Spark plug questions/misfire

[1955moose]

Wizard, I looked into your theory of newer vehicles running lower charging rates. I find nothing confirming that. Most F150/Expedition owners report 14.1 to 14.3 volts on a running motor, with accessories on. That's starting with a fully charged 12.6 volt battery. My 2000 which is kinda new, at least to me , charges in that 14 volt range. Maybe the newest 3.5 motors are lower, but the 1st, and 2nd gens seem to charge at that rate. Anyhoo, that's what I found. Small potatoes in the realm of everyday crud we deal with.

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[theoldwizard1]

Wizard, I looked into your theory of newer vehicles running lower charging rates. I find nothing confirming that. Most F150/Expedition owners report 14.1 to 14.3 volts on a running motor, with accessories on. That's starting with a fully charged 12.6 volt battery. My 2000 which is kinda new, at least to me , charges in that 14 volt range. Maybe the newest 3.5 motors are lower, but the 1st, and 2nd gens seem to charge at that rate.

This post and my reply don't really belong in this thread but ...

Ford's start charging algorithm has evolved over the years so you might get different charging voltages under similar conditions from different model year vehicle.

First, a flooded lead acid battery in perfect condition after being fully charged and allowing the "surface charge" to dissipate, should be close to 13V.

Second, the time when you are checking the charging voltage makes a big difference. Again, depending on the model year, the PCM "estimates" the state of charge using what data is available. Then it "tells" the alternator to charge at that voltage. Voltages of even up to 14.5V are not uncommon if the PCM decides that battery is not at 100%. After driving for 10-15 minutes, and with no accessories turned on, I'll bet you will see the charging voltage below 14V, possibly below 13.5V.

If you want the GORY details, watch this video Ford "Smart Charge System" Alternator Not Charging[/QUOTE]

 

[1955moose]

So what your saying, with more options, and more drains on the system, the computer tells the Alternator/regulator to back off unless needed. I'm impressed! I have a hard enough time getting my Android to talk to you guys without overheating. Wonderful world we live in these days, that is untill one of our computers goes wonky, no codes, and all our resident geniuses hear try to give their best hypothesis as to what's wrong, because most of our $150.00 per hour Ford dealers can't figure it out. Imagine what the next 10 years is going to bring. Maybe a computer that talks to you instead of Dtc codes. That would be cool! Your service advisor couldn't dispute the talking SUV voice telling him where to look.

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[theoldwizard1]

So what your saying, with more options, and more drains on the system, the computer tells the Alternator/regulator to back off unless needed.

Believe it or not, the "smart" charging systems actually save a couple of tenths of MPG ! Plus, keeping the battery from not being overcharged or undercharged extends the battery life (heat actually kills batteries more than cold).

It is also important as more "high load" electrical devices are used (electric power assist steering) which can put a short but strong load on the battery. Electric A/C is still a ways away.

 

[1955moose]

Yeah sure would be nice if their was no freon or compressors to contend with. It's funny how Electronics can do just about everything these days, but the AC is pretty much the same as those early fifties Lincoln's/Cadillacs when they first started offering the option. They got electric seat cooling, vent cooling hopefully isn't too far off.

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[theoldwizard1]

...but the AC is pretty much the same as those early fifties Lincoln's/Cadillacs when they first started offering the option.

Not true ! The GM/Frigidaire and Ford/Chrysler/York compressors were HUGE in the 60s. Freon (R12) would actually LEAK through the rubber hoses.

It still takes a lot of horsepower to run a compressor and at 12V that means a lot of current. High current means large ($$$) wire. There are a few small DC powered refrigeration compressors out there, but they actually invert DC into 3 phase AC to maximize efficiency. More $$$.

 

[Ps4acc88]

**Update**

Coil packs and spark plugs were changed today, truck is running good now, problem solved.

Now I have a leaky oil pan though:-(

 

[theoldwizard1]

**Update**

Coil packs and spark plugs were changed today, truck is running good now, problem solved.

That was an awfully expensive "shotgun" fix ! I hope you used Motorcraft coils. If not, you will be repeating this a lot sooner than you would like !

 

[Ps4acc88]

That was an awfully expensive "shotgun" fix ! I hope you used Motorcraft coils. If not, you will be repeating this a lot sooner than you would like !

Motorcraft cop and plugs, bought them off amazon for like 350 and change something like that. They came with as a set with plugs...or Ebay, I can't remember I'll have to check when I get home.

 

[1955moose]

Old wizard are you old enough to remember when the price of car air conditioning was close to 40 percent of the price of the vehicle. Avg was $750.00 to $900.00. pretty steep when the retail price of car was $2,000 to $2500. Explains why cars from 50's and early 60's rarely had factory air. No big deal growing up near San Francisco, but everywhere else, brutal.

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[theoldwizard1]

I worked in the Sears garage in the early 70s. You are correct, very few cars had A/C back then, but Sear would install an under dash system. I don't know what the price was, but it was not very popular.

 

[1955moose]

I remember the ones that customer's put in 65-68 mustangs. Sears sold everything including Allstate cars at one time. They were made by Kaiser/Frasier. We're really spoiled these days, with pretty much 75 percent of cars come with Ac. You guys in the Midwest/ South used to go to the movies because it was Air conditioned. 95 degrees and wet, I would too.

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[Ps4acc88]

Old wizard are you old enough to remember when the price of car air conditioning was close to 40 percent of the price of the vehicle. Avg was $750.00 to $900.00. pretty steep when the retail price of car was $2,000 to $2500. Explains why cars from 50's and early 60's rarely had factory air. No big deal growing up near San Francisco, but everywhere else, brutal.

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Almost impossible to have a car with out a/c in Texas sometimes. The heat here is brutal!

 

[1955moose]

Your dad or grandpa probably didn't have it. A lot of lone star beer to cool off.

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[GJarrett]

About to change the plugs, subscribing for future reference just in case