Acceleration Issue (read "lack of sufficient")

[ledzilla]

Ok. So I was out driving, enjoying the lovely weather, and got onto a wide open stretch of road. With the windows open, so I could enjoy the wonderful sound of V8 goodness, I romped on the gas to have a little fun. Well, my fun didn't last long as the engine began to bog down and the "check engine" light started blinking. I let off the gas, coasted for a bit, then the light went off and the engine almost returned to normal. Now I don't have full acceleration at WOT (it hesitates a bit), everything runs fine though as a normal acceleration, and I hear a loud clicking noise under the hood. To me it sounds like a fuel injector, but too loud. I can't pinpoint the exact location (almost seems like it could be near the rear of the motor), but because I can easily hear it and is coming from on top somewhere, I'm fairly certain that I messed up an injector. Does anyone have any thoughts? :help::confused:

[4play]

when was the last time u changed your fuel filter

[Ktorres1]

Check your coils I had a similar issue without the noise if I can remember but go by an advance auto parts get an engine check for free, if it says misfire on any cylinder you got a coil problem

[mcthompson2001]

it,s not the coil,just got my mm out the shop,it the canister purge valve,plus bad plugs or just your plugs,but do change your fuel filter.And check the cam sensor too.

[FordNut]

Doubtful it's an injector. If the CEL came on, there should be a stored code. Advance or AutoZone should be able to read the code. Hopefully you haven't launched a plug.

[justbob]

Mike, perhaps I could take a quick look sometime today. Let me know.

[Zack]

If you have clicking, it sounds like a blown out plug.

Do not panic, it is easily repaired at any competent Ford dealer.

[Granite]

do you have a tune on your MM? when was the last time you changed your battery? same thing happened to me when i needed to change my battery, the tune turns off the alternator when at WOT, so with not enough cranking amps in the battery you get that loud clicking sound before it stalls out plus the dash lights up like a Christmas tree...hope it's an easy fix for you like it was for me

[ledzilla]

Ok...

I don't recall when I last replaced my fuel filter, but I want to say it was in summer of 2008, and I know I haven't put more than 15K-20K miles on it... Supposing I'm correct in my assumption. I have a fond memory of replacing it, considering I had to secure it in place with zip ties.

I'm still using the factory original battery which has been going strong, even in the sub-zero temps we've seen around Chi-town in the last year or so. But I don't have a tune on it... Yet.

Zack, if you heard the clicking, I'm sure you might agree. It's very regular and just sounds like an injector, only louder than normal.

Currently, the check engine light is not on. After it stopped blinking, it just turned off and has remained off.

I'll definitely take a look at the plugs, though, and make sure that none have some loose. Bob, if you feel like lending your eyes to the endeavor, you're more than welcome!

[justbob]

Pm me your addy, I'll have some free time tonight.

[LeoVampire]

First there will be a stored code go to some place and find out what it is. Parts store's like Auto Zone will do this for free for you and give you a print out as well.

Once you do this you can start to track down the problem much easier seeing the PCM is registering the problem or admitting it occured.

Intermiten problem dosn't mean it went away. Even though there is no longer a solid check engine light the part that failed @ that time might do it again and premanantly fail and might leave you stranded some where.

[Blackened300a]

Im going with the plug issue. They are known to loosen up or shoot out of the head. I already had one loosen up and cause all sorts of issues. The clicking could be the coil shorting or arcing against the walls of the cam cover. Start checking plugs ASAP.

[ledzilla]

Well, I had to head out for a bit, then on the way home (only a few minutes away) things got weird. Heard an odd noise and the car started to vibrate. A couple minutes later I'm home. Check the plugs, and indeed, second one I checked, it came out. So right now it's all cooling off, then I'm going to try and clean it up and see what there is to see. I'm hoping it just unthreaded itself and didn't strip the threads, otherwise I'm SOL (no job means no money for repair).

[Blackened300a]

Well, I had to head out for a bit, then on the way home (only a few minutes away) things got weird. Heard an odd noise and the car started to vibrate. A couple minutes later I'm home. Check the plugs, and indeed, second one I checked, it came out. So right now it's all cooling off, then I'm going to try and clean it up and see what there is to see. I'm hoping it just unthreaded itself and didn't strip the threads, otherwise I'm SOL (no job means no money for repair).

I got lucky and it threaded itself out and I was able to reinstall it. Did you look at the plug and check for metal around the threads?

Its not that expensive to have the threads repaired. Ebay even sells a thread repair kit for pretty cheap but not sure how well it works.

[ledzilla]

I can't reinstall the plug, it's badly damaged. The tip is bent up and there's damage to the threads, but the way the threads are damaged I can't tell if it occurred after the plug became loose or from the act of the plug becoming loose in the first place. I thought I had some old plugs sitting around, try and see if they go back in ok, but I don't have any that I can find.

[FordNut]

Maybe somebody changed the plugs and didn't use a torque wrench. They either over-tightened and stripped the threads or didn't tighten enough and it backed out or blew out. Good luck with the repairs.

[Blackened300a]

I can't reinstall the plug, it's badly damaged. The tip is bent up and there's damage to the threads, but the way the threads are damaged I can't tell if it occurred after the plug became loose or from the act of the plug becoming loose in the first place. I thought I had some old plugs sitting around, try and see if they go back in ok, but I don't have any that I can find.

Thats the plug bouncing around the in head from the compression. Here's what happened to me last year. I had the coil connectors so it kept the plug held down but it caused the connector to bend and rub through the boot which caused a major arc and melted the boot and plastic down the side of my coil cover.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57378

[ledzilla]

Maybe somebody changed the plugs and didn't use a torque wrench. They either over-tightened and stripped the threads or didn't tighten enough and it backed out or blew out. Good luck with the repairs.
That would be me. I don't have a torque wrench.

[justbob]

Mike, Do you have any way to pick up one plug and try before I come out?

[FordNut]

I'd invest in one, it's cheaper than replacing a head.

[ledzilla]

Thats the plug bouncing around the in head from the compression. Here's what happened to me last year. I had the coil connectors so it kept the plug held down but it caused the connector to bend and rub through the boot which caused a major arc and melted the boot and plastic down the side of my coil cover.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=57378
Well, to my luck the coil and connector seem ok, I didn't notice any damage to them, but I didn't look that closely. I plan to give it a better look tomorrow when I'm not feeling so grumpy. I tried to thread in the plug from a neighboring cylinder, but it wouldn't go in, so it looks like I'll need to rethread it (** loud groan **). My plug was damaged all on one end, though. I'll try to post a pic of it in the morning. All I want to do right now is a whole lotta nothing.

[ledzilla]

Mike, Do you have any way to pick up one plug and try before I come out?
Tried to thread in a plug I took out from a cylinder next to the one I blew, but it won't thread in.

[justbob]

Well I guess i'll stay home myself then, I need to start getting things ready for the trip tomorrow. Let me know if you need me whenever.

[FordNut]

Well, to my luck the coil and connector seem ok, I didn't notice any damage to them, but I didn't look that closely. I plan to give it a better look tomorrow when I'm not feeling so grumpy. I tried to thread in the plug from a neighboring cylinder, but it wouldn't go in, so it looks like I'll need to rethread it (** loud groan **). My plug was damaged all on one end, though. I'll try to post a pic of it in the morning. All I want to do right now is a whole lotta nothing.

You might get lucky and rethread it, but it's probably going to need an insert (Timeserts I believe is the name for the best ones). Put a lot of grease on the tap so metal shavings stick to the grease and come out with the tap instead of dropping into the cylinder.

[LeoVampire]

You might get lucky and rethread it, but it's probably going to need an insert (Timeserts I believe is the name for the best ones). Put a lot of grease on the tap so metal shavings stick to the grease and come out with the tap instead of dropping into the cylinder.


Take your time when you do it and remeber in the future a stone cold motor is the only one you should have to take out and put in spark plugs with these aluminum engine's.

Rent for free a torque wrench every time you do the plugs if you do not want to or can not buy one.

[ledzilla]

Question: If I disconnected the coil (so I don't end up with a high voltage short in the system), would it be ok to drive the car? I know if would only be running on 7 cylinders, but I have no other transportation and I need some way to get around before I can get the repairs done.

[FordNut]

I wouldn't advise it, but it should run. The downside, driving it without the plug installed it will be pulling in unfiltered air, dust, etc through the plug hole.

[Blackened300a]

Question: If I disconnected the coil (so I don't end up with a high voltage short in the system), would it be ok to drive the car? I know if would only be running on 7 cylinders, but I have no other transportation and I need some way to get around before I can get the repairs done.

If you are going to run it on 7 cylinders, you should also unplug the injector. You dont want gas sprayed all over the place either.

[ledzilla]

Thanks guys. This sucks on so many levels, but you all have been a help. It's good to know that I can still be somewhat mobile in the meantime. And a friend of mine thinks he may be able to repair the head. Things are looking slightly less gloomy.

[LeoVampire]

Thanks guys. This sucks on so many levels, but you all have been a help. It's good to know that I can still be somewhat mobile in the meantime. And a friend of mine thinks he may be able to repair the head. Things are looking slightly less gloomy.

Take the bus or catch a ride with someone and try to leave the car alone until it is repaired! No need to take a chance on making the situation worse and ending up costing you more money down the road.

[ledzilla]

Well, my ride has been sitting all quiet in the driveway for a while now. Tomorrow it's getting a tow to my local shop. They can do the repair for $150. Seems a bit more than what I want to really pay (which is nothing), but I don't trust myself to do the work and they've had plenty of experience with these. So, with any luck, I'll be back cruising around by tomorrow night.

[Blackened300a]

Well, my ride has been sitting all quiet in the driveway for a while now. Tomorrow it's getting a tow to my local shop. They can do the repair for $150. Seems a bit more than what I want to really pay (which is nothing), but I don't trust myself to do the work and they've had plenty of experience with these. So, with any luck, I'll be back cruising around by tomorrow night.


What was the outcome of this. I think I'm in the same boat you are.

[ledzilla]

Guess I kept forgetting to give an update. Well, that Friday morning (week and a half ago) a tow truck picked it up (pictures included.. quite sad). But I got it back that afternoon. The bill was as follows:

$150 for helicoil
$93 for tow
~$20 in shop costs
$2 for new NGK TR55 plug
$100 for new Motorcraft ignition coil

This repair wasn't done at the local dealership, but at a shop my family has been using for something like 30 years. Don't know what it would cost at a dealer, though. Only took about 2 hours or so for the repair to get done.

[FordNut]

Glad it's back on the road for ya.

Torque wrench...

[Blackened300a]

Ill be heading to a dealer for my repair. #2 plug backed out again. The same one that backed out on my way to Indiana. Im waiting to hear from my dealer today.
The coil connectors are good as long as the plug dont back out. They hold it down and it ends up shorting the coil each time and wreck the boot.