Marauder cold start problem SOLVED FYI

[Aeroman]

Just thought I would share with everyone the remedy for my problem. The problem was: My 2003 Marauder would miss, hesitate on acceleration from cold start and would not work right until engine was completely warm. The solution as remedied by my dealer (Newberg Ford/Mercury, Newberg, OR) was that the fuel I was using had something in it that was causing deposits to form on the backside of my valves. They completely removed carbon deposits that had built up- long laborious procedure. The fuel was not igniting properly until the carbon became warm and saturated with the fuel, when this happened, it would finally run OK. It was covered under warranty, if it happens again they will charge me $700.00 to fix it. I had complained long and many times. This cure did fix the problem, the car runs like new, something it hasn't done in 10,000 miles. I was usinng Pacific Pride Super, now I'm using Chevron Supreme.
CW in OR :)

[DEFYANT]

The benefits of using good gasoline!

Glad it worked out for you.

[Dragcity]

Mine gave me a few hiccups yesterday when it was 10 degrees. Only lasted for about 60 seconds though. Should I worry?

[Aeroman]

If it gets continues as a regular thing and if it gets worse. Ford is well aware of this problem. I phoned other dealers in this area and they all had customers that had similar problems saying it was due to the qualit of gas they were using.
CW

[TripleTransAm]

The fuel was not igniting properly until the carbon became warm and saturated with the fuel, when this happened, it would finally run OK.

This sounds fishy. If anyone thinks otherwise, I would gladly accept a thorough explanation of why this is a good explanation for the problem. Even with deposits, this shouldn't have been preventing the fuel from igniting. These deposits were, after all, on the BACK of the valves?

Has your car been updated with the new software? Early MMs ran poorly in cold weather until a software revision came out. I can understand the deposits forming BECAUSE of the poor operation... did they perform this work under warranty (ie. no charge to you)? If they did charge you and no one can provide me with a detailed factual explanation of why this would happen, I'd say they tried to turn what should have been a factory-paid s/w update into a customer-paid issue. Did you see them perform the actual work?

[Aeroman]

Let me rephrase the comment you hi-lited. The fuel was being absorbed by the carbon deposit, until the carbon was completely saturated with fuel, it wasn't firing properly. Call your Ford dealer and ask him to look it up on the hotline. They have a complete story on this problem. They say it is typical here in the Northwest due to the quality of gas. I was a skeptic until the procedure of removing the top end and cleaning happened. It solved the problem that I had had for many miles and no one could figure it out.
CW

[DeadVic]

another reason to drive it like you stole it.

[TripleTransAm]

Let me rephrase the comment you hi-lited. The fuel was being absorbed by the carbon deposit, until the carbon was completely saturated with fuel, it wasn't firing properly. Call your Ford dealer and ask him to look it up on the hotline. They have a complete story on this problem. They say it is typical here in the Northwest due to the quality of gas. I was a skeptic until the procedure of removing the top end and cleaning happened. It solved the problem that I had had for many miles and no one could figure it out.
CW

Thanks, that description makes sense. Never saw it myself, but the description makes it seem possible.

[RF Overlord]

Now that your valves are supposedly cleaned, I suggest you run a bottle of Techron through the car 2-3 times a year. It's extremely effective in reducing intake valve deposits.

[Marauderjack]

Wouldn't you think that a few double doses of Chevron fuel injector cleaner would clean it up??:beer:

I have seen pretty hefty deposits before but to stop the fuel from entering the engine it had to be really bad!! I wish they (or you) had taken some photos??:confused:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack:bandit:

[TripleTransAm]

Is Techron the only brand name that applies? Or is this a type of product that is offered by many brands?

[Aeroman]

Deposit was 1/2" thick in places. They had to chip, brush, flake off & scrub them off.

[MM03MOK]

/Steve, Techron (http://www.chevron.ca/ProductsServices/Retail/FuelSystemCleaner.htm) is made exclusively by Chevron. It is available in individual servings, and is also an ingredient in Chevron's petrol.

[merc6]

yep runs $9 in most places for the 20 gallon IIRC treatment. Dealership told me to use 3 bottles before taking my vehickle back for the sender issue. Now my q is for $700 is this for the CCC to be added to intake of norm operation temp vehicle and sat for a few hours and then driven out?

[Smokie]

BP (Amoco) advertises at their pumps that Ford recommends their fuel exclusively, I thought it was the usual advertising gimmick...perhaps there is a good reason, I wonder if Ford would fix a fuel related problem at no charge if you use only BP?

[merc6]

Never tried. Most stations around here to include cheveron is cheaper than BP by like $.10-$.15

[RCSignals]

Oregon is where all crap gas is sent.
Chevron is one of the only good ones here.

[snowbird]

another reason to drive it like you stole it.

I also believe that. When i had my Mustangs, i used to beat them at least once a week to clean them up. I don't know if it was effective but the cars seems to like it. With the Marauder, early automatic shift programming and a tune made to save gas, i'm not surprised they do carbonize if you don't beat them.

[metroplex]

It sounds like an overly rich fuel mixture. Run a datalogger and log long term fuel trim to see what's going on. Chances are the software revision fixed something related to this.

[fastcar]

I'm trying to revive this thread I found which closly describes the problem I'm having.

When my MM is cold the engine 'hunts' at idle, and under part throttle, it misses. Under light load and throttle after starting cold, the tachometer shows engine speed not constant, but faultering up and down 100 - 150 RPM.

When it is warmed up, the problem is nearly gone, sometimes completely gone.

I thought maybe a coil pack was on the way out, but that should be a hot issue, also.

Also, the engine feels like it's still making good power when hot, even if it seems like it's missing a tiny bit.

THIS DEPOSIT EXPLANATION. IF IT'S ON THE BACK OF THE EXHAUST VALVES, IT SOUNDS RIDICULOUS. ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT DEPOSITS ON THE BACK OF THE INTAKE VALVES?

I've never seen deposits on the back of the intake valves on any motor, before.

Could someone please elucidate the problem/explanation?

Are there more members who have had this issue?

Any 'problem solved' people who used gas additives?

Thanks, gang,

fastcar:burnout:

[RF Overlord]

Intake valve deposits are actually quite common.

Read this (http://www.swri.org/3pubs/brochure/d08/qualify/qual.htm).

[KillJoy]

Why dredge up a 2 years old Thread????

:dunno:

KillJoy

[ImpalaSlayer]

i dont see how the deposits could be a half inch thick as was said on the previous page. specialy on the back side of the valve.

[cyclopsram]

Well, my 2006 CVPI has a BP emblem on the gas cap from the factory...if that may be a clue.

[knine]

Why dredge up a 2 years old Thread????

:dunno:

KillJoy
I can think of a few reasons. 1st, for the information, without seeing this, I am less informed. 2nd, everyone who is subscribed to this thread will get an e-mail alert, bringing them back to the site if they have been gone for a while. 3rd, to annoy Steve. :neener:

[CRUZTAKER]

I can think of a few reasons. 1st, for the information, without seeing this, I am less informed........ :neener:


The cold start issues with 300A models was addressed back in 2002 with a TSB. That issue was corrected with a software upgrade from the dealer.
There is a plethera of threads in regards to this topic.

This fellow was putting crap fuel in a car that required 'uncrap' fuel which is well spelled out in the owner's manual AND the obvious sticker on the fuel door.

His only saving grace was the fact that he fueled in O-REGUN, in which having spent far too much time in state, I know for a fact it has lousy pump gas served from lousy service stations. Seriously...Pacific Pride?
Chevron??? :puke:
Why not fill up with Speedway, the station that aquires their fuel week to week from the cheapest source?
94 Sunoco or 93 white from the former Amoco is known to be safe.

[fastcar]

Why dredge up a 2 years old Thread????

:dunno:

KillJoy

Dude, did you read my post? I'm having the problem described in this thread - that's why I dredged it up :lol:


The cold start issues with 300A models was addressed back in 2002 with a TSB. That issue was corrected with a software upgrade from the dealer.
There is a plethera of threads in regards to this topic.

This fellow was putting crap fuel in a car that required 'uncrap' fuel which is well spelled out in the owner's manual AND the obvious sticker on the fuel door.

His only saving grace was the fact that he fueled in O-REGUN, in which having spent far too much time in state, I know for a fact it has lousy pump gas served from lousy service stations. Seriously...Pacific Pride?
Chevron??? :puke:
Why not fill up with Speedway, the station that aquires their fuel week to week from the cheapest source?
94 Sunoco or 93 white from the former Amoco is known to be safe.

I can always count on a helpful reply from CRUZ. Thanks for the suggested reading on TSBs. I will try that out.

Was this a RECALL issue? Or, did Ford just wait and see who showed at the dealer???

As far as gas goes, the best I've ever used was BP. Period. That stuff is AWESOME.

Lucky me, I live in Taxachusetts, and we can't get it up here. Thanks to our 10% methanol requirement, we no longer have Sunoco 94 or Exxon 93.5, either...

But, I'm running Sun 93 or Shell V-Power 93, which both seem to be good gas.

HOWEVER, YOU BRING UP AN INTERESTING CONCEPT: The car was originally a southern car, and DID NOT DO THIS for the first few weeks I drove it. It began doing it after a few weeks on Mass gas.

So, maybe Sun 93 and Shell 93 are gunking it up?

The way I read it I have two possible issues: carbon build up, or a Ford firmware update.

But, the carbon still seems far fetched to me. How could carbon build up on the back of intake valves? Makes no sense to me:flamer:

fastcar:burnout:

[knine]

The cold start issues with 300A models was addressed back in 2002 with a TSB. That issue was corrected with a software upgrade from the dealer.
There is a plethera of threads in regards to this topic.

This fellow was putting crap fuel in a car that required 'uncrap' fuel which is well spelled out in the owner's manual AND the obvious sticker on the fuel door.

His only saving grace was the fact that he fueled in O-REGUN, in which having spent far too much time in state, I know for a fact it has lousy pump gas served from lousy service stations. Seriously...Pacific Pride?
Chevron??? :puke:
Why not fill up with Speedway, the station that aquires their fuel week to week from the cheapest source?
94 Sunoco or 93 white from the former Amoco is known to be safe.
Kewl, thanks. iT ALWAYS SCARES ME TO SEE PEOPLE GO TO A CRAP STATION TO SAVE A FEW PENNIES A GALLON. wHEN GAS IS 3.00+ A Gallon, what's a few more pennies. Even .10 cents more a gallon is only a buck when you get 10 gallons. Will I invest a buck inmy car to keep it running great? You bet !!

[kwheels636]

this is also happening to me, the person i bought the car from probably used bad gas... could just using better gas help the problem? or do i need work done now?

[CRUZTAKER]

Was this a RECALL issue? Or, did Ford just wait and see who showed at the dealer???

The dealer only used it when the customer brought in the car complaining of cold start issues. And believe me, this goes way back to the early builds. I am sure it was corrected on the later models.

Mine had it done 2/03, the sticker is still under the hood. The first and LAST time the dealer would ever enter my EEC.:D

[RF Overlord]

the carbon still seems far fetched to me. How could carbon build up on the back of intake valves? Makes no sense to meDid you read the link I provided in my reply above^^^ (#21)? It explains in great detail how carbon builds up on the back of the intake valves.