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The surging is back... but have some codes

Well I have Ford Racing wires on now and have around the same milage as the spark plugs. I guess I'll replace the wires, maybe replace both if price isn't too bad.
 
have you checked the timing belt? maybe the timing is off slightly....cleaned the throttle body??...im not sure how a zetec is set up since i had a duratec tour, but remove the throttle body and clean it and clean as much of the intake behind it as you can get to, if applicable

looks like you definitely need that valve cover gasket like tod said and check those wires too....just because they say ford racing doesn't mean they cant be bad
 
Bad plug wires will cause loss of 4th gear on ATX, at least on Zetec 4. Mine did twice. Once you log certain percentage of misfire PCM goes into limp home mode.
 
Guessing that...

Guessing that...

Hey Kerry,

I kind of knew your problem has actually not been fixed but still hoping something. I am sad that the surging is back and now you have to do more work.

I haven't fixed my issue either. I did pretty much everything I could except removing and checking the EGR valve for any leak.

I was also advised to change the plugs(already new) and plug wires(3 years old). I didn't because I cannot believe that bad plug wires cause stumbling idle only and not showing any issue on any cruise speed. If this turns out to be bad plug wires, I guess I should stop working on my cars.

Anyways, hope you can make some progress but telling you from here that MAF replacement also won't fix your problem.

When I finally check my EGR valve, I will replace the fuel filter(maybe I do that first) and then clean charcoal canister and none of these help, I will have to seek some help from a shop but I don't know how smart this idea is thinking that my cars is not worth much...

keep us posted...
 
I was hopeful and it did get me to the bank and friends place flawlessly, so the problem was gone for about 20 miles but came back for no reason.

The jumped timing idea seems probable as my car has had timing issues in the past. But wouldn't run crappy all the time and not just in gear?

After work I'll be picking up all that todras mentioned and install at friends place. I know my car works while its cold (at least it has in the past) and I will try to get it home(~4mi away) or at least the mechanics shop(~3mi away).
 
KerryKool said:
The jumped timing idea seems probable as my car has had timing issues in the past. But wouldn't run crappy all the time and not just in gear?
Click to expand...
Yes - wrong cam timing will make it run "crappy" all the time. Also, wrong cam timing on these cars, cannot cause a random buck/surge.
 
KerryKool said:
What he has told me the the fuel pump, MAF sensor, timing belt(pullies + tensioner), and a IAC motor all need to be replaced.

I love how Ford loves to rape people everytime they get a chance.

Well at least I know whats wrong, unforunately it costs $400 to tell me that.:blackeye:
Click to expand...
This kinda sh-t really bites me in the ass. That d-cksack that looked at your car probably didn't even spend an hour on it. It looks like he priced out everything he thought COULD be wrong with it and gave you a rediculous estimate that ended up not even including what was actually wrong. :mad: I've seen techs do this when they don't actually know what's wrong with a vehicle, or don't want to waste too much time diagnosing a problem that they think the customer won't spend the money to fix, or even sometimes if they just don't want to work on a particular vehicle. It's sad, but that's how it is sometimes. Then you got charged $400? How the hell did they justify charging you $400?

It should be said though, that this isn't Ford's doing... hell, it really isn't even the dealership's doing - it's mostly the tech's. Typically, the techs are just like sub-contractors in a dealership. So if your car ends up in the bay of the guy that doesn't like to work on Contours, you end up with a crazy estimate that may or may not fix your problem. :nonono:

Sucks that this is the majority, rather than minority, with techs at dealerships. It's too bad you're so far away, I'd have you bring it in to where I work - we would take much better care of ya.
 
Yeah. I pretty much made the same comment when I saw what the dealer wants to replace as a fix.
It is a plain B.S.
This happened to me as well in the past. They didn't list 10 items need to be replaced but they came up with couple things. I said to the SA "I will pay you if the car is fixed. I will test drive it and if it is not fixed, I will not pay a penny. You okay?"
When I said this, he went inside to talk to the technician again and came up and said that "Yes, this will fix your issue..."
I said " Go ahead..."
They fixed it, I test drove the car with the guy sitting on the passenger seat so I don't get a chance to drive off. Then I paid them...
What they mainly did was a tune-up. But it worked. I seriously wasn't going to pay them if it wouldn't have fixed the problem. I was lucky at the time.
Then I tried to do the same again later years, they didn't accept it and I did not approve the repair and took my car back. Luckly my car was in working order in all cases. If you tow your car to dealer then you are at their mercy because they will do everything to screw you...
I repeat "I hate dealers..." I don't have extra cash to fill up someone's pocket...
 
I'm going to tow it to the mechanic shop in the morning. I can't even get it around the block without problems. The mechanic shop knows my car very well from past problems and I trust them enough not to bulls--t me. I'll let them know everything I have done and what Ford told me.

I'll relay info as I get it.
 
Fixed!

Fixed!

I just want to update this thread to help anyone that is wonder if I fixed the problem. I got my car back Monday and drove it to work on Tuesday and it ran flawlessly. While my car was at the mechanics shop, they checked the timing and timing belt, and everything checked out. They replaced the spark plugs and the symptoms were still there. So the last thing (and most expensive mind you) they replaced was the MAF sensor and the car ran great.

All the car needs now is a nice bath and vacuuming and it will be good as new.:cool:
 
Wow!.. Wish I could be that lucky. I replaced my MAF sensor but it didn't do any good.
I still can't believe that MAF sensor caused all that trouble.I would even put money on it that it wouldn't be the MAF sensor.

At the end, I am glad that your car is fixed. Dunno when I will fix mine.
 
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