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  #1  
Old 03-10-2013, 09:02 PM
MadMav MadMav is offline
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Question Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Bought this 2000 Flex 3.0 for my son. Got it from my Dad. It has a serious rough idle and could use some help.

Here are the symptoms....
Needs to have the pedal floored to start. Once it starts it idles about 900rpm and very rough. Very little power and won't go over 3500 rpm when floored. Occasionally gives a misfire on cylinder #5. Only code set.

Things done to this point....
New plugs; noticed #5 plug was wet as well as two others on passenger side. Dad said he put in new wires. Pulled the intake and checked all injectors. All ohm'd between 14.9-15.2. Cleaned them well and reinstalled with new o-rings. Ohm'd out the coil and resistance is all zero. Performed visual check for arching wires, but observed none.

Problem is still present at this point.

Still need to ohm out the wires, change fuel filter. Can anyone lead me in another direction? Not sure what to do next. Thank you,

Maverick
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  #2  
Old 03-11-2013, 03:50 AM
Bendjak05 Bendjak05 is offline
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Default

Check codes again,

Maybe bad or failing coil pack, and check grounds
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  #3  
Old 03-11-2013, 04:47 PM
rangerlocal rangerlocal is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Do you happen to hear a chirping or squeaking at idle? Could be cam sync issue if so.

Also, clean the IAC. It may be stuck closed keeping it from starting unless you open the throttle. Also clean your MAF and check the air filter. Fuel filter is a good idea.

With a truck running that bad and having those issues, I would expect it to trigger more than a single misfire code...
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  #4  
Old 03-11-2013, 10:54 PM
MadMav MadMav is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

I will check out the things you say tomorrow. Thank you ,

Mav
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  #5  
Old 03-12-2013, 09:13 PM
MadMav MadMav is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

New coil and wires did not fix the problem. Neither did cleaning MAF and IAT sensors. Have a set of injectors on order to see if one or more of these are froze up.

Mav
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  #6  
Old 03-13-2013, 07:58 AM
Springtown FX4 Springtown FX4 is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

How did the wet plugs look? Sometimes cleaning the IAC will do nothing for you sometimes they must just be replaced. Also when cleaning them use something that is made for electronic parts like MAF cleaner never touch the sensors or wipe them off. You can isolate the MAF by unplugging it after getting it started it it levels out then its the MAF sensor. IAC just replace it. Do you smell anti freeze at all or is it getting low (could be cracked head). Could also maybe be a cam shaft syncro but im not familiar to the symtoms of that...

edit: also check for vacuum leaks
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  #7  
Old 03-13-2013, 08:17 AM
utvol utvol is offline
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Default Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rangerlocal View Post
Do you happen to hear a chirping or squeaking at idle? Could be cam sync issue if so.

Also, clean the IAC. It may be stuck closed keeping it from starting unless you open the throttle. Also clean your MAF and check the air filter. Fuel filter is a good idea.

With a truck running that bad and having those issues, I would expect it to trigger more than a single misfire code...
If its not chirping it could be the camshaft positioning sensor although it sounds like a bigger problem with the wet plugs.
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  #8  
Old 03-14-2013, 04:50 PM
MadMav MadMav is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by utvol View Post
If its not chirping it could be the camshaft positioning sensor although it sounds like a bigger problem with the wet plugs.
No chirping or any other signs. Sept hard to start. Which makes me thing stuck injector or two. I have to floor it to get it to fire up. Not good with fuel injection.

Maverick

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Springtown FX4 View Post
How did the wet plugs look? Sometimes cleaning the IAC will do nothing for you sometimes they must just be replaced. Also when cleaning them use something that is made for electronic parts like MAF cleaner never touch the sensors or wipe them off. You can isolate the MAF by unplugging it after getting it started it it levels out then its the MAF sensor. IAC just replace it. Do you smell anti freeze at all or is it getting low (could be cracked head). Could also maybe be a cam shaft syncro but im not familiar to the symtoms of that...

edit: also check for vacuum leaks
Plugs appeared to have a bit of fuel on them. Cleaned the MAF with MAF/sensor cleaner. I will try the MAF test, but it should have thrown a code if bad. No smell of anti freeze. Checked the vacuum and no leaks.

Mav
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  #9  
Old 03-14-2013, 05:50 PM
Bendjak05 Bendjak05 is offline
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Did you check codes again?. Still just says misfire?

----------

Im thinking injectors too
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2000 xlt 3.0l v6 4x4 ext cab
Bedbox , backrack, Dual functional cb antennas
2 in lift
Yokahoma geo-lander A/Ts 31"
Flowmaster super 44 side dumped
Rancho 5100's
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2013, 06:18 PM
rangerlocal rangerlocal is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Do a compression test on the misfire cylinder before tearing everything apart. You may be glad you did. Harbor freight has them for about $12, Advance Auto has them for $20. I have the Advance one and it works great. You only need three things for combustion: Spark, gas, and compression. You can use a spark tester, timing light, or hold the plug close to the engine block while cranking to see if it sparks. If it does, check compression. If compression is significantly lower or non-existent on that cylinder, examine the spark plug and start looking for head gaskets. Also, smell the plug and see if it smells like gas. If you're not getting combustion but getting fuel, you'll definitely smell it when you pull it out. Keep us posted.
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  #11  
Old 03-14-2013, 07:04 PM
thatranger thatranger is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MadMav View Post
Bought this 2000 Flex 3.0 for my son. Got it from my Dad. It has a serious rough idle and could use some help.

Here are the symptoms....
Needs to have the pedal floored to start. Once it starts it idles about 900rpm and very rough. Very little power and won't go over 3500 rpm when floored. Occasionally gives a misfire on cylinder #5. Only code set.

Things done to this point....
New plugs; noticed #5 plug was wet as well as two others on passenger side. Dad said he put in new wires. Pulled the intake and checked all injectors. All ohm'd between 14.9-15.2. Cleaned them well and reinstalled with new o-rings. Ohm'd out the coil and resistance is all zero. Performed visual check for arching wires, but observed none.

Problem is still present at this point.

Still need to ohm out the wires, change fuel filter. Can anyone lead me in another direction? Not sure what to do next. Thank you,

Maverick
If its an auto tranny, then it shouldn't rev pass 3k I believe (maybe its 3.5k) when in Neutral or Park.
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Quote:
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  #12  
Old 03-14-2013, 11:40 PM
Npinson Npinson is offline
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thatranger View Post

If its an auto tranny, then it shouldn't rev pass 3k I believe (maybe its 3.5k) when in Neutral or Park.
I noticed that mine wouldn't go past 3k either in Park. I guess it's just a rev limiter then?
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  #13  
Old 03-15-2013, 05:48 AM
Prages Prages is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rangerlocal View Post
Do a compression test on the misfire cylinder before tearing everything apart. You may be glad you did. Harbor freight has them for about $12, Advance Auto has them for $20. I have the Advance one and it works great. You only need three things for combustion: Spark, gas, and compression. You can use a spark tester, timing light, or hold the plug close to the engine block while cranking to see if it sparks. If it does, check compression. If compression is significantly lower or non-existent on that cylinder, examine the spark plug and start looking for head gaskets. Also, smell the plug and see if it smells like gas. If you're not getting combustion but getting fuel, you'll definitely smell it when you pull it out. Keep us posted.
Compression test is a great idea. I had misfires on 2 and 3 and couldn't get rid of them. Did compression test, no compression on those two cylinders. Mine turned out to be burned up exhaust valve seats. The valves were sucked up about 1/8" into the head.
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  #14  
Old 03-15-2013, 12:17 PM
rangerlocal rangerlocal is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prages View Post
Compression test is a great idea. I had misfires on 2 and 3 and couldn't get rid of them. Did compression test, no compression on those two cylinders. Mine turned out to be burned up exhaust valve seats. The valves were sucked up about 1/8" into the head.
That sucks...these engines aren't too prone to that happening, at least I hope not. I know the 2.0l SPI engine in the Focus dropped them left and right, nearly all of them before 100k. I HATED those motors.
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  #15  
Old 03-15-2013, 12:35 PM
Prages Prages is offline
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Default Re: Rough idle trouble. Any hints?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rangerlocal View Post
That sucks...these engines aren't too prone to that happening, at least I hope not. I know the 2.0l SPI engine in the Focus dropped them left and right, nearly all of them before 100k. I HATED those motors.
Mine had 157k miles on it.

I just dropped in a crate long block. 3 year, unlimited mileage warranty. I've put about 5k on it since getting it back on the road in December. So far, so good.
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