Tune up time/hopefully will fix some problems

[Ravage17]

Ok fellas, so like i wrote in a previous post the problem with the shuddering i was feeling has come back a week after i fixed it with a new coil. My plan now is to do all new plugs, coils, and an oil change. I was planning on gettin the msd coils, mobil one oil, and the motorcraft filter. I'm coming to you guys to ask if these msd coils are good, and what plugs do you think i should pair with them? Fyi, 61k, no mods besides exhaust, 04, planning on gettin the jlt intake. thanks for the input in advance! if this has been asked before i'm sorry, i'm trying to do this off my phone while i'm at work and want to order everything today so i can fix it tomorrow when i'm off.

[ctrlraven]

I wouldn't waste the money on the MSD coils, the stock Motorcraft ones are plenty fine, get the part number and search on ebay or amazon for them and you should fine them cheap. As far as plugs go with Motorcraft, NGK or Autolite and use the factory heat range unless you plan on getting a tune real soon then go with one stage colder plugs.

[skeptikal]

My 300A has the same shuddering, moreso when O/D is on than off. I'm getting a tune either this weekend or next. Just installed JLT CAI, removed 2nd cats and installed Flows Super 44's. The shuddering continues. I plan to get it tuned with the SCT x3 at Ramseys. Changing the oil this week before the tune, but after reading what you posted Im wondering if i need to purchase plugs too...? She's bone stock other than the aforementioned mods. Thanks.

[SC Cheesehead]

What's the trans fluid look like, when's the last time it was changed?

[Ravage17]

My problem was the number three coil was losing voltage under load. Bought new coil from dealer. I installed it, shuddering gone. For approximately one week, then started coming back with a vengence...trans fluid is picture perfect, and my trans guy who i trust very much assured me it's not a trans problem. So that's why i'm doing this tune. I'm not a fan of the stock coils for two reasons:very expensive and from what i've seen the wires inside them are way too small and cheap. I think i saw a whole set of msd's for three hundred somewhere. I figure if i change all the coils and plugs that should fix the problem. If it doesn't it's going in for a major tune and diagnostics cuz it's bothering the hell out of me. What kind of ngk's do you guys suggest?

[skeptikal]

Not sure about that, TBH i don't know how to check. I bought the car in late january with 67K

[ctrlraven]

My 300A has the same shuddering, moreso when O/D is on than off. I'm getting a tune either this weekend or next. Just installed JLT CAI, removed 2nd cats and installed Flows Super 44's. The shuddering continues. I plan to get it tuned with the SCT x3 at Ramseys. Changing the oil this week before the tune, but after reading what you posted Im wondering if i need to purchase plugs too...? She's bone stock other than the aforementioned mods. Thanks.
Do a full trans fluid exchange if you haven't already. Sounds like it's the torque converter.


My problem was the number three coil was losing voltage under load. Bought new coil from dealer. I installed it, shuddering gone. For approximately one week, then started coming back with a vengence...trans fluid is picture perfect, and my trans guy who i trust very much assured me it's not a trans problem. So that's why i'm doing this tune. I'm not a fan of the stock coils for two reasons:very expensive and from what i've seen the wires inside them are way too small and cheap. I think i saw a whole set of msd's for three hundred somewhere. I figure if i change all the coils and plugs that should fix the problem. If it doesn't it's going in for a major tune and diagnostics cuz it's bothering the hell out of me. What kind of ngk's do you guys suggest?
Did you swap a coil from another cylinder with the number 3 one? If it still does it then it's not the coil it's whatever leading up to that coil.

As far as plugs, NGK TR55 are stock range plugs. Might as well get some GMS coil connectors while you are at it.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GRN-28-1812S/

These take place of that flimsy spring that connects the coil to the plug. Most notice smoother idle and better mid-range power with this.

[Ravage17]

No I never swapped them- just put a new one in. Like I said though the coil test said that that coil was loosing voltage. I think I might just buy a cheap duralast one and start swapping it out of different cylinders starting with 3 and see if it is just that one or it is another one that just by chance went out. Either way its getting annoying. I'm doing the plugs irregardless though. What else could it be that leads up to the coils?

[ctrlraven]

Start swapping them out before throwing a lot of money at it.

I'm not really sure since I never had the problem with any of my coils (154k miles on stock ones so far). I guess it would just be a matter of backwards tracing some. Hopefully it's just another coil or something simple.

[Paul]

Yeah I bought mine with 70k on it, now have 122k, still stock coils as far as I know. The stumbling is probably the plugs, or maybe the throttle position sensor, or more likely, a dirty MAF. Get some MAF cleaner at the FLAP and give it a good spray clean. Another guess would be fuel filter - when was yours last changed?

[Paul]

And don't buy parts at the stealership. Go to ebay, rockauto, or tasca ford online. etc.

[skeptikal]

well boys, I just left my local tranny shop. I took Betty in and presented my shuddering problem to their head tranny tech. he told me it's a common problem for "cars like these." he recommended purchasing a lubeguard product called "shudder fix," which I'm buying from Napa right now. I'll let you all know the results.

[SC Cheesehead]

well boys, I just left my local tranny shop. I took Betty in and presented my shuddering problem to their head tranny tech. he told me it's a common problem for "cars like these." he recommended purchasing a lubeguard product called "shudder fix," which I'm buying from Napa right now. I'll let you all know the results.


Uhhhhh, did he offer up a great price on a well-known bridge while he was at it?

[skeptikal]

I don't get it cheesehead..

[SC Cheesehead]

I don't get it cheesehead..

A tranny flush and fluid change should take care of common trans problems.

Any time somebody tries to sell you a fluid additive as a fix to a potential mechanical problem a red flag should go up.

[skeptikal]

Well the fluid isn't dirty at all, I had the tech check for me. He also drove it. During the drive he told me that under no circumstances should I turn o/d off which i found odd.

Nevertheless, I just bought the additive and put it in. The drive home yielded far fewer shudders than I've been experiencing and it even stopped after a few miles. It seemed like it actually fixed the problem. Did it or did i just hurt my tranny even more?

[SC Cheesehead]

Well the fluid isn't dirty at all, I had the tech check for me. He also drove it. During the drive he told me that under no circumstances should I turn o/d off which i found odd.

Nevertheless, I just bought the additive and put it in. The drive home yielded far fewer shudders than I've been experiencing and it even stopped after a few miles. It seemed like it actually fixed the problem. Did it or did i just hurt my tranny even more?

Uh, you may want to find yourself another tranny tech.

Well, if you've got an engine with bad rings that burns a lot of oil, you get it to stop smoking if you dump enough STP into it.

IMO, I'd do a drain and flush, but I'll let others chime in with their thoughts.

[skeptikal]

Uh, you may want to find yourself another tranny tech.

Well, if you've got an engine with bad rings that burns a lot of oil, you get it to stop smoking if you dump enough STP into it.

IMO, I'd do a drain and flush, but I'll let others chime in with their thoughts.

That was my first time ever using that guy. Guess it'll be the last.

And that sounds like a bit of an overzealous comparison. It was a small $7 tube of fluid, no major dumping involved. Are transmission additives usually detrimental to the transmission?

[ctrlraven]

Well the fluid isn't dirty at all, I had the tech check for me. He also drove it. During the drive he told me that under no circumstances should I turn o/d off which i found odd.

Nevertheless, I just bought the additive and put it in. The drive home yielded far fewer shudders than I've been experiencing and it even stopped after a few miles. It seemed like it actually fixed the problem. Did it or did i just hurt my tranny even more?
Thread hijacker.... lol

If the tech said that to me I would of asked for my keys back and ran out the door. Under no circumstances should you floor it while O/D is ON, that's about the only thing or leave O/D on while going WOT from a dead stop cause it will wear the O/D band out and then need replacing.

I wouldn't of put that stuff in my trans, if your fluid is clean and fresh and it still does it then it's most likely the converter itself. Any type of additives usually just mask the problem. Have you had a full trans fluid exchange or dropped the pan and change the filter done? If not, you should.

[skeptikal]

Thread hijacker.... lol

If the tech said that to me I would of asked for my keys back and ran out the door. Under no circumstances should you floor it while O/D is ON, that's about the only thing or leave O/D on while going WOT from a dead stop cause it will wear the O/D band out and then need replacing.

I wouldn't of put that stuff in my trans, if your fluid is clean and fresh and it still does it then it's most likely the converter itself. Any type of additives usually just mask the problem. Have you had a full trans fluid exchange or dropped the pan and change the filter done? If not, you should.

Haha you caught me. But better to hijack than to flood the boards with duplicates..:beatnik:
I bought it only 3 months ago, and have not changed any of the fluids yet. The trans fluid looked clean and there looked to be a little too much fluid in there but other than that it didn't look bad. Should I still flush/change it? If i screwed up with the additive with the flush get it out of there? I don't want to think my torque converter is starting to go, she only has 69k.

[ctrlraven]

Drop the pan, change the filter, refill 3-5 quarts of fluid. If you drop the pan there is a little yellow lollipop looking thing then the pan and filter have never been touched. If you don't see it then the pan has been dropped before and possibly the filter has been changed. It's a simple enough job if you can change your own oil you can change your trans fluid. If not then take it to a Ford dealership.