Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting IMRC Linkage Crushed Fuel Line

This is a bit wierd, but in looking to diagnose my low RPM stumbling problem I was observing the operation of IMRC opening the secondaries. It all seems to work properly, closing at startup and opening smoothly at ~3000 rpm. But on close inspection I can see where it has substantially crushed against what I think is the (metal tube) fuel line supplying the 4-5-6 cylinder injectors.

What would make it do this? Out of adjustment?

Could this be the source of my fairly recent stumbling problems?

How hard to replace? I was going to tear into the throttle body and possibly upper intake manifold soon anyway.

95 V6 MTX
159,000 mi

Chris

Get us a picture.

Those two metal fuel lines are the fuel supply & return in a 95 Contique. The vacuum actuated linkage to the secondaries should not have enough force to damage those.

Is your low rpm stumbling especially bad when the engine is cold? Might be vac leaks. be sure to check the plastic elbows on top of the UIM and the vac tube hidden below & behind the throttle body. Commonly missed or damaged when the engine is worked on.

Have you changed the plugs & wires recently? The V-6 is quite particular about plugs & wires. Get Motorcraft or Magnecore wires, & Motorcraft or Autolite double platinum plugs. Anything else is a crap shoot - hit or miss in the literal sense.

I got a picture, but I don't know how to upload it. There's no question that the front secondaries lever flattened it. There is an area of shiny metal right there where I can see it hit. It has crushed it alright. Just don't know how long its been that way. Have had the car for 10 years. The drivability problem started less than 1 month ago. I do also suspect a vacuum leak.

One other thing. A couple weeks before my stumbling problem started, like a fool I left the oil filler cap off after topping off and drove it that way for a day before figuring it out. It slung ~1/2 quart of oil all over the front of the engine. Could that have done something that would eventually affect lower rpm drivability?

Chris

Well I wish someone has told me. The fuel rail has a flat section right where the IMRC linkage travels, for clearance. Nothing is crushed. Car still runs like crap on cold mornings. Replaced IAC with some improvement. Going into the throttle body tomorrow. Also searching for a vacuum leak.