Fastcar Engine Failure. Consensus Sought. Please Read and Post.

[fastcar]

Dear MM.NET friends,

I feel very humbled to call on your support at this time. My 300A is my and my wife's only car. We do not work at home. We rely on this car every day to run our business.

I know things will work out for the better, but right now I get to linger in uncertainty :eek:

Friends, this is my story...

I went to an appointment on Monday and turned the car off. No issues. 45 minutes later, I left the appointment, climbed in and fired her up. VERY ROUGH IDLE. I knew immediately it was missing a cylinder. It could barely idle at 500 RPM, and I needed to use the gas pedal in Drive to feel confident it would not stall.

Next day dropped it at my mechanic. I told him I figured a coil pack went. He tried a new one but to no avail. He did a compression test. NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #7. (all other cylinders are between 180-190 lbs) Now, I mean zero, not 5lbs, not 10lbs, just nothing at all. This counter indicates a broken ring, or landing, which would build some pressure...

I visit the shop and look down the hole. Very wet piston. I sample the substance. I believe it is mostly gas. I see no hole in the piston. The mechanic says all he can think of is a hole in the piston elsewhere to create this kind of compression deficit. But, his forte is alignments and suspension, and he suggests I find an engine specialist on something this serious. He puts it back together and I drive it home.

I call a more experienced engine mechanic. He says it's easy to tell if you have a hole in the piston, and says he hasn't seen one in years. Run motor with oil fill cap off, and look for violent puffing out the filler hole. I do. No puffing.

That was yesterday. Today, as I type this, I realize that his diagnostic test would only work if the cylinder is FIRING. Alas, the cylinder is gas fouled, and does not appear to me to be firing at all.

Cylinder #7 knowns:

1. Zero compression.
2. No fire.
3. Gas fouled.
4. Ignition seems fine.

Other things that appear true:

1. No intake system backfiring or fouling
2. No crankcase puffing or fouling

I have an idea, but I don't want to put it out there yet. I'm looking for your input uninfluenced by my thinking.

Can the collective brain interactive construct at mm.net crack this? I hope you can! Please fire me all input, ideas, experiences, questions, diagnostic tests, etc. Whoever you are I want to thank you in advance for your kindness :o

your friend,

fastcar:burnout:

[Zack]

Holes in pistons dont just happen when the car is sitting, so rule that out.

It is possible a valve follower popped off and somehow lodged itself against the valve or spring, causing it to hang open, causing this problem.

Start simple by using a Bore-O-Scope, then pull the valve cover.

[larryo340]

Maybe a rocker arm slipped out into valve spring causing valve to hang open?

I was checking to see if 4V's had rockers then hit the submit button, but Zack beat me to it.

[Blackmobile]

I have to agree with Zack on this one. No compressions makes it seem to be an open valve. A cracked piston would give you some kind of compression, with that said the problem points toward the head.

[CKMustangCobra]

Leak-down test.

Any experienced mechanic should have the knowledge and tools to do it.

Get #7 @ TDC on the compression stroke.

Basically a leak down test is going to pressurize the cylinder through a tool in the sparkplug hole.

When the cylinder pressurizes (or doesn't) that air is going somewhere.... which is where your leak is.

If you hear/feel air moving out of the oil fill than you have a piston/ring issue.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the coolant fill than you have a head gasket issue.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the intake than you have a stuck (open) intake valve.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the exhaust then you have a stuck (open) exhaust valve.

If you have a helper and a air compressor at home... get the piston to TDC and make a tight seal in the spark plug hole with the air compressor nozzle and try to "blow" the cylinder up like a balloon and have a helper check all the places I listed and see if you can hear/feel the air anywhere.

This will at least tell you where to start. Best case scenario it will be something under the valve cover that can be fixed with the engine in the car and can be fixed pretty cheap.

Good luck.

[fastcar]

Holes in pistons dont just happen when the car is sitting, so rule that out.

It is possible a valve follower popped off and somehow lodged itself against the valve or spring, causing it to hang open, causing this problem.

Start simple by using a Bore-O-Scope, then pull the valve cover.

Thanks Zack. I was hoping you'd reply. I can't find any Boston area tool rental agencies who have a bore-o-scope. Does anyone local have one they could lend me for a day? Or, should I just pull the cover? Thanks,

fastcar:o

[fastcar]

Maybe a rocker arm slipped out into valve spring causing valve to hang open?

I was checking to see if 4V's had rockers then hit the submit button, but Zack beat me to it.

Thanks Larry, thanks Blackmobile. I appreciate it.

fastcar:burnout:

[fastcar]

Leak-down test.

Any experienced mechanic should have the knowledge and tools to do it.

Get #7 @ TDC on the compression stroke.

Basically a leak down test is going to pressurize the cylinder through a tool in the sparkplug hole.

When the cylinder pressurizes (or doesn't) that air is going somewhere.... which is where your leak is.

If you hear/feel air moving out of the oil fill than you have a piston/ring issue.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the coolant fill than you have a head gasket issue.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the intake than you have a stuck (open) intake valve.
If you hear/feel air moving out of the exhaust then you have a stuck (open) exhaust valve.

If you have a helper and a air compressor at home... get the piston to TDC and make a tight seal in the spark plug hole with the air compressor nozzle and try to "blow" the cylinder up like a balloon and have a helper check all the places I listed and see if you can hear/feel the air anywhere.

This will at least tell you where to start. Best case scenario it will be something under the valve cover that can be fixed with the engine in the car and can be fixed pretty cheap.

Good luck.

Totally awesome idea, man! Thanks,

fastcar:burnout:

[Zack]

Dont ask me how or why, but a bunch of 03-04 Cobras had followers pop off upon initial start up at the factory or dealership and customers never knew it until it was datalogged or the valve cover came off. It would fall off and lay in the head, and the other working valve would almost mask the problem entirely.

[ctrlraven]

Hope it is an easy fix! Learn something new everyday from the above posts.

[fastcar]

Dont ask me how or why, but a bunch of 03-04 Cobras had followers pop off upon initial start up at the factory or dealership and customers never knew it until it was datalogged or the valve cover came off. It would fall off and lay in the head, and the other working valve would almost mask the problem entirely.

Interesting, but can't picture how it would hold the valve open (as in my case...)

fastcar:burnout:

[Richy04]

the early Marauders had head issues, there was a soft recall on them. I agree with Zack, either a follower/retainer or a seat failure holding the valve open. Check the vacuum gauge for pulsing high when its hooked up, indicating that no. 7 is pushing the pressure back into the intake. You can also listen thru the air cleaner (take out the filter) and you will hear a weird noise thru there as 7 goes up. Like a guh guh guh noise, especially if you rev it up slightly.. Sounds silly but you will hear it!! Popping thru the intake will also be evident if the plug isnt fouled and the valve is open.

[CRUZTAKER]

Thanks Zack. I was hoping you'd reply.

Zack is indeed a nice tool available to us here. :P

I want to say thank-you just for helping this guy a little bit.

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks Zack. I was hoping you'd reply. I can't find any Boston area tool rental agencies who have a bore-o-scope. Does anyone local have one they could lend me for a day? Or, should I just pull the cover? Thanks,

fastcar:o

Try Harbor Freight or an engine builder in your area might have one you can borrow.

[Blackmobile]

Zack is indeed a nice tool available to us here. :P

I want to say thank-you just for helping this guy a little bit.

^^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^^ Ditto!

Your help on the board is extremely appreciated.

[Local Boy]

Wishing you all the best...fastcar

I'm learning alot on this one...

Thanks guys...

ALOHA

[fordman]

fastcar,

I noticed you said you bought it with 99,967 miles on it. Just curious what you have on it now? Off that, these guys that have posted to you already know there S*** about our cars. Follow what they say, you should be fine. Good Luck.

[fastcar]

fastcar,

I noticed you said you bought it with 99,967 miles on it. Just curious what you have on it now? Off that, these guys that have posted to you already know there S*** about our cars. Follow what they say, you should be fine. Good Luck.

Nice meeting you, fordman. She has 114,000 on the clock.

[fastcar]

I'm hoping to pull the valve cover tomorrow, and try to see what's going on. Also follow some suggestions friends have posted from this thread.

I may need help finding the most reputable mechanic in the Boston area... I'm finding out a lot of mechanics don't want to 'get into' the engine. May start a thread on suggested mechanics soon. I wish Zack, Lidio or Dennis were somewhere near Boston. I'd be feeling very secure right now ;) Thanks guys,

fastcar:burnout:

[sd8683]

I'm hoping to pull the valve cover tomorrow, and try to see what's going on. Also follow some suggestions friends have posted from this thread.

I may need help finding the most reputable mechanic in the Boston area... I'm finding out a lot of mechanics don't want to 'get into' the engine. May start a thread on suggested mechanics soon. I wish Zack, Lidio or Dennis were somewhere near Boston. I'd be feeling very secure right now ;) Thanks guys,

fastcar:burnout:

Dez racing does a lot of mustang stuff and I've heard nothing but good things. For the life of me I can't remember what town there in? I wanna say seekonk mass??

And the only place I let touch my car is accurate auto in Hyde park

[Larry Durham]

Broken valve springs are common on the 4.6. be sure to check the springs closely, especially at the bottom. This happened on my Continental, stealership told me major engine failure, $3-5k to repair, local garage fixed for $250. including a new set of plugs. The spring was $2.51 wholesale.

[fastcar]

Friends,

I want to say thank you one and all for your input, encouragement, and kind words.

I tried removing the cam valve cover this AM. Wow. I wish someone had clued me in on that waste of time. I think all I accomplished was to get some grit into the engine and nearly tear the valve cover gasket.

That is NOT a job for the faint of heart.

Later I searched about it here, and found out what a nightmare it is.

For the life of me I can't understand how removing the cowl would help, either. It's the hvac unit that's in the way. Most who attempt it end up having to drop the motor or raise it (I've heard both!) to get it out.

NOT GOING THERE. Forget it. That kind of thing totally pisses me off.

I'm going to start a thread on good mechanics in the Boston area. I've heard so many horror stories about LM/Ford dealerships I won't go to one...

Everyone thanks again, and post on the new thread if you have any good ideas for the Boston area.

fastcar:burnout:

[Mongoose]

My guess valve seat fell out of head. Don't ask me how I know:(
See this thread http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=35570&highlight=expired post #30

[FordNut]

For the life of me I can't understand how removing the cowl would help, either. It's the hvac unit that's in the way. Most who attempt it end up having to drop the motor or raise it (I've heard both!) to get it out.
:

I thought you said it was #7 that had a problem??? It's on the driver side.

[Zack]

I thought you said it was #7 that had a problem??? It's on the driver side.

:rofl:
Sorry, thats just funny!

[fastcar]

I thought you said it was #7 that had a problem??? It's on the driver side.

Man, you're suppose to be a FORD nut. You are killing me!:shake:

fastcar:burnout:

[Zack]

Man, you're suppose to be a FORD nut. You are killing me!:shake:

fastcar:burnout:

# 7 IS on the Driver's Side :stupid:

[fastcar]

# 7 IS on the Driver's Side :stupid:

Sorry Ford Nut. It's cylinder number 3 that's out. It's been so long since I did plug wires on a Ford I forgot which side to start the count on :lol:

fastcar:burnout:

[jaywish]

Did you try compressed air in the cylinder?

[Aren Jay]

If you have to replace the engine, and I'm not saying you do, do it the right way and not just a fix.