2000 4.6 will not start

[Interceptor]

Good news! Lots of progress! Glad the CEL is gone. As far as the wiper light - low wiper fluid in the tank. Check it, if full.. there is a sensor on the tank. Check to see if the plug connection is good and/or does not have any corrosion.

 

[walnuts4x4]

was interceptor said... probably low fluid or connection there... but glad you got the CEL off.......

 

[designit]

the CEL came back on... (forget the wiper for now... There's a leak in the tank & won't hold wiper fluid)

CEL came back on after a couple sessions of idle for 10/15 minutes > cool down > restart...

Disconnected battery... CEL off again now... (learning itself I suspect)...

Motor at idle is super nice sounding...

When I slowly put the gas on, everything sounds good all the way through for the most part...

IF I PUNCH THE GAS... Everything opens up and it almost sounds like the engine wants to gag on it's own gas... POP POP POP POP POP until reaching either a little speed or 2-3000 rpm...

I don't know what a V8 engine is supposed to sound like on these... -- It almost sounds like 99EXPY's video he made in the snow...

I hear these noises in the cab -- real loud -- and it just seems to me that there should be more HP or gitty-up with all that noise... Again, I just have no baseline to draw from with 0 experience with this car (or this big of motor...)

What say you guys?... Still going to stick the computer on it & check... But timing with the neighbor (mech) is hit and miss...

Could be it just sat for 9 months.. Needs full service - major tune etc...?

Evedently the dealer had the heads replaced when he baught it at auction 14 months ago...

Advise?

Thanks guys...

 

[Interceptor]

Good, another problem diagnosed! Wiper fluid reservoir. Now on to something a little harder to diagnose based on the description. I'll throw a few things out.

First, you should not get a CEL when the ECM is trying to learn. What you would probably experience is roughness on the road when you were accelerating, etc. But no CEL. I think it would be worth letting the CEL come on and stay, then get the codes read (somewhere like AutoZone, etc). Bring those codes back and perhaps we can scratch our heads some more.

As far as the sounds in the cab, could be anything you're hearing. Could be a exhaust manifold leak (you mentioned they did heads, etc.). Also, if she's having trouble at higher rpms, could be something to do with fuel delivery (filter, spoiled gas working it's way thru, etc.). Let me throw this out to the forum since it's been sitting for 9 months. Seafoam?

 

[designit]

Sorry so long folks - thanks interceptor... (giving enough detail in a forum format is a full time job itself... )

I've not had it on the main roads yet... I've not had it shift into higher gears yet (only about 15-20mph around the neighborhood)

That said, (all things equal) giving it gas @ 5mph up to 20mph, it's as if the motor has no passing power... You know... The guy in the fast lane doing 50, and you'd like to drop it down a gear & move around him at 75?... -- doesn't feel like it's capable...

Will computer codes show a misfire or a bad hole / plug or anything? (sorry if dumb questions, I'm "searching" and learning - crash course style... (I have 10 days left to make a decision to buy or not)

Just seems like the motor has to work really hard to move (or IMO should have more '*****' than it does)... I 'did' notice the parking brake was all the way to the floor but brake release will not work... I had to pull the brake arm up by hand... (could be disconnected / but if it's disconnected wouldn't be locked in the 'on' position at the rear -- Or could it?)... I was looking for anything that could cause resistance... (is what it feels like IMO)

As for noise... The noise I hear is "from" idle to 2000+rpm... As I say... when I punch the gas (both parked or driving) -- really noisy and throaty... The noise seems to be coming from somewhere rear of the motor... Like right under (and between) the front seats... It's not smooth sound, I can hear each pop of each cylinder + feeling like lacking power...

Is there a Cat converter on these? I don't remember seeing one when doing the tank (but honestly, didn't think to look) -- very wet out now -- maybe the previous guy removed the cat & put in some exhaust system or something?... -- Which is one of the first things my neighbor mech. asked me... (is there an aftermarket exhaust on that?)

I don't want to take it on the main roads too much... (bad tags) and I don't trust it would make it a few miles to the shop (just yet...) But I'll grow a pair and drive it up to a dealer if needed to put it on a lift... This 'on the ground stuff in the pouring rain in Oregon is for the bir d s (err, FISH!)

Thanks guys...

 

[Interceptor]

Will computer codes show a misfire or a bad hole / plug or anything? (sorry if dumb questions, I'm "searching" and learning - crash course style... (I have 10 days left to make a decision to buy or not)

Yes, your PCM will throw a code for misfire. Here is an example of an OBD code you might see for a misfire:

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0302

For a complete list of OBD-II codes, check this out:

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/ford/

If you run short on time, it might be worth an hours labor to have a mechanic plug your ride into their analyzer. Perhaps you can get one stop shopping.. Wish I was closer, I'd swing by with my ODB-II gear and put the squeeze on your PCM to give up the goods!

If your exhaust is factory or legal, you should have cats on it. See the attachment for a sample of what they might look like. You'll also have O2 sensors before and after the catalytic converter.

 

[designit]

no new info in this post

 

[designit]

Will a wasted cat (on one side) cause the performance problems and noise I'm noting in previous posts?...

The rig I hope to buy and wasted cat pics are attached.

 

[Interceptor]

Nice ride on the outside but dang, looks like someone took the ugly stick to the mechanical. In short yes, the emissions system (cat, O2 sensors, etc) can affect how well the ECM can optimally adjust the fuel and oxygen delivery parameters (note this does not apply if you use some type of tuner). I don't know what your $$$ deal looks like, but seems to me you have a good project vehicle ... that is "almost" to the point of being a reliable daily driver.

 

[designit]

Thx,

3900 for rig... with 90k & almost perfect inside and out! (considering it's been unregistered and likely not driven for close to 18 months I've figured out. - tags expired in 10 of 09)

I have less than $75.00 (fuel pump @ $50.00) into it right now and about $300.00+/- at my finger tips to go... I only want to make sure I can get the performance issue nailed down with either an outright fix or a correct 100% diag from the dealer tomorrow morning. I wouldn't expect any "dealer work" to fall inside my budget (right here, right now) but am hoping they can give me a concrete direction to go in fixing the immediate issue of acceleration issues (and noise) and tell me the best place to put my 300, part or all of it...

How hard are ignition coils to install? Just thinking the entire 8pac on ebay @ 85.00 and a new set of Motocraft plugs next weekend if dealer suggests it or verifies one or more are failed... << Then again, if these things are bad, I'd have a CEL on (yes?)

 

[designit]

Don't need no stinkin dealer... Shoot...

Thought, heck, neighbor is MIA, dealer wants $$... Screw that! I'll go buy my own code reader and see what's up with the noise & all...

P0161

Just as I suspected when I saw the picture in the post two slots up...

Tomorrow? -- cancel apt. with dealer for a $200.00 conversation & head directly to 'midas'... (or =)

I think we're real close to that 'daily driver'... Thanks Interceptor for the quick replies etc... more trouble = more posts, stay tuned but I think I've got this thing by the nuts...

 

[99 Expy]

If yours has the COPs (coil on plug) I think they are pretty easy to change, I think there is a screw that holds them on then pull em off like taking off a plug wire then the electrical connection. Mine is a 99, but has plug wires with 2 coils that go to 4 plugs each. If you have new heads, then your plugs should be new, but if you feel confident in yourself, you can take one out to check, and just be careful to not cross thread it when putting it back in. Since it has set for so long, I would put highly recommend fuel injector cleaner, or possibly taking them out and cleaning them yourself with a fuel injector cleaner kit. That could very well be your problem with them being all gummed up from sitting for so long.

 

[99 Expy]

And that I think that is a decent cost if you only have to spend a few hundred bucks to make it a daily driver, it looks super clean!

 

[designit]

My initial thought is the O2 sensor isn't bad or failed but that it's not reading what it thinks it should due to the cat damage...

Crawled under that area... That's the noise spot (even at idle) and there is one heck of a lot of exhaust coming out of the damaged area...

I think it's just a cat. $150.00 and I'm done... On to some audio (I hope)

Thanks all, stay tuned just in case...

__________

Thanks for the feedback expy... I figure beings the dealer replaced (or resurfaced) the heads / gasket already about 9 months ago in an effort to smooth out the rough ride.... That tech checked the coils / plugs - and or replaced as req'd... (Now there's a 500-1000.00 job on my rig for no cost to me!) -- As Charlie Sheen says... Winning!

I have no idea why they started there (at the heads) maybe something else made them start with that... But lucky me, they stoped at that point and cut their losses... (guess the tech should have looked up?)

 

[walnuts4x4]

if its the cat... just weld in some pipe and do a rear cat delete....lol

 

[designit]

Ouch...

Guess cats are expensive, sheesh...

The cat damage was caused by a broken front drive shaft that wiped out the converter... Then fried the o2 sensor in the cat...

So? $440.00 later and a new cat + sensor = no codes, very quiet and running near flawless...

I still have a little bit of shimmer when accelerating. But not even close to the point of my not buying the rig.. I'll buy.

I guess this could be a number of things... Sitting for 18 months, fuel filter, general full service needed etc?

Glad I found the forum, thanks for the feedback everyone... fordexpeditionforum.com will go on the favorites list...

 

[Interceptor]

Sea Foam?

Yes, certainly an ouch price but sounds like you have a stable daily-driver. I would certainly recommend following through with the suggestions above (injector cleaning, etc.).. if it's been sitting as long as you say it has, it certainly could use it.

..I don't know much about the product "Sea Foam", perhaps someone can chime in and find out if it might be worth him running some through his engine. I've never used it, so I can't recommend one way or another.

Anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQh_XVd4xh8

 

[designit]

thanks interceptor... Will be on my list of things to do -- no doubt! (among other to-do's) but I can't do it all at the same time... I just wasted my budget this morning...

I had it out on the freeway & 45mhp sideroads for a bit... And I have some new codes...

starting a new thread -- P0300 and P0307 misfires...