6NFW]

after I posted the question on sucking a gasket, I thought about it, and realized it wasn't very possible on this versus some dodges that have a thin gasket with a million screw holes.

I have not done any compression checks, I believe the shop has, but I didn't ask while I stopped in for a moment yesterday. Right now they have about 2.5Hrs research time on it but no diagnoses yet. They said they plan on giving it a couple free hours as well either over weekend or on Tues when they return.

and the idea to stop in to the junk yard makes sense, and I figured that was case also.

My mind is on a bigger issue than my truck right now, as I have an abscessed tooth and it hurts so I dont want to work or do anything! LOL

 

[KF6NFW]

Was trying to read back thru your story before I ask...did you ever replace that ECT sensor? The one that talks to PCM

We did not replace the ECT, as we believe at this time that the code we received was my"fault" not that of the trucks. In other words, I read the code incorrectly.

It is understood the importance and value of ECT sensor though, and it is not being ignored entirely, just not being actively addressed at the moment either, as we believe in other directions.

Murphy could be well at work here as well, and you could be correct as well!

 

[KF6NFW]

So going back to the beginning, what exactly did the plugs look like? White, black, covered in crud, burned electrode?

I am not sure I understand the value of this question.

The plugs all looked even, and light wear. i am color blind so asking me a color is useless unless we are discussing neon Pink which is about only color I can see clearly.

No oil build-up. when had a personal ASE mech look at it he too was putting the plugs into a box for his Explorer as he also commented they were light wear at 2.5K miles before change out. No pitting, very clean in fact, wish I had other cars as good as these were!

 

[KF6NFW]

Because I am such a Genius, I have to ask. Are there any special tools I need to remove the Computer? My truck is in shop and I am heading to a PicknPull to see what I can get. But I wasnt smart enough to look at it before it went to shop to know of any special tools. I figure something to open the panel, but I dont know if it is torx or what bolts are holding it in. I am not opposed to ripping things out, but I would prefer to not do damage whenever possible!

 

[vq5speed]

Just a 8mm screw holding the case in place then a 10mm bolt holding the plug connector on to the PCM

 

[KF6NFW]

So we went out to find parts at PnP, but found only two Explorers, and neither of them manual trans. In fat out of I think a couple hundred cars on the lot, I only saw about 3 manual trans, but none of them for a Ford! I have to wait until Tuesday for the other yards around here to be open and hope they have something. This is ridiculous!

 

[KF6NFW]

so after 3 hrs and over $400 in no real diagnoses, I pulled the truck from the shop and decided to go back and trya few things over.

the shop notes helped a lot. I went back and replaced the coil pack as the shop tested it and indicated it was faulty, even though it was a new item about 2 weeks old at time of shop visit.
Had low spark on towers 1 and 5. so I replaced the plug wires and coil pack. and what an improvement it has made. But not quiet right yet.

Sounds like a bad exhaust problem, which it did not have or sound like before.
when driving it it sounds and feels like a hollow thud. In my opinion, it sounds like a stuck valve or push rod as it just has that hollow thud to it.
no more codes present on OBD scan. No CEL not that one ever came on.

Smells like burning oil and running hot, though temp is not any hotter than normal just smells that way. Smell a bit of exhaust above normal as well.

no known exhaust problems before OTHER than rotted pipe after Muffler, and only in the last 2 feet of pipe! When truck is running well, you don't notice the exhaust!



So to re-hash what has been replaced:
ICM
Coilpack
Plugs
plug wires

tested good
MAF
IAC
ECT
CKP
TPS

Fuel filter is clean and allows good flow though pressure was down slightly but not enough to cause this issue.

 

[2stroke]

Strange smells, strange exhaust sound, clogged cats?

 

[KF6NFW]

Strange smells, strange exhaust sound, clogged cats?

I wouldn't really call them strange smells, and no the cats arent plugged. just a bit rusted at the end of the pipe!