5.0 P0307 Code - PLEASE HELP!
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5.0 P0307 Code - PLEASE HELP!
Good Afternoon,
New member and hoping yall can help me with my 2013 w/ the 5.0. The truck is 2wd, STX, 100k miles and regular oil changes and maintenance at a ford dealer.
Around 85k miles, the CEL light first came on and the truck had a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Had the code read and it was a P0307. Changed the coil and it went away and smoothed out. A few hundred miles later the CEL came back on. Changed the plug and coil again. It seemed to smooth out and the CEL was off. Over the next 10k+ miles, the CEL has come on and off and the vibration was only noticeable at idle. Cruised at all speeds perfectly. The CEL has been off for approximately 1k miles, but the vibration at idle remained. Took the truck to Tropical Ford in Orlando and asked them to perform 100K maintenance (plugs, coils and fluids) hoping that would smooth it out. I received a call from the maintenance center and the mechanic read the old codes and saw that the truck has had the P0307 code previously. He explained that changing the coils and plugs would not fix the problem because the #7 cylinder was reading 10% lower compression than the rest. He said the options were to replace the head ($4700) or replace the motor ($9600). I couldn't do either at the time so I continued to drive the truck. The CEL was off the entire time and the vibration was the same. Today, the truck did something new. While passing at highway speeds, the truck began to loose power and struggle for and power and the CEL was blinking. This lasted 2-3 miles. After that the truck CEL went off and returned to normal. A few moments later the seemed like it slipped in and out of gear for a split second. Shortly after that, it ran as it did before. No CEL, power returned, but also slight vibration remained.
I currently work in Orlando, FL but live in Jacksonville, FL. I do not know of any reputable Ford mechanics in either area. Need any advice on the problem or if yall could provide a Ford mechanic in the Orlando or Jacksonville areas I would be extremely grateful.
Thank you,
John
New member and hoping yall can help me with my 2013 w/ the 5.0. The truck is 2wd, STX, 100k miles and regular oil changes and maintenance at a ford dealer.
Around 85k miles, the CEL light first came on and the truck had a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Had the code read and it was a P0307. Changed the coil and it went away and smoothed out. A few hundred miles later the CEL came back on. Changed the plug and coil again. It seemed to smooth out and the CEL was off. Over the next 10k+ miles, the CEL has come on and off and the vibration was only noticeable at idle. Cruised at all speeds perfectly. The CEL has been off for approximately 1k miles, but the vibration at idle remained. Took the truck to Tropical Ford in Orlando and asked them to perform 100K maintenance (plugs, coils and fluids) hoping that would smooth it out. I received a call from the maintenance center and the mechanic read the old codes and saw that the truck has had the P0307 code previously. He explained that changing the coils and plugs would not fix the problem because the #7 cylinder was reading 10% lower compression than the rest. He said the options were to replace the head ($4700) or replace the motor ($9600). I couldn't do either at the time so I continued to drive the truck. The CEL was off the entire time and the vibration was the same. Today, the truck did something new. While passing at highway speeds, the truck began to loose power and struggle for and power and the CEL was blinking. This lasted 2-3 miles. After that the truck CEL went off and returned to normal. A few moments later the seemed like it slipped in and out of gear for a split second. Shortly after that, it ran as it did before. No CEL, power returned, but also slight vibration remained.
I currently work in Orlando, FL but live in Jacksonville, FL. I do not know of any reputable Ford mechanics in either area. Need any advice on the problem or if yall could provide a Ford mechanic in the Orlando or Jacksonville areas I would be extremely grateful.
Thank you,
John
LightningRod
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 651
From: San Antonio Texas
John, I pass no judgment on the 10% low compression, and if that is true it is a definate problem (burned valve or piston compression rings / cylinder wall scored or etc, etc).
But the flashing CEL confirms your misfire code (P0307) and symptoms. Misfires dump unburned fuel into the exhaust that will over stresses the CAT. The PCM flashes to CAT to notify of the cat damaging condition and disables alternate injectors trying to pump fresh (non fuel saturated) air through the engine in an effort to protect the CATs. This explains your horrible ragged running for 2-3 miles. Then it clears up After things settle down.
I would get a second opinion on the low compression / or another 'power balance' test and try to fix whatever is causing the P0307. Otherwise, you will be also facing a melted down CAT.
But the flashing CEL confirms your misfire code (P0307) and symptoms. Misfires dump unburned fuel into the exhaust that will over stresses the CAT. The PCM flashes to CAT to notify of the cat damaging condition and disables alternate injectors trying to pump fresh (non fuel saturated) air through the engine in an effort to protect the CATs. This explains your horrible ragged running for 2-3 miles. Then it clears up After things settle down.
I would get a second opinion on the low compression / or another 'power balance' test and try to fix whatever is causing the P0307. Otherwise, you will be also facing a melted down CAT.