2004 LS8 with 96K miles - ETC Failsafe Mode but no DTCs?

[lsintoronto]

Got the message "ETC Fail Safe Mode" today a couple time but no DTCs are present? Is this odd? I thought maybe another coil was gone but surprised there is no code.

It is a 2004 LS V8 with 96K miles - anyone experience this before? What are possible causes?

Thanks!

 

[FASTLLS]

Coils or Throttle Body.. Most likely coils.. Since your under 100k, dealership will replace the bad ones for free..

 

[joegr]

Got the message "ETC Fail Safe Mode" today a couple time but no DTCs are present? Is this odd? I thought maybe another coil was gone but surprised there is no code.

It is a 2004 LS V8 with 96K miles - anyone experience this before? What are possible causes?

Thanks!

My 04 did this once when my wife was driving. Shutting down and restarting cleared it. There were no stored coded (even using a Ford specific scan tool). This was several months ago and has not recurred.

 

[FASTLLS]

Would he be smart to get the coils checked? He's getting pretty close to 100k

 

[joegr]

Would he be smart to get the coils checked? He's getting pretty close to 100k

It's an LS, the coils should always be suspect.

 

[rwurst918]

This just happened to me a few days ago. Change all of the coils, not just one. It may cost you some money, but at least you dont have to constantly drive back to the dealer.

 

[FASTLLS]

This just happened to me a few days ago. Change all of the coils, not just one. It may cost you some money, but at least you dont have to constantly drive back to the dealer.

Free or $400.. Hmmmmm.. I would reap the free benefits while I still could..

 

[lsintoronto]

Thanks all - I had the ETC Fail Safe message a couple years ago on a road trip to MIS and actually pulled a code for a bad coil which was reimbursed under the special warranty for this issue. The car would actually hestitate under load/acceleration at the time. I wasn't expecting to not find a code this time.

Given how close I am to the 100K I will have the dealer look into it as I'm due for an oil change.....so it's on record if they don't find anything right away but it shows up again in the next little while (if it's just starting to go bad). Maybe Ford will cover it still.

 

[FASTLLS]

Highly doubt it.. They will probably stick to the 100k.. Unless you know someone or have a really good dealer..

 

[lsintoronto]

Highly doubt it.. They will probably stick to the 100k.. Unless you know someone or have a really good dealer..

You're probably right but I'll try anyway - sometimes they give in on borderline cases especially when there is a known issue (and if I get it recorded on a work order). Worth a try.....because it did it twice yesterday with no codes (second time was after shut-off and restart - occurred on highway the second time)

 

[FASTLLS]

They will most likely find coils that are bad..

 

[joegr]

You're probably right but I'll try anyway - sometimes they give in on borderline cases especially when there is a known issue (and if I get it recorded on a work order). Worth a try.....because it did it twice yesterday with no codes (second time was after shut-off and restart - occurred on highway the second time)

If your scan tool can initiate the Key-On-Engine-Running self test, try that. At the end of it you can get the misfire counts. Any cylinder with a count above zero is suspect. Misfires will show up here long before they are bad enough to set a code.

 

[lsintoronto]

If your scan tool can initiate the Key-On-Engine-Running self test, try that. At the end of it you can get the misfire counts. Any cylinder with a count above zero is suspect. Misfires will show up here long before they are bad enough to set a code.

I'm not sure - I've always used the KOEF mode. Will check on this tonight. Thanks

 

[FASTLLS]

Well you can't find misfires with the engine off.. Jeeze..

 

[lsintoronto]

LOL - I have the Equus ScanTool 3100 which does not do KOER....only does KOEF. Turns out that I need the 3130 or higher models to do KOER test.

 

[rodeo0808]

I just wanted to say thank you for this post. I was completely unaware that the dealer will replace the coils under warranty if the car is under 100,000 miles. I just got this etc fail safe mode today. I turned off the car and restarted it and it is running, but its going to the dealer on Monday. So once again, thank you all for mentioning this in the thread.

 

[joegr]

I just wanted to say thank you for this post. I was completely unaware that the dealer will replace the coils under warranty if the car is under 100,000 miles. I just got this etc fail safe mode today. I turned off the car and restarted it and it is running, but its going to the dealer on Monday. So once again, thank you all for mentioning this in the thread.

This only applies to 2003 to 2005, and only the V8.