Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting About to go crazy!

Originally posted by TDawg76:

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Second, what kind of vaccuum lines and hoses can I look at to see if there is a leak or hole or something?

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Most of these are black, flexible hoses, about the diameter of a pencil. There are several, and they connect to a lot of different places. See if you can find one that is dis-connected, or cracked, or split. See if you find a metal or plastic fitting, about half the diameter of a pencil, maybe 1/2 inch long, that looks like it should have a hose connected to, but is not connected to anything.

I've heard you can spray carburetor cleaner around the hoses, while the engine is running, and see if the engine speeds up. If so, the area being sprayed probably had a crack or split.

Hope some of this helps.

T,
I understand your concerns. Starting to Work on your own car can be very challenging 'cause your always afraid that you're going break something that will cost a million dollars to fix or worse permanently wreck your engine. But you can do it. Changing you spark plugs is fairly simple (even on the V-6). The toughest part is just getting at the rear plugs cause its a tight space and hard to see. You might not do it this time, but if you go to a mechanic, find one that will let you observe what they do and will answer questions.

Either way:

First go get the Haynes manual from your local autoparts store or ebay. (15.00 at store, 10.00 or less on ebay). This is an indispensible resource for repair and just general information.

Next get together a basic tool set: SAE and Metric wrenches, 40 piece socket set, lg and small flat head and phillips head screwdrivers, and a couple of pliers. Finally a toolbox. Total Cost: 100.00 Other tools you'll buy as you need 'em. My first tool set was a $30 150pc plastic case set.

Next, read through the Haynes manual, just to get a feel for some stuff. Work on the basic maintanence items. This will let you get a feel for working on the car and help you identify different parts of you car. Reading the manual close enough and working through the various explainaton of how things work will give you a good idea of just how things work and why a problem causes certain results.

Finally, the hardest part is getting up the guts to turn that wrench. I started my master shade tree mechanic qualifications in college when going to the repairs shop wasn't an option (no $$$). I've changed brakes, oil, gas, and air filters, plugs/wires, installed stereo equipment, and bunches of other stuff (most recently cleaning the EGR passage to the throttle body - saved 100's of $$$)

And this place is Great for help on just about everything.

Good luck

Thanks for the vote of confidence jezlukin!

I found a mechanic (friend of the family) who came out to the house and hooked his diagnostic tool into my car's computer and it was showing no codes. I figured it would not since the CEL is not on. He did however, tell me that one of the plugs is causing a cylinder to miss. He misted water onto the coil pack at the rear of the engine where the plugs hook up, and it lit up like July 4th! So, he is going to replace the plug wires (the plugs are new, practically) this weekend for a total cost, including Motorcraft plug wires of $135. I think that's fair since I was quoted $128.80 by Ford for a set of wires.

The ironic thing about your tool set suggestions is that I already have a tool box and a pretty nice set of tools going. However, I'm more of an academic and not very good at working with my hands...

Anyways, I'm going to watch him work since he is going to perform the service in my garage and maybe I'll learn a thing or two!

Thanks for the post, jezlukin...I'll let you know how things turn out.

TDawg...take it from me, you'll find you can do more than you expected, especially with the right tools and an experienced person helping show you the way. Good luck.

Man! I wish I'd seen this post when you had the problem to begin with. I had the same problem around that milage. Do you want to know what it is?
Coil pack.
I brought my car to the stealership, and they said it was either bad plugs/wires, or coild pack. Once the plugs/wires are replaced if it continues then it's a bad coil pack. I repalced the plus/wires, and no, they are really hard to do on the V6. It's sure a pain in the keister. Well, after the plugs/wires were replaced, it continuted. Then I replaced the coil pack, and bam! Fixed problem.
My car is at 175,000 miles later and she is still kicking. Since then I have had the spark plugs/wires replaced. Basic maintenance.
Good luck. Let me know what you find out.

at that mileage plug wires wont hurt though. I had the same fears and confusion you had. I bought a haynes manual, I read it, I learned. Try to watch your friends while they're working on there cars. you said you are academic, well the best place to learn is not in a book, but in real life situations. In your car sits lessons of combustion, electrical currents, aerodynamics, etc, etc... just take your time, do your homework, and have fun!!!!
BTW, the only things to worry about when changing plug wires 1. make sure the engine is cool, the back three ow! 2. DO 1 AT A TIME 3. push the boot down on the plug hard and straight, you should hear or feel the clip go all the way on. good luck!!