Unknown problem. - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

snavy · 03-29-2003, 10:16

Hey all, just had the steering rack fixed on my car, few weeks ago the car basically died, coil faliure! Put in a new coil, next plugs leads, but there seems to be a lack of power at the moment!

We had a mehcanic try to solve the problem, but he had no idea, he recommended connecting it to a computer to see if there are any fault codes.

Ill try descibe the problem, and see if any of you's have experienced the same thing. The car is a 97 EL futura.

The car doesnt seem to want to rev! i put the throttle down 3/4 of the way, the car revs to 2.5 - 3k! Havent floored the car, dont want to make anything worse, but it makes a strange whinning noise when i hit this rpm! Acceleration seems to not be smooth! Its like blipping the throttle, but not to that extreme, just noticable. Its like having 5 people in the car, when your the only one driving. Its not a placebo, as it struggles where it never use to.

this is not my car, its my mums, its only recently when i drove the car i noticed all these problems! (bloody woman)

there is a small head gasget leak, about half a overflow tank of coolant every 15000kms?

ALSO!!! :( theres a slight farting noise coming from the middle of the car, so i think there is a tiny leak somewhere in the exhuast system, near the cat i think.

everything is going to be fixed soon, just need to know if any of the problems i described would be causing the power loss? Anything else i should check?

thanks guys.

mongrelEB · 03-29-2003, 19:09

Its probably water in the cylinders, make sure the coil lead isn't shorting on the dipstick though - this has caused similar problems for me before.

carazy · 03-29-2003, 19:43

yeah leaking water and a blown head gasket can cause heaps and heaps of differant problems and they all feel electrical.

Rollin · 03-29-2003, 20:45

that amount of leakage shouldnt make much of a difference - my parents EF had a broken head bolt, the water came out between numbers 2 and 3 at quite a rate, the car still hammered though!!! no water getting in the cylinders, was just coming out the side.

check for connectors that havent been put back on properly, and that the plug leads are on the correct coil!!!

any more info you can give us?

snavy · 03-29-2003, 21:24

nah thats basically it, i described everything which i found wrong with the car.

I thought the EL's only have 1 coil? also if there is more than 1 how are yo umeant to know if the coil is stuffed?

snavy · 03-29-2003, 21:25

i reckon power wise im running at 50% if not less! im not sure but if at idle you give it some stick the car will sort of judder a bit, then become smooth? but that is only at a complete standstill, if going at around 5km/h and floor it, it wont do it i think.

also when i talk about not wanting to rev, i mean it has no problems getting to 2-3k seems normal, but just not smooth, then its like a 1 tonne weight is placed in the car, no power!

what can that whinning noise be?

maco65 · 03-29-2003, 22:29

Just out of curiosity, does the car change gears? If it doesn't then it's in "Limp Home mode". Also not meaning to be a smart arse or anything, but did you put the correct coil in whe you changed it?

Alex

mongrelEB · 03-29-2003, 23:13

Actually, you said it whined? Was this the motor or box?
If it whines thru the radio, your ignition is leaking back into the earth circuit, otherwise I dunno - could be just about anything, but most likely the head gasket.
Try unplugging the MAP sensor with the motor running, then plug it back in and do the oxy sensor. If unplugging one of these does not affect running, it is likely to be stuffed.
Are the fuel lines kinked?
Is the vacuum hose on the top of the fuel pressure regulator?
Is the vacuum hose attached to the MAP sensor?
Hope that helps, can't think of anything else right now.

BTW, if you end up replacing the head gasket, be warned - it costs me $20 or so for the gasket, and $70 for the head bolts - which you DO need - I tried reusing the old ones and blew the head gasket again within 3 months. I have seen some people saying mechanics charge $1200 to fix this - it only costs them $100, so don't let them bullshit you!

snavy · 03-30-2003, 00:49

Quote:

Originally posted by maco65
Just out of curiosity, does the car change gears? If it doesn't then it's in "Limp Home mode". Also not meaning to be a smart arse or anything, but did you put the correct coil in whe you changed it?

Alex

heheh im not that ignorant when it comes to cars :) Yeah the transmission is smooth, also the coil was changed by a mechanic. Ill have a look at is, is there a part number etc i should know to see if its the right one?

snavy · 03-30-2003, 00:52

Quote:

Originally posted by mongrelEB
Actually, you said it whined? Was this the motor or box?
If it whines thru the radio, your ignition is leaking back into the earth circuit, otherwise I dunno - could be just about anything, but most likely the head gasket.
Try unplugging the MAP sensor with the motor running, then plug it back in and do the oxy sensor. If unplugging one of these does not affect running, it is likely to be stuffed.
Are the fuel lines kinked?
Is the vacuum hose on the top of the fuel pressure regulator?
Is the vacuum hose attached to the MAP sensor?
Hope that helps, can't think of anything else right now.

BTW, if you end up replacing the head gasket, be warned - it costs me $20 or so for the gasket, and $70 for the head bolts - which you DO need - I tried reusing the old ones and blew the head gasket again within 3 months. I have seen some people saying mechanics charge $1200 to fix this - it only costs them $100, so don't let them bullshit you!

thanks for the info, nah the whine is coming from the engine, maybe someone turboed the engine but put too big turbo on it so its laggy? :)

ill check out all what you have said, but seriously the mechanic should of already gone over these right? Maybe he just didnt know what he was doing.