Factory plug failure!

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Phokus

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Even with the new platform bugs or whatnot.. I thought they torture test the things? Don't things spring up there?
 

wchain

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Just picked up my SHO from the shop.

They performed TSB 10-17-10 and replaced all six plugs.

I brought it in for a rough idle when cold that was progressively getting worse. This was the second time they had it. Called the tech line and that was the advice they were given.
 

Sy1100

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ok got the car back last night they did the 10-17-3 tsb on the front brakes seems to be ok.. The rought running and sputtering under accleration was also corrected. They replaced the plug and coil on the #3 cylinder to no avail after calling Ford engineer's the dealership was told to replace the fuel injector on the #3 cylinder after waiting another day for some gaskets they finished up, after having the car for 7 days. Its seems to be running good and it may be me but, stronger as well. The real test will be the gas mileage I get on this fresh tank of gas I put in. I know this though if I Have to take it in again for this the dealership will be taking this SHO back...
 

OldSalt

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Well, I'm at 14K and my SHO developed a misfire on my way home from Church last Thursday 09/12. It was only a momentary glitch and cleared up for the rest of the highway jaunt home. Didn't think to much of it, it was unseasonably cold that night and I don't usually like to get overly concerned to quickly. Well, this past Sat 18/12 I took it out for the first time since 09/12 and it got really bad, flashing CEL, super rough and I limped it into the dealer, it's been there ever since. I have an early production SHO so it had the F designation plugs which the Dealership promptly swapped out with the Y designator plugs, but I was informed that the test drive was unsat (continued misfire #6 cylinder) They have put a call into the Ford Engineers for further guidance, the Service Manager informs me that since we are into the holiday season he's down to a skeleton mechanic crew (read: My best mechanics are on vacation) so before proceeding they wanted to consult with Ford Engineers and move a little slowly. I am scheduled to receive an update around lunchtime today I will fill you in as to what comes next.
I just want to add that I have had zero mechanical problems until now, I love this car and I am not nice to it, I try and use "all" of it whenever I drive it but I don't abuse it either. I have had the TSB for the Blind Spot Indicator done due to erroneous indications and I'm have the front brake grinding TSB performed during this visit after they fix the misfire. Cosmetically I have had the rear chrome trim and Ford emblem as well as the fornt Ford emblem replaced, but that's it.
 

Showgun

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Sounds like a pain, OS...good luck with repairs. I hope they checked each coil too.
Did they give you another ride for the interim?

C.
 

OldSalt

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No on the ride, but I didn't ask or need one since it is my "third" car, I and my wife have our daily drivers, but I still miss my SHO! I am going to be discussing injectors/coils with the service advisor when we speak later, just if nothing else than to plant the seed of inquiry...
 

OldSalt

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Update: Dealership is going to replace the #6 fuel injector, we'll see if that solves the misfire...
 
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nynd

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Update: Dealership is going to replace the #6 fuel injector, we'll see if that sovles the misfire...

Question - how did you know it has a mis-fire? Is the rpm flucuating? Does it have poor drivability in all ranges (city and highway)? Trying to see if its intermittent or pronounced.
 

OldSalt

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It was unmistakable in my case and with continued (necessary to get to the dealer) operation the CEL began flashing and the Owners manual describes that a flashing CEL indicates Misfire and to drive like your granny until you reach your destination. Also there was a very obvious odor of unburnt fuel whenever your stopped for a light. The entire car jitters and shakes like your driving over small cobble stones and the RPM (at idle was near 500! really low, up at highway speeds the condition is much less noticable but seems much more evident when you coast (again RPM's drop enough so that you will physically feel it). The mechanic working on my car said that cylinders 4, 5, & 6 all showed misfire conditions when he removed the original plugs.
 

nynd

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It was unmistakable in my case and with continued (necessary to get to the dealer) operation the CEL began flashing and the Owners manual describes that a flashing CEL indicates Misfire and to drive like your granny until you reach your destination. Also there was a very obvious odor of unburnt fuel whenever your stopped for a light. The entire car jitters and shakes like your driving over small cobble stones and the RPM (at idle was near 500! really low, up at highway speeds the condition is much less noticable but seems much more evident when you coast (again RPM's drop enough so that you will physically feel it). The mechanic working on my car said that cylinders 4, 5, & 6 all showed misfire conditions when he removed the original plugs.

Thanks for the update - thats pretty clear.
 

cheech

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Update: Dealership is going to replace the #6 fuel injector, we'll see if that solves the misfire...

Ask them to take a fuel sample. Make sure something isnt going on in your fuel tank. Dirt, tank seperation, water, bad gas etc...
You are changing injectors faster than I am changing oil.
Your on you second fuel injector #3 and #6 right?
Hope it works out for you
 

abs99

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Have they diagnosed the condition as a mis-fire (no ignition in the cylinder), detonation (second flame front at the time of ignition) or pre-ignition (ignition occurs much too early during compression stroke)? If you are smelling raw fuel in the exhaust it could be a true misfire which implies the ignition system is most likely at fault and replacing injectors probably won't help the situation.

When I was replacing my plugs on my Flex Ecoboost one time (long story), I accidentally forgot to reconnect the plug/wires to one of the ignition coils before taking the car for a test drive. The symptoms you describe were similar to what I experienced. Of course I figured it out quickly and reconnected the plug/wires. Your symptoms are worse than what I experienced with just one coil disconnected. It is possible that you may be experiencing a few bad coils and/or a bad fuse/relay/circuit breaker taking out an entire bank of coils. Before the dealer goes any further, have them check for spark at all 6 coils or just replace all the coils and see if it makes a difference. If not, next step is to confirm all 6 coils are getting power . . .

Keep us posted.

Andrew
 
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OldSalt

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You are changing injectors faster than I am changing oil.
Your on you second fuel injector #3 and #6 right?
Hope it works out for you

You must have me mixed up with someone else, as I had previously mentioned this is the FIRST mechnical/engine malfunction since I purchased it over 13 months and 14K miles ago, I hope your changing your oil more often then that! :oogle:
 

cheech

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You must have me mixed up with someone else, as I had previously mentioned this is the FIRST mechnical/engine malfunction since I purchased it over 13 months and 14K miles ago, I hope your changing your oil more often then that! :oogle:

:rofl: yes I do change my oil more often then 14k miles. Sorry it was the person that posted above you today.
Good luck with the repair and keep us updated
 

SHOrod

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If you are smelling raw fuel in the exhaust it could be a true misfire which implies the ignition system is most likely at fault and replacing injectors probably won't help the situation.

That is a good point. For some reason your nose (OldSalt) would be suggesting that fuel is in the cylinder and not getting burned. If it's an injector issue, then the injector apparently is not shutting off when commanded, flooding the cylinder with too much fuel for the compression/plug to effectively burn. If the dealer hasn't already confirmed that the injector is allowing too much fuel, make sure they understand that you believe you are smelling raw fuel in the exhaust and wonder if that's really an injector issue.

-Rod
 

OldSalt

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Well, a brief update and some clarification, for what it's worth the failure of a coil IMHO is only one scenario that would allow for unburnt fuel (hence the smell detected by all three occupants) and the fact that a full stress test of the coils is possible to be (and has been performed) via the computer troubleshooting hookup at the dealership, the mechanic & service advisor have assured me that all six coils performed the test flawlessly and the likely cause is the failure of the injector which in this case is not clogged but instead probably partially blocked allowing for a non-atomized discharge of fuel which is not allowing for complete combustion. WRT the fuel condition, we (Service Advisor & I) briefly discussed that and decided that since nearly half of the fuel tank had been consumed and 3 cylinders never experienced any mis-fire conditions, while there's a chance that the fuel condition could be a contributor the percentage of likeliness was too low to pursue at least right now. The injector arrived too late in the day to complete repairs so Monday should be the final day to complete repairs and hopefully finally resolve this condition, we'll see...
 
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