Problem Child

[Funmart6]

I know it is hard to diagnose a problem over the internet but here's a shot.
Yesterday I was driving along at around 55 with the car in overdrive, when I would let up off the gas the trans seemed to bog down, I have trans problems anyway so I was not alarmed at this, but when I was stopped at a light, the car went dead! I tried to restart,(without turning the key completely off), and when it did fire up it ran like crap, barely ran at all, then I turned the key completely off, then it started up fine and ran strong. It ran like nothing was wrong until a couple of traffic light stops later, did the same thing. I got about a block from my house and it died on me while in motion but I was coasting in drive, I cranked it back up (ran fine) and made it home and I haven't driven the car today at all, it is sitting downstairs in my garage awaiting attention. Could this possibly be a fuel filter needing replacement? I have had the car a couple of years now and I have never replaced a fuel filter on the car, where is it located??? Thanks for any help or suggestions on what the cause of this problem could be.

Footnote: I have always used 93 octane gas in this car until the last couple of fill ups, I used 89 octane. Wonder if the SHO just doesn't like this gas, and it has a full tank to boot.

 

[Porkchop]

Sounds like more than jut the fuel filter man

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Sounds like your torque coverter isn't unlocking.

 

[Xmann01]

Sounds like your torque coverter isn't unlocking.

I'm with you on this one.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I'm with you on this one.

D'Oh! Converter.

 

[Sho-N-Go]

I know it is hard to diagnose a problem over the internet but here's a shot.
Yesterday I was driving along at around 55 with the car in overdrive, when I would let up off the gas the trans seemed to bog down, I have trans problems anyway so I was not alarmed at this, but when I was stopped at a light, the car went dead! I tried to restart,(without turning the key completely off), and when it did fire up it ran like crap, barely ran at all, then I turned the key completely off, then it started up fine and ran strong. It ran like nothing was wrong until a couple of traffic light stops later, did the same thing. I got about a block from my house and it died on me while in motion but I was coasting in drive, I cranked it back up (ran fine) and made it home and I haven't driven the car today at all, it is sitting downstairs in my garage awaiting attention. Could this possibly be a fuel filter needing replacement? I have had the car a couple of years now and I have never replaced a fuel filter on the car, where is it located??? Thanks for any help or suggestions on what the cause of this problem could be.

Footnote: I have always used 93 octane gas in this car until the last couple of fill ups, I used 89 octane. Wonder if the SHO just doesn't like this gas, and it has a full tank to boot.

One of your coil packs on the front bank is interfering with your MAF signal. probabaly 7or 8. if your coil starts breaking down it will do this exact thing until you turn the key all the way off. I have had as many as 3 coils bad on the front bank causing this. It is RF interference. Try moving #8 coil to #5 hole first. Drive it for awhile if it still does it move #7to #5 hole. Or you can have a local Ford dealer run a COP test and tell you which one are bad. And Yes they can be bad without causing a misfire. This is the running problem no doubt in my mind but it may not be the trans issue. very well could be though as trans uses MAF signal. Do you have a scanner?

 

[Funmart6]

Thanks for the info, and no I do not have a scanner. What is the sequence for the cylinders? For instance the front bank, what are the numbers and locations, or is there a chart somwhere that lists these?

 

[Ian Macoomb]

Firewall
1234
5678
Radiator

 

[Funmart6]

Thanks for the help, I am going right now to move the coils!

 

[Funmart6]

Update: I moved coils 5 and 8, drove the car around the neighborhood then got out on a main road here, really got on it hard from a light, car pulled hard up to 80mph then I let off. The car never went dead on me. When I was putting around the neighborhood I noticed a slight TC shudder, but when I was ******* it, the trans shifted smooth without any shudder.
So let me get this straight, TC shudder can be caused by a bad coil? What is the relationship between the TC and the A/C compressor?
When does the TC lock and unlock, and just plainly how does the TC work anyway?

 

[Sho-N-Go]

Any recent news? The coil pack actually interfers with the MAF voltage when it strats breaking down. The PCM uses MAF voltage to determine load and from that it determines shift points. I am only saying that the Coil issue IS your stalling,lack of power concern. It could cause a trans issue also though. How is your car running now though?

 

[Funmart6]

When I moved the coils around, the problem of stalling and power loss went away. The engine is running fine now, I still have a bit of TC shudder but I will probably have to put up with that until I can have the tranny rebuilt.