When it rains, it pours

[bindernut]

Finally paid off my F150 6 months early, and to celebrate I put brand new rubber all the way around, changed the oil, air filter and steamed the engine bay. Coming home from work Friday I felt the 5.4 stumble and by the time I got home (7miles) it was giving a pretty good massage in the seat and it burned about a 16th of a tank of fuel.
A few weeks ago I also did the "Gott's mod" on the intake ( http://www.fordf150.net/articles/idx.ph ... ation.html ) so at first I suspected that might be the issue . As easy as it is to swap back, I did. now it's back to stock. I pulled the neg batt cable and gave it a few hrs too reset the computer. It's still stumbling. Pulled the Mass Air Flow sensor and it loks new, douched it with electrical cleaner anyhow. That didn't fix it either.

Now I'm thinking it may have a bad coil pack. Jump in the old '70 to go borrow a code reader and I'll be go to heck if the F100 didn't fail me too! turned the key and she just clicked. Turned it again and very slowly she started to turn over. then "clunk" and nothing! popped the hood and the neg cable to the selonoid it melted clear to the starter. I just put NEW CABLES ON IT!

Furthermore, I'm afraid to touch the wifes van now! with my luck It'd go down and I'd be afoot and never hear the end of it!

[Ranchero50]

Yep, coil pack corroded at the sparkplug when water went under the seal. As soon as I read 'steam' I knew what was coming. The wifes '02 Explorer with the 4.6 did the same thing because the cowl drains poorly. I put some grease around boot when I put it on after cleaning the white crusties out of the hole.

Jamie

[Joshpow]

dodge dakotas bad for same issue. my 99 i had stumbled and the entire tower corroded off the dist cap on it. love modern technology. as far as the vehicle troubles i feel for you. been there. right now knock on wood im all good except abum glowplug relay on the powerstroke. and its still driveable.

[bindernut]

Yep, coil pack corroded at the sparkplug when water went under the seal. As soon as I read 'steam' I knew what was coming. The wifes '02 Explorer with the 4.6 did the same thing because the cowl drains poorly. I put some grease around boot when I put it on after cleaning the white crusties out of the hole.

Jamie

I hope so, know any good tricks for finding which coil pack without the code reader? If it's corroded, I guess apperance will be the tell tale. Guess I could pull the plugs one by one till I hear one NOT make a difference. Should probably toss the reader on anyhow so I'm not just tossing money at the problem.

[ezernut9mm]

Yep, coil pack corroded at the sparkplug when water went under the seal. As soon as I read 'steam' I knew what was coming. The wifes '02 Explorer with the 4.6 did the same thing because the cowl drains poorly. I put some grease around boot when I put it on after cleaning the white crusties out of the hole.

Jamie

I hope so, know any good tricks for finding which coil pack without the code reader? If it's corroded, I guess apperance will be the tell tale. Guess I could pull the plugs one by one till I hear one NOT make a difference. Should probably toss the reader on anyhow so I'm not just tossing money at the problem.

that's what i did on my 02 ranger. number four quit firing. coil was junk.

[Ranchero50]

It was just a 8mm bolt holding it down and a quick clip for the wire. I started in the back and it was the first one. Checked the others while I was there.

Jamie

[Swegner99]

Coil packs have a good way of failing one at a time too. What I mean is, replace one and then the match on the other side of the engine lieks to fail because of the difference in firing. Worn on one side and not on the other. Doesnt happen everytime but I like to have my customers prepared for worst case scenario. Hope this all makes sense

[19agin]

4.6 and 5.4 engines are bad about that. I do not recommend steaming, washing, or even spitting in the direction of either of these engines. When you do replace the coil, smear some dilectric grease around that boot. It will certainly help keep the moisture out. Do yourself a favor and buy the Motorcraft coil. $65 once beats a $30 Orielly one a lot when you have to chase it down three more times in the next six months to use your "lifetime" warranty.

[rjewkes]

yup i never bother with cleaning the engine if i can't do it with a wet'd rag and then i usualy wet it with WD 40. and if it was a bussiness that did it for you they should know to cover everything that moisture can damage.

[bindernut]

No, wasn't a business, I have use of the steam bay out at work. I just hate the idea of not keeping the engine bay clean. The thought of letting that engine compartment go to crud just bums me out. I'd eat lunch off the top of that motor. Owned that truck for nearly 5 yrs and steamed it about twice a yr. first time I've had a problem with that.

The good news is I put it on the code reader. Misfire #7. as luck would have it all the salesmen at work run f150's and after pulling the code off the truck the mechanic at work just handed me a sparkling Motorcraft ignition coil. I have not had a chance to throw it in....... but I'm feeling pretty good about the cost of the repair so far!

[71fordkid]

Whenever i do a tune on an f150 at work, i usually steam it off. hell, just about any work on any vehicle underhood gets a steam. I usually only have trouble with vehicles with distributors.

When you put that coil in, put a pencil eraser sized dab of dielectric grease inside the end of the plug boot. it helps with this kind of problem.

[bindernut]

Finally managed to get the coil in. Had to kill a 7mm socket and make my own wrench to avoid pulling the whole fuel rail. basically cut the back off a socket to shorten it up and then tacked it to some flat strap. bent the flatstrap "just so" to weave around everything. What a nightmare. At the end I was thinking the $240 they charged me last time was a bargain! Did manage to get a look at the plugs. it won't be long now if it isn't time already. Used the dielectric grease as suggested. runs like a champ, took it to bullhead and back y-day and it purred like a kitten.
Swapped the intake back to the Gotts mod too thing feels like a different truck. noticeably stronger! I have not checked my mileage but so far , anyone with one of these newer 150's, I suggest it.
http://www.fordf150.net/articles/idx.ph ... ation.html