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Need some help- possible misfire

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Posted by: plowman

Hey guys, You seem very knowledgable and tech savvy...so maybe someone could offer some advice.

Last week, I noticed some hesitation and then stuttering upon acceleration. Now, she has no power. (note: I had a flashing emissions light during one episode.) I brought it to Lincoln because I am too busy to troubleshoot. I told them I suspected a possible missfire. They ran the codes and all they found was some needed update for the PCM. Needless to say, that didn't do

. I still have the same problem. That being lack of power, hesitation and stuttering at around 2-3k RPM...although it happens sometimes at higher.

Do I try get the guys at Lincoln to work with me, or should I troubleshoot/fix this one myself. Any ideas as to what's going on???

Thanks in advance for you help.

Posted by: plowman

Oh, I forgot to mention there is alot riding on this. If this is something that can somewhat easily be diagnosed/fixed, then my love for Miss Lincoln will stay strong. However, this may turn out to be the straw breaking this camels back...forcing me out of the Lincoln Family.

Man, this is intense.

Posted by: eL eS

is it under warranty?

Posted by: kleetus

Take it to Autozone or Advance Auto. Get whatever code is being spit out and go from there, it does sound like a coil though. I'm guessing it only does it when it's warm, and you push it, which makes it warmer, right? My #5 was exactly that. No oil, just a bad coil.

Posted by: plowman

Yes I have the warranty until 100k. Unfortunately, that doesn't cover diagnosis for pcm updates...so that cost around $100. It is Ford ESP warranty, so it's good. Not to mention it saved me the cost of a torque converter for a jaguar transmission. $$$

Posted by: kleetus

Diagnosis for PCM update? What the heck is that? Look at a list and say Gee... these numbers match, mabye it need an update. I'd bitch about that one. $100 bucks for a bandaide?

Posted by: plowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleetus

Take it to Autozone or Advance Auto. Get whatever code is being spit out and go from there, it does sound like a coil though. I'm guessing it only does it when it's warm, and you push it, which makes it warmer, right? My #5 was exactly that. No oil, just a bad coil.

Yes and yes. Tonight on the drive home, she was shuttering something fierce. It seemed moreso in overdrive...then a flashing emissions light.

Why couldn't they catch such a simple thing at the dealership?

Posted by: plowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleetus

Diagnosis for PCM update? What the heck is that? Look at a list and say Gee... these numbers match, mabye it need an update. I'd bitch about that one. $100 bucks for a bandaide?

Yeah, that's the wordage they used with me. And yes, I'm good and pissed now. I'm about to go into my garage and dive into that engine back. What should I look for?

Posted by: kleetus

Intermittent Mechanics... Take it back and bitch, and then go to another dealership. That should have been an easy thing to figure out, with the 5 year history of the car and it's coils.

Before I changed mine out, I would get it from time to time as well as the flashing and steady emission light.

Posted by: plowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleetus

Intermittent Mechanics... Take it back and bitch, and then go to another dealership. That should have been an easy thing to figure out, with the 5 year history of the car and it's coils.

Before I changed mine out, I would get it from time to time as well as the flashing and steady emission light.

I planned on going back to bitch. But one problem...I live in a small-ass town. Only 1 Ford dealership and the next is 50 miles.

Posted by: eL eS

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleetus

Diagnosis for PCM update? What the heck is that? Look at a list and say Gee... these numbers match, mabye it need an update. I'd bitch about that one. $100 bucks for a bandaide?

I concur. You went in to have a misfire problem diagnosed which is VERY common. If those guys didn't jump all over that issue right away I would go to a different dealer.

Posted by: eL eS

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowman

well they probably did not look at pending codes. I have found that when the misfire induces a flashing CEL it only sets the code in pending.

Posted by: MrWilson

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowman

Oh, I forgot to mention there is alot riding on this. If this is something that can somewhat easily be diagnosed/fixed, then my love for Miss Lincoln will stay strong. However, this may turn out to be the straw breaking this camels back...forcing me out of the Lincoln Family.

Man, this is intense.

lol, dude...thats me in march when i got mine

got it diognosed about 15 times without the problem showing up...so i took the law into my own hands...well, the first thing that happened was i had a small misfire, which eventually went to a BIG misfire which left me abandoned 60 miles from home. this is when i didnt really know or nessissarly cared to know my car, or any for that matter. so it went into COTTMAN TRANSMISSIONS, and they said i needed a new trans becasue at 48000 mine was completly shot...needless to say, i was very scheptical. turns out that they charged me for taking my trans out, and putting it back in (but their mistake, they gave me a warrenty)...we all know what to do in that situiation...thats right i blew 2 consecutive trannies !! WOO HOO, long story short...yes i know i do have a tendency to ramble, it WAS a misfire, and i replaced the plugs and wires and it was fixed, but then in the summer when i neared 55k+miles the 02 sensors went bad, and it caused somewhat of the same problem, a VERY definate power loss, and often studdering that felt liek a misfire...changed them out and it was right as rain, havent had mush problems with the powertrain since. (if you plan on being with the lincoln family, you should put a few $ aside every month so you can pay for the new bags ur undoubtedly going to need sooner or later)

Posted by: eL eS

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowman

I planned on going back to bitch. But one problem...I live in a small-ass town. Only 1 Ford dealership and the next is 50 miles.

It is worth the drive to find a LINCOLN dealer. I have been to some of the biggest ford shops and quickly discovered they don't know squat about this car. I would submit that I know more about it than they do 9 times out of 10.

Posted by: MrWilson

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowman

I planned on going back to bitch. But one problem...I live in a small-ass town. Only 1 Ford dealership and the next is 50 miles.

if i were you, id say going the extra 50 miles would be WELL worth it!

Posted by: eL eS

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWilson

lol, dude...thats me in march when i got mine

what model lincoln do you have? I agree save some money caus ethis car is a serial killer and its prime tagert is the wallet.

Posted by: eL eS

Quote:

Originally Posted by eL eS

Did I mention you should only take this car to a LINCOLN dealer

can anyone back me up on this... Even 100 miles away it si well worth it. This car is the most elegantly over engineered thing I have ever ebcountered. Rube Goldberg would bow to this car.

Posted by: plowman

Is their anything I can take apart and put back together tonight? Free therapy and stress relief, if nothing else.

Posted by: plowman

It's not the money...well I gets it is. I have the money, I just don't like to waste it while being F U ck E D with.

Posted by: eL eS

I hear ya. Well unless you have a few ignition coils just haning around and maybe some valve cover gaskets the it is noting you can do tonight. Chances are the CoP, Ignition Coil on Plug, has gone bad or you have a leaky valve cover gasket. The problem is which valve cover and which coil. If you check the coils you might find oil on one or more of them and you can bet it or they are dead. If this is the case then you need to repair the valve cover gaskets and replace the faulty coils.

Check this article from lsbit it should illustrate what you have ahead. Believe me you are better off doing this yourself even if it mean buying the tools and taking time off from work as it is like to recur.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/tec...Cover-Seal.htm

Posted by: plowman

Brought it to Lincoln 2 days after noticed misfire and flashing light...no engine codes show up. What is going on?

Posted by: eL eS

the code usually on stays in pending. Unless they specifically looked for it they would not see it. My scan tool is capable of showing codes in this status. Most hand held obdii only show what is thrown in an active state which would light the CEL constantly

Posted by: kleetus

I don't know man, but after all the screwing around you are doing, it would be worth the hour drive to go to the next dealership. I would also consider writing a letter to Ford, and copy your first dealship on it. Raise a bit of a stink and you'd be amazed at what happens. You put a little heat on them and prove you're not screwing around, they may be a little more careful. Where is Willmar anyway?

Posted by: eL eS

from what I understand the dealers are alloted vehicles on aformual and part of that is cust service. Oddly I have never recvd a post service survey.

Posted by: plowman

I got them fools to let me keep their computer in my car as I drive it for a couple days. It just so happens that whenever they have it, everything is dandy...I get it back, and sure enough it runs terrible. The unfortunate thing, is that their data-recorder has no read out. It records data and then downloads that into some software program?? Oh well...at least I might be able to get some real-time info recorder.

Yes, it is alot of hasle. Willmar is in the dead center of Minnesota. Boring, yes, but it keeps me out of trouble. And I guess you could say Miss LS is the prettiest in town. SHe only has to compete with 2 others.

What a hassle x's 5.

Posted by: plowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by kleetus

I don't know man, but after all the screwing around you are doing, it would be worth the hour drive to go to the next dealership. I would also consider writing a letter to Ford, and copy your first dealship on it. Raise a bit of a stink and you'd be amazed at what happens. You put a little heat on them and prove you're not screwing around, they may be a little more careful. Where is Willmar anyway?

The dealership that should be sued, is the one I purchased the car from. They new it needed a new torque converter, and would not honor my 3 day/1,000 mile warranty. They already had my money, but still used guirilla tactics to get me to purchase the ESP. I was pissed that I did...but it turned out to be a good idea. Torque Converte went in 2 months, and by then, the dealership had changed ownership. SO much for honest, decent people anymore.

Posted by: MikeB

I just finished a 3 year law suit against the dealership I bought my Jeep Grand Cherokee from took forever but I got "PAID." It sucks that it takes all that to get things done.

Posted by: fishbone1

plowman,
My 2000 ls8 was misfiring bad. It had hard but intermttent misses at idle and a severe shudder at about 41/42 mph under mild acceleration. I replaced my valve cover gaskets and it did not fix the problem. Then I ordered 2 coils new coils ($73 shipped). The problem was a coil on my passenger side. The car runs as smooth as silk now.