$600 into repair, still running like junk
#1
$600 into repair, still running like junk (solved: cat converter)
[Problem Solved: 1 out of 4 Catalytic Converters is clogged]
Sup guys/gals.
Got a 98 Ford F150 4.6L vin W.
230,000 miles
The other day, I was going through the drivethrough and my truck started bogging down like it was justttttt about to die out, then would rev back up. Kept doing that all the way home.
Last time it did that, it ended up being the fuel pump, and of course, eventually, it stopped running altogether. So I replaced the fuel pump. Still running like junk.
So I replaced the EGR valve, EGR sensor (or I think I've heard some people call it the VCT sensor?), the Idle Air Control valve, the fuel filter, the air filter, the MAF sensor, all spark plugs, all spark plug wires (with dielectric grease on each) the ignition coil packs (both), cleaned the throttle body out with a small amount of throttle body cleaner, cleaned all EGR connecting linkages with carb cleaner and let it sit and evaporate for about an hour.
Truck is not throwing a code, and yes check engine light cuts on when in accessory so I know the bulb isn't burned out.
It will idle ok, and when I say ok, I mean, idle pretty smooth with the occasional blip blip, and when I rev the engine slowly, it sounds like there's no mis-fire whatsoever. But if I STOMP on the gas real quick, in the attempt to get a fast rev, it bogs down, starts backfiring. When I put it in drive and try to give it the normal amount of acceleration on the pedal, it hesitates big time, occasionally backfiring, and then when I punch it, it sounds like it revs the engine up high but it moves as if I'm towing a mountain.
I gotta tow a 6x12 enclosed to work Monday, but it's not gonna happen at this rate. I've officially given up trying to trouble shoot. Does anyone here have any ideas? This thing has nickeled and dimed me to the tune of $600 and I still haven't got it sorted.
I heard one guy say maybe cat converter, but I don't know how to check for a good or bad cat, and really am tired of buying parts that might not fix it. I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw away like that, already putting myself in the red.
Any help would be appreciated!
Sup guys/gals.
Got a 98 Ford F150 4.6L vin W.
230,000 miles
The other day, I was going through the drivethrough and my truck started bogging down like it was justttttt about to die out, then would rev back up. Kept doing that all the way home.
Last time it did that, it ended up being the fuel pump, and of course, eventually, it stopped running altogether. So I replaced the fuel pump. Still running like junk.
So I replaced the EGR valve, EGR sensor (or I think I've heard some people call it the VCT sensor?), the Idle Air Control valve, the fuel filter, the air filter, the MAF sensor, all spark plugs, all spark plug wires (with dielectric grease on each) the ignition coil packs (both), cleaned the throttle body out with a small amount of throttle body cleaner, cleaned all EGR connecting linkages with carb cleaner and let it sit and evaporate for about an hour.
Truck is not throwing a code, and yes check engine light cuts on when in accessory so I know the bulb isn't burned out.
It will idle ok, and when I say ok, I mean, idle pretty smooth with the occasional blip blip, and when I rev the engine slowly, it sounds like there's no mis-fire whatsoever. But if I STOMP on the gas real quick, in the attempt to get a fast rev, it bogs down, starts backfiring. When I put it in drive and try to give it the normal amount of acceleration on the pedal, it hesitates big time, occasionally backfiring, and then when I punch it, it sounds like it revs the engine up high but it moves as if I'm towing a mountain.
I gotta tow a 6x12 enclosed to work Monday, but it's not gonna happen at this rate. I've officially given up trying to trouble shoot. Does anyone here have any ideas? This thing has nickeled and dimed me to the tune of $600 and I still haven't got it sorted.
I heard one guy say maybe cat converter, but I don't know how to check for a good or bad cat, and really am tired of buying parts that might not fix it. I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw away like that, already putting myself in the red.
Any help would be appreciated!
Last edited by Spanky666; 09-29-2016 at 04:53 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Spanky666 (09-25-2016)
The following users liked this post:
Spanky666 (09-25-2016)
#4
Well, I dropped the fuel tank, pulled the pump assembly back out and saw that the little rubber boot above the strainer had slipped off some and the strainer was full of debris.
This of course, after having a neighbor who builds hotrods came over and put a pressure gauge on it and the fuel rail was reading 5psi. Was pretty sure we had found the culprit. Went to Autozone, grabbed a brand new fuel pump assembly (the whole hanger and all), put it in, same problem (not sure about psi because the neighbor had went back to doing their thing). But then it threw a code. So I raced up to autozone before they closed, code came back as Idle Air Control valve, which I had just replaced and bought from them less than 2 days ago. So they swapped it out for me, threw it on in the parking lot, had them reset the code, idle is IMMACULATE, and even revving it while it's in park is like a roaring beast of an engine, but as SOOOOON as I put it in drive and give it any substantial pedal, it starts bogging out and sputtering/back-firing.
I am at a complete and total loss for words. I also changed the fuel pressure regulator, so yes, I have been throwing money and parts at this thing wildly and I've neared my spending limit without solving the problem. Imagine that...
P.S. I did notice when I changed the old fuel filter out that it was making a rattling sound like maybe something was broken inside, along with black colored fuel coming out, so now I'm thinking maybe there is a piece of fuel filter lodged somewhere in the line. I want to take the air compressor and blow tip to the line tomorrow and see it I can't eject something from it. Maybe disconnect at the fuel rail, and also at the filter. Not sure how common/uncommon that is.
P.P.S. This is the second or third fuel pump I've put in the truck in a matter of owning it for 8 years. There's gotta be a clog in the fuel line somewhere burning up my pumps. Going to put a glass jar at one end of the line and blow through back from the rail towards the filter/pump to see if anything shoots out.
This of course, after having a neighbor who builds hotrods came over and put a pressure gauge on it and the fuel rail was reading 5psi. Was pretty sure we had found the culprit. Went to Autozone, grabbed a brand new fuel pump assembly (the whole hanger and all), put it in, same problem (not sure about psi because the neighbor had went back to doing their thing). But then it threw a code. So I raced up to autozone before they closed, code came back as Idle Air Control valve, which I had just replaced and bought from them less than 2 days ago. So they swapped it out for me, threw it on in the parking lot, had them reset the code, idle is IMMACULATE, and even revving it while it's in park is like a roaring beast of an engine, but as SOOOOON as I put it in drive and give it any substantial pedal, it starts bogging out and sputtering/back-firing.
I am at a complete and total loss for words. I also changed the fuel pressure regulator, so yes, I have been throwing money and parts at this thing wildly and I've neared my spending limit without solving the problem. Imagine that...
P.S. I did notice when I changed the old fuel filter out that it was making a rattling sound like maybe something was broken inside, along with black colored fuel coming out, so now I'm thinking maybe there is a piece of fuel filter lodged somewhere in the line. I want to take the air compressor and blow tip to the line tomorrow and see it I can't eject something from it. Maybe disconnect at the fuel rail, and also at the filter. Not sure how common/uncommon that is.
P.P.S. This is the second or third fuel pump I've put in the truck in a matter of owning it for 8 years. There's gotta be a clog in the fuel line somewhere burning up my pumps. Going to put a glass jar at one end of the line and blow through back from the rail towards the filter/pump to see if anything shoots out.
Last edited by Spanky666; 09-25-2016 at 10:26 PM.
#6
Blew out the lines w the air compressor. No obstructions. Took the fuel rail off and all of the injectors. One injector had a broken plastic cap, but the spray tip looked factory clean. Nonetheless i clean all of the injectors inside and out w throttle body cleaner as well as put all new seal kits on all of them. I also replaced the throttle position sensor. No change. Running exactly the same.
I'm gonna pull all the plugs and reinspect them for the third time, see if their black or white or clean and maybe get a better idea if its starving or flooding or neither. If neither, I'm wondering if it's timing or maybe that plastic tip that broke off the injector has a valve stuck open which would be my luck.
Shoot me in the face, bury me out back, tell everyone i said something really clever and then left never to be seen again...
Trending Topics
#8
Negative. I came across a ford specialist (40 years) who said cats have a sensor before and after the cat, and that it operates in a certain range, and that if it was out of range it would throw a code. No check engine light, no stored code.
Seems like its starving for gas but again, I'm just taking wild stabs at this point and it's costing me a fortune that i dont have. Im sure I'm gonna end up having to take it to a shop for diagnosis, and i bet at this point its gonna be the timing chain having slipped a tooth or some crazy s&$@ like that... which, whatever. I'll disassemble the whole sonovabish in the driveway and get it done, but im sure its a JOB
Seems like its starving for gas but again, I'm just taking wild stabs at this point and it's costing me a fortune that i dont have. Im sure I'm gonna end up having to take it to a shop for diagnosis, and i bet at this point its gonna be the timing chain having slipped a tooth or some crazy s&$@ like that... which, whatever. I'll disassemble the whole sonovabish in the driveway and get it done, but im sure its a JOB