Problems after washing engine
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: PA
Problems after washing engine
Hi. I am a newbie here so forgive me if this has been addressed before. I have a 99 Expedition XLT withthe 5.4 L Triton. My husband washed the engine about 3-3 1/2 weeks ago. Since then it has been running rough. But it seems to happen mostly when going uphill or trying to accelerate. My hubby thought that it was bad gas, so we put in fuel cleaner, but that didn't help. I have run it through 2 tanks of gas since it started. The Service Engine Soon light is not on, but I am still worried about it. It has approx. 83,000 on it. Thanks for your help!
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: duncan oklahoma
the bores where the spark plugs and coil on plugs go are full of water.all of the coils would need to be remove and blow dry the coils and blow out the plug bores.it is still pos. to have a miss due to a coil shorted out from the water.if you replace a coil always install a new plug.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Cookeville, TN
+1 on the bores where the spark plugs and coil on plugs go are full of water...
It is possible that one or more of the coils may have gone bad too.
The coils are located on top of the engine under the fuel distribution bar...
they are held in place with a bolt. The #4 and #8 are very hard to get to...
You will have to take them out and then use an air compressor to blow the bores out.
It is possible that one or more of the coils may have gone bad too.
The coils are located on top of the engine under the fuel distribution bar...
they are held in place with a bolt. The #4 and #8 are very hard to get to...
You will have to take them out and then use an air compressor to blow the bores out.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Hell with a zip code PHX
I had the same problem and it got worse. I had a tottal of five bad coils. The parts store here wanted $53.00 a piece baught a brand new set in box for $95.00 on ebay two hours and a few busted knuckles later problem solved.Good luck and have fun.
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From: PA
Update...
My hubby finally after almost a month and a half of me driving this thing running horribly opened the hood on Saturday. After blowing 2 spark plugs out and proclaiming that he couldn't get to any others, he found a vacuum hose with a hole in it. He went and got a new hose and put it on. We went for a test drive and everything seemed fixed. The Expy seemed to have more power, no more hiccuping, shaking, etc. But, when I took the Expedition out a littlwe while ago, the whole thing started all over again after I turned on the AC. We don't have the money to take it to a mechanic to blow out the suspected water from the plugs right now, so hubby says to baby it until we get it inspected in October and have them change the plugs then. My question is, is it so hard to get to the plugs and if not why is my hubby having problems. He built and rebuilt the motor in his muscle car, so what is the deal? I am so frustrated. I have a 2 hr plus drive (one way) coming up in a couple of days and this thing is horrible to drive while it is running rough. Is there anything me (a woman) can do to fix it or whatever??? THe Check Engine light has never come on although it ruins like serious poo!!!
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 291
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From: Cookeville, TN
Some thoughts...random.
It's not the plugs, it is the coils.
No the Expy is not easy to work on.
You will pay WAY more than you need to, to have the coils replaced at inspection...
It's not the plugs, it is the coils.
No the Expy is not easy to work on.
You will pay WAY more than you need to, to have the coils replaced at inspection...
Last edited by Mark62; Aug 13, 2007 at 08:26 AM.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Houston, Tejas
I have done this alot, seems as time goes by the rubber gasket around the cops seems to shrink and alow water to seep into the bores where the plug sits, its not the plugs but the cops, i have always sucked the water out like you said but have always taken the cop apart by pulling the spring and the rubber tube apart and letting the cop air dry in the sun, and have never ever had to buy one like everybody would tell me, i have noticed that any small particle of condensation on the inside of the cop will make it run like junk so i would take them apart gently and let them dry out. 
Last edited by krane operator; Aug 13, 2007 at 08:34 AM.
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From: PA
Originally Posted by krane operator
I have done this alot, seems as time goes by the rubber gasket around the cops seems to shrink and alow water to seep into the bores where the plug sits, its not the plugs but the cops, i have always sucked the water out like you said but have always taken the cop apart by pulling the spring and the rubber tube apart and letting the cop air dry in the sun, and have never ever had to buy one like everybody would tell me, i have noticed that any small particle of condensation on the inside of the cop will make it run like junk so i would take them apart gently and let them dry out.
I wish I could do this myself, and be done with it. Driving it like this is horrible and now I am going to drive it on a long trip with it hiccupping all the way!
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From: PA
Alittle bit of relief, but....
Ok, after much nagging on my part, hubby went out after dinner last night and took all coils off one by one and blew them out. A couple of them he had problems with because the boot separated exposing the spring, but he put them back together. He said he didn't visibly see any moisture, but that a couple of them seemed looser than others so he could see that moisture may have gotten into them. Anyway, took it for a test drive after he was done and all went well. This morning I took it out to get gas (the gas station is about 20 miles one way) and it ran fine all the way there and most of the way back. About 3/4 of the way home, I got behind a fully loaded dump truck that had stopped at a red light so he was going incredibly slow. Anyway, when I got to about 40 mph, my expy started bucking, but smoothed out at about 50. I managed to get around this guy and all was well. I set the cruise on 60, then I came to a large hill and though the speed still stayed at 60, the expy hiccupped a couple of time but was very minor then the rest of the trip ran smoothly. So, what do you think is going on now??? Thanks so much for all of your help!!!!!
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Omaha, Nebraska USA
Does anyone have experience with the replacement boots and springs that can be bought after market? Would these help in a situation like this where it sure sounds like the spark is jumping under a load? Just wondering.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Cookeville, TN
Originally Posted by Omahastro1
Does anyone have experience with the replacement boots and springs that can be bought after market? Would these help in a situation like this where it sure sounds like the spark is jumping under a load? Just wondering.
99exp - how many boots are torn/loose? They need to be replaced to stop your problems. I have one used boot from a coil replacement that I could send you(you pay freight/USmail)...
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Franklin, NC
Just buy the whole replacement Coil. They cost around $75 each and can be changed out quite easily. More time consuming than technical. Take the plastic cover off of the engine. Buy new ignition coils. Look for the identical part on the engine (there are 8 of them). Replace the old part with the new one. Go to Autozone or AdvancedAutoparts and they will read the Check engine light for free and tell you which coil is bad. It is a very, very bad idea to drive your truck around with a bad coil. Don't limp it to the next service........fix it. There was a guy on here that fixed his bad coil in the parking lot of the parts store with a broken arm in under 15 min. Surely your hubby can do that.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Hell with a zip code PHX
great thought davis but as i told 99EXP you can purchase a whole set of coils new in box on ebay for a $103.00 that includes shiping . I did this and i have had no problems what so ever. Not to steal HighHorse;s line but to support if it aint broke service it or it will be broke then your down longer , and out a lot more money..........................
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From: PA
Originally Posted by davisenvy
Just buy the whole replacement Coil. They cost around $75 each and can be changed out quite easily. More time consuming than technical. Take the plastic cover off of the engine. Buy new ignition coils. Look for the identical part on the engine (there are 8 of them). Replace the old part with the new one. Go to Autozone or AdvancedAutoparts and they will read the Check engine light for free and tell you which coil is bad. It is a very, very bad idea to drive your truck around with a bad coil. Don't limp it to the next service........fix it. There was a guy on here that fixed his bad coil in the parking lot of the parts store with a broken arm in under 15 min. Surely your hubby can do that.