birdsofprey02
New LVC Member
I have a 2003 V6 LS with 55k miles. Haven't had any issues except the Dual Climate Control Valve going up last summer.
Around Thanksgiving I noticed a steady oil leak and took the car into the dealership. The mechanic couldn't 100% verify the problem but swore it was coming from the Oil pan gasket. Had the oil pan gasket replaced and the oil leak has completely gone away ($650 or so for oil pan gasket replacement).
So about 4 or 5k later, about two weeks ago, I was driving on a flat highway about 50mph and the engine started to stutter while accelerating like the trans couldn't decide which gear to go in. The CEL began to blink for about 30 seconds and then went away. Problem happened again the next morning so I had my friend check the code with his OBD2 reader. The reader wouldn't link up with his device. (I also remember that when I went to get the emissions tested, they couldn't link up either but I forgot to get it fixed). Later that day I took the car to the dealership with a printout of the Ford Extended warrenty on the coils/vcg (even though it was for the V8 only). I told the dealer about the OBD2 sensor as well.
The dealer called back after checking out the car and said they couldn't get the engine to have any problems, they also hooked up the car to their reader and it did not throw any codes and had no previous codes in memory. He also 'claimed' he checked the coils and everything was dry. The only thing he could recommend was a fuel filter (as I've never had it changed since I bought with 23k miles). So I had the fuel filter changed and the car ran great for a day or two (still on same tank of gas I had when I first recognized a problem) then problem happened again with the engine/trans, CEL blinking etc.
New tank of gas today, and I 'thought' the problem was happening again but I can't verify because the highway was ICY (dc/balto area today) and the traction light came on for a second (but definitely icy) so I may have just been slipping on the ice. A guy at work recommended I drop a bottle of fuel injector cleaner next time I have to fill up.
I've read so many posts on this board and still can't make a good call on what the problem is. I read on the board that the coil/vcg problem isn't as common on the 2k3 V6, as Ford did not give them an extended warrenty. I am taking the dealer's word on what he said as well unless someone tells me I should have them re-check the valve gaskets/coils? Or maybe I just had a bad tank of gas? 91+ always. Only happens on acceleration on highway, but only the two occasions, and both times, I was able to accelerate through the trouble and it would stop within a few minutes and give no more problems.
Sorry I wrote so much but I was trying to be as descriptive as possible. Let me know if you have any ideas or have more questions. Thanks.
Around Thanksgiving I noticed a steady oil leak and took the car into the dealership. The mechanic couldn't 100% verify the problem but swore it was coming from the Oil pan gasket. Had the oil pan gasket replaced and the oil leak has completely gone away ($650 or so for oil pan gasket replacement).
So about 4 or 5k later, about two weeks ago, I was driving on a flat highway about 50mph and the engine started to stutter while accelerating like the trans couldn't decide which gear to go in. The CEL began to blink for about 30 seconds and then went away. Problem happened again the next morning so I had my friend check the code with his OBD2 reader. The reader wouldn't link up with his device. (I also remember that when I went to get the emissions tested, they couldn't link up either but I forgot to get it fixed). Later that day I took the car to the dealership with a printout of the Ford Extended warrenty on the coils/vcg (even though it was for the V8 only). I told the dealer about the OBD2 sensor as well.
The dealer called back after checking out the car and said they couldn't get the engine to have any problems, they also hooked up the car to their reader and it did not throw any codes and had no previous codes in memory. He also 'claimed' he checked the coils and everything was dry. The only thing he could recommend was a fuel filter (as I've never had it changed since I bought with 23k miles). So I had the fuel filter changed and the car ran great for a day or two (still on same tank of gas I had when I first recognized a problem) then problem happened again with the engine/trans, CEL blinking etc.
New tank of gas today, and I 'thought' the problem was happening again but I can't verify because the highway was ICY (dc/balto area today) and the traction light came on for a second (but definitely icy) so I may have just been slipping on the ice. A guy at work recommended I drop a bottle of fuel injector cleaner next time I have to fill up.
I've read so many posts on this board and still can't make a good call on what the problem is. I read on the board that the coil/vcg problem isn't as common on the 2k3 V6, as Ford did not give them an extended warrenty. I am taking the dealer's word on what he said as well unless someone tells me I should have them re-check the valve gaskets/coils? Or maybe I just had a bad tank of gas? 91+ always. Only happens on acceleration on highway, but only the two occasions, and both times, I was able to accelerate through the trouble and it would stop within a few minutes and give no more problems.
Sorry I wrote so much but I was trying to be as descriptive as possible. Let me know if you have any ideas or have more questions. Thanks.
