rough idle, low mileage, slo start

[fblumberg]

any help appreciated...
2003 demo bought 2 weeks ago.
6000 miles 8000 currently
had all headlights and fogs changed...moisture
slow starts, hesitates, when challanged,
seems to misfire @ DROP LEAN IDLE
600-700rpm a.c cuts in and out at lights
and doesnt start on 1st try!
dealer says.. bad gas...
Ive only used hess 93 oct.
4 tanks in 2 weeks 15 mpg dealer says I have to get used to the car for the mileage to improve...
Hey I used to tweak cars in the 70's and I know how to drive ..
any suggestionns???
Fred

[RF Overlord]

fred:

You don't say if yours is a 300A or 300B, but there was a TSB on rough idle and hesitation...it's been mentioned on this board in a number of places, so search around and you should find it...if your dealer won't cooperate, find another dealer...

As far as the bad gas mileage, some members have reported the same, while others report quite good mileage...21-24 highway...17-19 around town...we haven't been able to point fingers at any one issue, other than perhaps regional quality of gas...most of us found that the motor loosened up around 5000 miles or so, so if you've already got 8000 on yours, it's about as good as it's going to get...

[fblumberg]

its a 300a,
whats the differance
anthoo?
fred

[03SILVERSTREAK]

(4 tanks in 2 weeks 15 mpg dealer says" I have to get used to the car for the mileage to improve"...)

I don't know who this dealer is but I'd go back and tell them to
hook up there computers to it and find out whats wrong .

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by fblumberg
its a 300a,
whats the differance
fred

The difference is that a 300B might already have the updated code in the ECM, while a 300A most likely does not...if you have either FDH2 or BMD0, the update might help your situation...or you can get a chip from Dennis Reinhart or Innovative Interceptors that will make the whole point moot...

[ap2003]

What RF said... plus the following...

I had a "mumbling idle" that continued to mumble at speeds less than 25 mph for the first 5000 on my 300B. (not a stumble, not rough, no stalling, 21mph highway... just not quite right at low speeds)

Also, had a lot of "black soot" on the bottom at the end of the Megs tips. I had to clean the tips at least once a week. This told me things were a little rich.

I read the TSB thread... just never got around to getting to the dealer.

When I got to the dealer, I told them about the mumble.

After diagnostics, it was found that the MAF was having trouble keeping a constant signal (they said voltage, but I am not sure that makes sense).

They replaced the MAF.

Car runs fine... no black soot... Happy Marauder driver!

_gus

[RoyLPita]

Maybe I can find out for you. I work for a Ford dealer in the Service Dept. Several members have asked me to run their VIN through Ford's OASIS database. I can check to see if your VIN has the SSM regarding idle quality, stumble, & hesitation.
Let me know.

Brian

[Jay Stark]

"bought a demo two weeks ago"

I just had a terrible thought of the salesman who drove the car............ aside from treating the car as their own, you know he/she bought the best grade fuel! Just a thought.

[fblumberg]

my wireless mouse died.....
at a friends till microsoft resolves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
the marauder is goin into the shop...
thu.
for Ford dyno tune,
micro chip up date,
proper oil change (i feel that they used 5w 30)
new fogs...
a.c. check.
getting loaner, no problems!!!
reinhart chip is not far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
thanx ,
fred

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by fblumberg
for Ford dyno tune,
micro chip up date,
proper oil change (i feel that they used 5w 30)
reinhart chip is not far away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
thanx ,
fred

fred:

Um, if you're getting a dyno-tune, why would you also be buying a chip?

And 5W-30 IS the right oil... :P :help:

[mtnh]

One of those bad idle/rich running at low speeds things was supposedly caused by an under-designed vacuum reservior, which caused vacuum to drop too early, and enabled the high pressure fuel to be sent to the injectors at too low of a speed to use that much fuel. A long time back, a member reported this here.
Search on vacuum and reservior maybe?

[fblumberg]

actually I will be asking the dealership how much of the warranty will be voided by the dyno-tune and weighin it against the Reinhart chip upgrade!!
Thanks again for the info/readout to brian

[hbarrett]

fred:

Um, if you're getting a dyno-tune, why would you also be buying a chip?

And 5W-30 IS the right oil... :P :help:Are you sure about the 5W-30, the recommended oil in my manual is 5W-20.

[woaface]

I had this problem today! NO joke. I was cleaning things out and forgot to put my IAS and MAF sensor in. Check those, maybe clean them

[Paul T. Casey]

Could be another oil thread rearing its head! :shake:

[Petrograde]

HAHAHA! Guys,.. look at the date of the first post!