Ok I have a 01 SC 5.4, it was running rough, so I replaced all four cats and o2 sensors, it still ran rough so I checked it at my work with the code reader and it came up that Cylinder 5,6, and 7 were all missing, so I cleaned all 8 injectors to be safe and it still ran like crap, so i pulled the coils on the driver side, and found oil in the coil.

I did more inspection and found a valve cover gasket leak, so I replaced the gasket, checked the coils with an ohm reader, cleaned them out and re-installed everything. Well it ran great for 12 miles then the chek engine light came on and it started stutering, so I checked the codes again and found that a new o2 sensor was out!, I warrented it out and restarted the truck and it still runs like ****!

From idel to 1,400rpms it shakes a little if I put my foot into it anywere in that range it hesitates, but anything above 1,400rpms it runs great. What is the deal with this truck?

 

Did you replace the COP's? They have a tendency to go bad on the 5.4. Merely cleaning the oil off won't help. Replace all 8 or you'll be doing it again in a few months. You can get them on ebay for like $100.

Common problem of the symptoms you describe.

 

It doesn't sound like a problem with the truck, it sounds more like the guy working on it doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

Checking the resistance of the coils is not an accurate way to check them. The resistance in the windings of the coil may be just fine without a load on them, but as the coil heats up and more of a load is placed on the ignition system, the coils can falter.

 

I aggree, they have a real cool tool at the DEALERSHIP, its called the WDS/IDS, you can load test all the coils to find the failing ones... What a concept....

Unless of course your willing to keep throwing parts at it????

 

check your fuel pressure regulator. that is what my buddy had problems with on his serria 5.3l and it said o2 sensors then said certian cylnders where miss firing and came to be his fuel pressure regulator. just a thought.

 

you do realize some people will NOT visit the dealer cause we know what some of the "Tech's" capabilities are, some just cand afford it or just flat want to learn on their own. instead of being a critic, lend a hand jackass, offer some knowledge without first attacking the guy? theres a concept for both of ya..

 

Just some comment to bring a different perspective in this case.
For any one who is concerned about cost, why in the world would anyone change out an expensive cat pipe assembly, Ox sensors etc before even looking at the codes unless it was free?
Change the spark plugs first, then the coils and fix the oil leaks instead of guessing.
Sorry if it make anyone upset but it's just common sense.

 

That's fine and dandy. But see, here's the issue with your "cand afford it" theory - depending on where he got the converters, that could be anywhere from $100 to $1000 worth of exhaust parts. O2 sensors, about $80-100 a pop for OEM. Valve cover gaskets, about $15-20 or so. Throwing all this crap at a problem and it doesn't fix it? Priceless.

He probably could have saved a lot of money and frustration if he sat down and looked through a service manual before hanging parts, searched this forum, or paid someone who knew what they were doing to fix his truck. A man's gotta know his limitations, as Clint Eastwood would say. I have little to no sympathy or mercy for someone who blindly flings parts at a problem, and then blames the vehicle.

 

On my last car, a Lincoln, I had a dealer service department "throw parts" at problems. For a while, the car was under warranty. I had a noise coming from under the car at a certain RPM, so they replaced the steering knuckles and joints "under warranty" at like 42K miles (50K warranty on the car). Then at 56K miles the noise was still there, I had it back to them to hear the "we can't replicate it" or the "it's your aftermarket MAF" bull****. They wanted to start replacing parts, at my expense, because after all there was no way to prove it was the "same problem" as before.

So I don't like to hear the "throwing parts at it won't solve the problem" because that's exactly what the idiots at the dealership do. The difference is that they are spending Ford's money (when under warranty) and not mine. Fine, but if we're talking about a 2001, they would just be spending my money anyway.

I have never had a problem properly diagnosed and fixed by a Lincoln dealership in the 5 years I owned a Lincoln unless a computer spit out an error code the tech could look up. I even got into an argument with one service adviser because TSB said to replace *both* of the items (even if only one was broken), and he said he could only replace the one that failed. They can't even follow directions properly!

And you want me to take my car to these dolts? Give me a break! If the car isn't under warranty, it's going to my local, trusted mechanic. If it is under warranty, it's going to my local, trusted mechanic *first* so I know what the problem is, and then to the dealership so I can tell them what needs to be done, or else it will never get fixed.

 

Hi.

Just an observation, but one bad dealer service dept (or several) do not a quorum make.

There are good ones - and good techs. We are even lucky enough to have (Q) to help us here.

Also your local mechanic, while he may be really good, may not have all the requisite tools to diagnose everything (e.g. the aforementioned WDS/IDS to load test COP's, etc). Some of this stuff is unobtanium ;-)).

Just sayin' okay? Personally, I've never had a bad dealership service experience. Could also be the approach?

Good luck, anyway....

Cheers
Bubba

. <--- my compliant sig lol

 

From a troubleshooting perspective, you should have ran the code scanner first, it would have saved you some money on the cats and o2 sensors. It would have also told you, as you stated, that 5,6,7 were missing.

From experience with the same problem on my Lincoln LS, the gasket failed and oil all over the place. The gasket can be replaced, but as we (LS owners) found out, the COPs also tended to fail, so it made sense to replace all the COPs as well. As someone else said, $100 for all 8. This is something we found out from experience, the cars were at 90,000 miles or so... not under warranty, and the dealer was charging $400 per shot, the first time to replace the gaskets, the second time to replace the COPs that failed. Eventually we learned the two events were related and had them do the COPs at the same time (or had our local mechanic do it).

As a result of the gasket problem, I had the gaskets replaced and 3 of the 8 COPs replaced (my mechanic was able to figure out which ones were bad or about to be bad without some "special machine"... but he's good like that). The car ran like new after that.

Good luck!

 

Well the reason I replaced all that stuff cats, o2's, was beacuse thats what the codes were for the truck. I check the codes almost daily to figure it out.
The plugs have only 50miles on them, the cat system is a Magnaflow cat system, bosch O2's Autolite DP 103 plugs, All Ultrasoniced and changed filters for the injectors,Fram fuel filter, my fuel pressure is in the 30's, 4 BRand new Niehoff Coils on the passanger side,

All I can think of is My EGR valve?

Ive ran this truck on my code reader at work (Checker) Ive ran it on my buddys Code Reader at his Gas Station/Repair Shop/ And had it ran on Fords Diagnostic Reader and Ive Replaced everything these have said to...

Damn I wish a 429SCJ would fit under the hood, I would have a truck in 3 days again.Hahaha

 

No code specifically states a fault, or specifically says you need to replace "this" part of "that" part. They're just tattletells to get you pointed in the general direction. Telling us what codes you have or had specifically would help in trying to get you squared away.

 

1-800-392-3673. Ford Customer Service. I don't have any means or justification for the treatment you received at your dealer. By your word, what they've done was unacceptable and I can't disagree with that. But it's rather ignorant to stereotype everyone based on your experience with your specific dealer.

I'll go out on a limb and say your Lincoln was an LS, and you had a rear window regulator break.

You can do that all you want, but the harsh reality is no dealer is gonna take the words of an independent shop. That invites liability to them if they indiscriminately replace parts that someone else said were faulty. There's more going on behind the scenes at your friendly neighborhood dealer that you'll never understand if you don't live it and see it on a daily basis.

And besides, who's talking about dealers? I recommended that the OP have someone who knows what they're doing look at his truck; I never said it had to be a dealership. With the money he's spent in parts thus far and the time and frustration he's gone through, this whole saga wouldn't even be discussed right now if a qualified tech - dealer or independent - diagnosed and repaired his concern. Or even if he had come here and asked questions before replacing parts.

 

Quintin, check your PMs in a quick minute. I'll be sending you something right now.