catsrfoxy
I have a 1999 E-350 super duty, 5.4 engine, E4OD trans. Originally, I had codes 171 and 174 and replaced the O2 sensors, plus cylinder 2 plug and COP in December. Ran super.
I had been called as pastor to a new church 155 miles away and the van was used every week, fully loaded and pulling our boat one week and a U-haul trailer another during the month of December. The engine ran flawlessly.
After this bitter cold winter in which I did not have to drive the vehicle, it began to throw the same two codes and ping hard on acceleration. I replaced the sensors again, corrected all vacuum leaks, replaced four more COP's and four injectors because they did not meet the resistance measurements. The reason for this extensive work was because I was experiencing a tremendous shuddering when the engine was trying to climb an incline. After all this work, there are no more codes showing, but the shudder is horrible. I am running without the cowl cover, so I can see the engine and it is not shaking as if it were an engine miss. The shudder has become more violent, like something is out of balance. The shudder is greatly reduced when I push the button and take it out of OD.
I have talked to our local Ford service and one said that it might possibly be from the torque converter. Could something have gone wrong during this cold winter(in east Alabama we were below zero) since the van had never been exposed to those temperatures before, plus not being driven during that time.
I spent 13 years as a Ford dealership mechanic before going into the ministry and have never experienced anything like this and it seems to be a new one for the local Ford service department.
We have owned Econolines since 1982 and any help would be deeply appreciated. Thank you before hand.
I had been called as pastor to a new church 155 miles away and the van was used every week, fully loaded and pulling our boat one week and a U-haul trailer another during the month of December. The engine ran flawlessly.
After this bitter cold winter in which I did not have to drive the vehicle, it began to throw the same two codes and ping hard on acceleration. I replaced the sensors again, corrected all vacuum leaks, replaced four more COP's and four injectors because they did not meet the resistance measurements. The reason for this extensive work was because I was experiencing a tremendous shuddering when the engine was trying to climb an incline. After all this work, there are no more codes showing, but the shudder is horrible. I am running without the cowl cover, so I can see the engine and it is not shaking as if it were an engine miss. The shudder has become more violent, like something is out of balance. The shudder is greatly reduced when I push the button and take it out of OD.
I have talked to our local Ford service and one said that it might possibly be from the torque converter. Could something have gone wrong during this cold winter(in east Alabama we were below zero) since the van had never been exposed to those temperatures before, plus not being driven during that time.
I spent 13 years as a Ford dealership mechanic before going into the ministry and have never experienced anything like this and it seems to be a new one for the local Ford service department.
We have owned Econolines since 1982 and any help would be deeply appreciated. Thank you before hand.
Those coils can check resistance just fine and still break down under load. If circumstances permit, best to replace all the coils. The codes of 171 and 174 are usually due to vacuum leaks, but can be caused by lean conditions also. If you know somebody with a scan tool that has Mode 6 capability it would show if there was actually an ign system breakdown and show which particular cylinders are involved. Also if possible try to get the fuel trim numbers and O2 sensor numbers . That info can be supplied for each bank and it helps a lot to see what is really happening.


