Fixed my truck (no, I won't help you move)... :)

[trickyrix]

Well, I say it's fixed, but I may have just jinxed it. Time will tell.

First, a little background... my dad and I went in 50/50 on a 2000 F150 with a 4.6 V8 and a scant 210K miles. It's a little beat, but it rides great and everything works - including the A/C. We got it cheap from the original owner, who said the only thing wrong with it was a "slight, intermittent misfire." Late last year, I thought I had the problem fixed after I had it scanned at AutoZone and diagnosed a bad coil pack on #7. Hmmmm... the owner said he'd had one pack replaced already, and by my count from Chevy experience, it was the #7. So I consulted the trusty Haynes book before moving further. Turns out Ford and Chevy don't number their cylinders with the same method:

Chevy
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1

Ford
4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5

Looks like the PO actually had CP #8 replaced. Oops! Lesson learned. I replaced the correct pack this time, but only had time for two spark plugs before I had to finish watching baseball (Rangers won, BTW).

Fast-forward a few months... Unfortunately, as soon as the warm weather returned, so did the misfire - even worse than ever. A couple of weeks ago, I wasn't sure I was going to make it back home from downtown Garland (3 miles). The CEL came on, it ran like shit, and it stunk like hell. Good times.

Yesterday I borrowed gabkwong's code scanner and I got to work this morning. This time the code was a misfire at #1. Fair enough. Before I went to the parts store, I started replacing the rest of the spark plugs. When I pulled off the #5 coil pack, it literally crumbled in my hand - it looked like somebody had tried to "fix" the harness connector with some kind of "pooky." Shit. Add another CP to the shopping list.

An hour later, $100 lighter, and a little greasier, the thing purred like a kitten. So far no more CEL, no new codes, and no shaky misfires. It runs so good it'll spin one tire! We'll see how long that holds, but I'm encouraged...

I had to share.

Gab, I'd like to hang on to the scanner this week in case the beast throws any more codes. I may still have to pick one up at HF though... that's a nice tool to have if you've got an old OBD-II vehicle.

[VFR750]

Good job....sounds like you could moonlight at Pep Boys!

[trickyrix]

Nah, I'm too highly skilled for those jokers...

[POS Racing]

Cool did ya change the seats it it yet??

[gabkwong]

Gab, I'd like to hang on to the scanner this week in case the beast throws any more codes. I may still have to pick one up at HF though... that's a nice tool to have if you've got an old OBD-II vehicle.

Congratulation! You can have the scanner as long as you want. Actually, I can pick it up next time I come over to work on the seat. If you are in the market for the scanner. HF has it on sale very often. You may want to wait till it goes on sale and use your trust 20% off coupon too! I also have a coupon for a free volt meter for $20 or more purchase too. This is really TCB!

[jrj512]

Cool did ya change the seats it it yet??

[sxk122]

pshh... i'm amazed you didn't ask for my help, as i was so skilled at trouble shooting my miata :p

glad you got her fixed

[onething]

If you won't help me move, can I borrow your truck? haha

Good job.