RE: At my witts end just about...

From: Bernd D. Ratsch (fasstdak@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Apr 30 2005 - 22:11:52 EDT


EGR and O2 can cause this problem.

Clean out the EGR port and check the voltage signal from the O2 sensor.

- Bernd

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Terrible Tom
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:29 PM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: DML: At my witts end just about...

I don't know if I can tolerate much more disappointment and difficulty with
Christine. I can't seem to figure out why its not running well.
This engine has almost 100K on it, has been hydrolocked and drowned, and
beat on time after time -- I can't expect it to run well anymore. It was
running fine prior to the brake booster problem and then being parked.

I pulled the plugs and they and look fine. A few months ago I replaced the
plugs, cap, rotor, and wires. I swapped out the pick up coil, map sensor,
and TPS from my spare engine, and plugged any possible vacuum leaks I could
think of.

I did notice that one thing was unusual. The two lines that connect to the
CAD on the front axle - both had vacuum.

What its doing is its starting hard... idles real rough, and boggs down when
you try and give it gas. Shift into gear from park or neutral and it dies.
At higher RPM it misses, and stumbles. I tried to check the timing but
couldn't find the marks on the harmonic balancer. There should be no issue
with the timing on this engine. The distrib has never been touched and the
timing cover has never been off.

I doubt the O2 sensor could have anything to do with this, but its never
been changed as long as I've owned the truck. When I disconnect the vacuum
line to the power booster - the engine will idle - but rough.

I fogged the engine with a 3rd of a can of Sea Foam - didn't seem to do
much. EGR shouldn't have anything to do with this I don't think.

I can't afford to do another engine swap - and I'm sure as hell NOT putting
another premag V6 in there when this current engine comes out.

If I can't get it running - there's no point in taking it to the BBQ this
summer. Not to mention I STILL don't know what is grinding in the front
end.

I fired up the Ranger today - which has been sitting, and not run for twice
as long as Christine - and the freaking thing fired up first try.
  Purred like a happy kitten. I gotta say it for Ford and that 2.9L FI
V6 - that engine will never die. Don't freak on me - the Ranger isn't going
anywhere anytime soon. Discovered a broken coil spring on the front
passenger side, in addition to the monumental list of everything else that
doesn't work or is broken on it.

I guess the whole point of this is - can anyone think of anything I should
do, that maybe I have overlooked, to try to get Christine's engine running
well? I have been obsessing over this ever since I discovered it was
running like shit - and I just can't think objectively about it anymore.
I've been brooding and miserable ever since. What am I overlooking?????

It has a full tank of gas, I dont think I put any seafoam in however.
Could the gas have gone bad so soon?

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