I just replaced all of my spark plugs (Duratec). Now my car stalls at an idle, every time. This was all today. I was about to post when I thought of how it seemed a lot like a vaccum leak, so I started checking out the lines. I found the end of a broken hose right next to(drivers side) the rear 3 plugs. This hose goes from the intake(accordian part) back to towards the firewall and down into the engine. It is broke on the engine end. I got some pictures but dont know how to post them.
Edit: Since I don't know what this hose is, I'm not even sure it's causing the stalling, but I figured and hoped that this just happened somehow and I haven't been driving it like that.
To post pictures here, either go to the registry here and upload them or if you don't want to wait til that gets approved, you can go to either
photobucket. There is a few others can't remember what they are off the top of my head, well good luck on your problem and welcome to GEG.
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
I just replaced all of my spark plugs (Duratec). Now my car stalls at an idle, every time. This was all today. I was about to post when I thought of how it seemed a lot like a vaccum leak, so I started checking out the lines. I found the end of a broken hose right next to(drivers side) the rear 3 plugs. This hose goes from the intake(accordian part) back to towards the firewall and down into the engine. It is broke on the engine end. I got some pictures but dont know how to post them.
Edit: Since I don't know what this hose is, I'm not even sure it's causing the stalling, but I figured and hoped that this just happened somehow and I haven't been driving it like that.
Does it look like the duct resonator assembly in this site?
http://www.mightyautoparts.com/pdf/articles/tt94.pdf
no its not the idle air hose. Thats the one you put the copper cap in for the TH fix right? It's under that one and is smaller and stiffer.
Oh and thanks for the welcome, but I'm not new, just reregistered because of some login problems. Formerly known as Steve-o, not that I posted much anyway.
I'm working on the pictures.
are you talking about the hose that plugs onto the top of the valve cover? its similar to the one that runs under your duratec cover.
i think it called a breather hole
Pictures
Ok, Here's where it starts at the intake
Following the hose...
And the break
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
Since I don't know what this hose is, I'm not even sure it's causing the stalling, but I figured and hoped that this just happened somehow and I haven't been driving it like that.
Crankcase ventilation hose. Yes, it is causing the stalling.
From your last picture, can't tell if the connector is broken or just the hose. If it is the hose, just clean it out and see if you can plug it back in. Or just go pick up the part from Ford (you have been driving without it for some time anyway.
)
lol, i only drove it a little like this and had to give up and try and get home. Hardest drving experience I've ever had. Thanks, Tony.
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
lol, i only drove it a little like this and had to give up and try and get home. Hardest drving experience I've ever had. Thanks, Tony.
LOL. Sorry, did not know it from your previous post. LOL. 
Edit. LOL. Had one too many in that 1/2 hour between those two posts of mine. LOL.
I was just saying i hoped i hadn't been driving it damaged(which is probably what happened actually), but I know it just got real, real bad today.
PS: is there a good chance this is causing EGR CEL Codes. I pulled some a while ago and I just remember they were EGR related.
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
PS: is there a good chance this is causing EGR CEL Codes. I pulled some a while ago and I just remember they were EGR related.
Don't know what those EGR codes were but I would suspect some vacuum leak (which could also be interpreted as a leaking EGR gasket), lean (which would also be interpreted as a stuck EGR) or oil contamination codes.
alright, that rubbery elbow piece that connects the hose to the port on the engine is what ripped. Anyone know of where to get something like that or any ideas for a homemade fix? I wish it wasn't in such a pita spot.
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
any ideas for a homemade fix?
Try this as a temporary solution (and I am serious).
If it is cracked as opposed to completely shattered into many pieces, clean it well, put the hose inside the rubbery elbow piece, then duct tape the outside diameter of the rubber elbow piece, put it back in and get the part from Ford tomorrow. I trust duct tape for almost everything as a temporary fix. Oh, and don't forget to change the oil after you get this fixed. God knows what went in the crankcase.
Ugg I dont even want to think about that. Tomorrow it is then, thanks again.
Originally posted by Tony2005:
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
Since I don't know what this hose is, I'm not even sure it's causing the stalling, but I figured and hoped that this just happened somehow and I haven't been driving it like that.
Crankcase ventilation hose. Yes, it is causing the stalling.
I don't agree, when i got my 99 I found the rear bank breather hose was disconnected from the intake accordian tube, had to have been this way when we test drove the car, there was no stalling or we wouldn't have boughten the car
now did you make sure the plugs were gapped right, the grounding strap and radio frequency isolator for the ignition pack are installed properly as well as the plug wires?
ok, pulled the little rubber connector off a junkyard tour. Put in on my car and it's fixed.
But it isn't. Just like before, the car stalls.
Now here is some stuff that might help identify the problem. 1 This started happening right after I installed the plugs. Plugs are gapped to .054. I even pulled them and double checked. 2 It only starts stalling after it is warmed up. 3 It can be hard to start again after stalling. 4 Before this the car would be very hesitant and lose power when trying to accelerate while cold. I thought it might be plug issue. Once it warmed up it was fine.
Brapple, I assume the grounding strap comes the coil? Is that the metal braided strap? I may have knock it loose when I was working on the rear plugs. Does the fact that the engine stalls only once warmed up help much?
Edit: Searched on the grounding strip and i'll check it out tomorrow, but I got no search returns on the radio frequency isolator. What is that?
Originally posted by steve-o reborn:
But it isn't. Just like before, the car stalls.
Did you reset the computer Fuse 4 and 11?
yes I did. Today I started it up and let it idle for about 3 min. It was idleing like it should at 720. I drove it then and the engine was very sluggish. I would think misfires but I have checked the plugs mor ethan once and the wires are about a year old. After a few miles of driving the stalling came back...I had always thought the stalling came after the vehicle was in a closed loop, but appearently it's after a few miles of driving.
I would go basic, here...
Check for arcing on the wires.. My guess (seeing what's been covered, and when the problem started), I would say that the wires got knicked, or aren't seated completely.
I know you are pretty sure.. but 100% verification is what we're shooting for.
Ray
I can't see any arcing, but I can here a click click click coming from around the coil, but I'm not 100% sure of it's source.
I'm gonna fiddle around more with the wires and make sure they're all good. What does an arc sound like, a tapping kind of?
update: Look at it in a dark garage and still saw no arc. I'm getting worried because now at an idle the oil lamp flickers. Oil level is good. maybe with the ventilation hose broken, debris got into the oil and is now blocking a/some passageways causing the light to flicker and the noise (very snappy-like)? Don't know how that relates to stalling.
Well I think I'm just gonna have to take it in. Hopefully I can drive it down to the shop. Shell will probably do a diagnosis for free. I hope so, cause I got ten bucks tell this weekend
