[black07cs]

Hey all -

I've had my GT/CS since Feb (had a diff one for 6 months before that) and it has been in the shop at least 6 times for running like crap for lack of a better technical term. It has thrown codes for random misfire and gone into limp mode with major sparkknock from day one - much worse with a Brenspeed tune in it. I figure that is because the aggressive nature of the tune highlights the factory flaw. Does the same but not as bad with a Bama tune in it for some reason.

Hesitation on the bottom end - almost feels like a powerband in a 2 stroke, not much then hits and ran hard to redline.

About a month or two after the coil packs were replaced it started knocking and banging so loud I thought it was the tranny at first (noise coming forward of driver seat) and I would lose some power from 4k to 6k at WOT. You could hear it outside the car it was so loud. My neighbor thought maybe it was an exhaust valve or something. Also had major surging like I was pedaling it back and forth when in 1st or 2nd at a constant slow speed in a parking lot.

No engine lights with the banging sound or surging.

I have been tempted to just trade it in but I love the car when it runs well 3 days out of the month. I keep waiting for the dealership to find the issue so I know it is good to go before put a turbo or S/C it.

From the last couple of times here is what the dealership has had to do:

Replace a cracked plug
Replaced 4 Coil packs
Replaced all spark plugs today as the "Power Balance Test" - whatever that is showed abnormal patterns on cylinders 1 & 6 and showed reddish tint on the plugs. They then pulled all plugs and they all had reddish tint??? Black yes, brown ok, but Red??

Just to recap it has issues with a Brenspeed and Bama tune, less noticeable stock but still there. I don't think it is their tunes at all by the way. They dyno'd @ 296RWHP and 306 lbs of torque. Was rich though.

I just picked it up tonight so I haven't had the issues yet, but my ultimate test is to drop the brenspeed tune in and go run it for awhile to see if the problem is still there. Any thoughts???

[TheUNZippee!]

I'm not a tech, but from what you've described here and what they have replaced, it sounds to me like the PCM is screwed up.

[black07cs]

you know that is what I saw on some forums months ago and what the service advisor and tech thought intially, but the Ford techline won't authorize that until they try a million tests and smaller $$ items. Really they just want to wear me down so I settle for it like I have for the last few months so they don't have to replace. It is very frustrating.

[TheUNZippee!]

That sucks. I hate when they act like that. I guess you may have to get stiff with them if they keep playing you around like that.

Have they tried to tell you that your after market tunes have anything to do with it?

[black07cs]

No. I yank the C&L CAI and flash back to stock before going in. I think I have that down to about 5 mins and that is taking my time.... I leave the UDP's on as they are a pain. I did have one dealer hassle me for those but they can't blame the UDP's for this.

[C MY 4D]

Originally Posted by black07cs Hey all - I've had my GT/CS since Feb (had a diff one for 6 months before that) and it has been in the shop at least 6 times for running like crap for lack of a better technical term. It has thrown codes for random misfire and gone into limp mode with major sparkknock from day one - much worse with a Brenspeed tune in it. I figure that is because the aggressive nature of the tune highlights the factory flaw. Does the same but not as bad with a Bama tune in it for some reason. Hesitation on the bottom end - almost feels like a powerband in a 2 stroke, not much then hits and ran hard to redline. About a month or two after the coil packs were replaced it started knocking and banging so loud I thought it was the tranny at first (noise coming forward of driver seat) and I would lose some power from 4k to 6k at WOT. You could hear it outside the car it was so loud. My neighbor thought maybe it was an exhaust valve or something. Also had major surging like I was pedaling it back and forth when in 1st or 2nd at a constant slow speed in a parking lot. No engine lights with the banging sound or surging. I have been tempted to just trade it in but I love the car when it runs well 3 days out of the month. I keep waiting for the dealership to find the issue so I know it is good to go before put a turbo or S/C it. From the last couple of times here is what the dealership has had to do: Replace a cracked plug Replaced 4 Coil packs Replaced all spark plugs today as the "Power Balance Test" - whatever that is showed abnormal patterns on cylinders 1 & 6 and showed reddish tint on the plugs. They then pulled all plugs and they all had reddish tint??? Black yes, brown ok, but Red?? Just to recap it has issues with a Brenspeed and Bama tune, less noticeable stock but still there. I don't think it is their tunes at all by the way. They dyno'd @ 296RWHP and 306 lbs of torque. Was rich though. I just picked it up tonight so I haven't had the issues yet, but my ultimate test is to drop the brenspeed tune in and go run it for awhile to see if the problem is still there. Any thoughts???

What gas are you running? Where are you getting gas? Whats the ethanol rating? What other mods have you done?

[black07cs]

93 Octane from various Shell, Exxon, or BP stations. I drive quite a bit and it has happened from various areas as well.

93 octane tune w/C&L CAI
UDP's
Ford Racing Stingers (Borla's)
Tokico Dspecs and Steeda Ultralights

[TheUNZippee!]

Originally Posted by black07cs No. I yank the C&L CAI and flash back to stock before going in. I think I have that down to about 5 mins and that is taking my time.... I leave the UDP's on as they are a pain. I did have one dealer hassle me for those but they can't blame the UDP's for this.

I see. Well it sounds to me like you're going to have to take the car in to them, ask for the service manager, and say something along the lines of "Look. I understand this problem has been difficult for you guys to find. And I appreciate the work you have done so far in trying to correct it. But I am now going to leave this car with you guys, and you will fix it so that it works perfectly, even if that includes having to replace the PCM. Or else I'm going to have to start climbing the food chains....first here at this dealer, and then at Ford. Fix my car."

[C MY 4D]

Originally Posted by black07cs 93 Octane from various Shell, Exxon, or BP stations. I drive quite a bit and it has happened from various areas as well. 93 octane tune w/C&L CAI UDP's Ford Racing Stingers (Borla's) Tokico Dspecs and Steeda Ultralights

What tuner are you using..... can you datalog?

[black07cs]

Yeah I guess. I just wanted this one to work. This is actually a replacement for a Ford buy back! I dealt with the regional Ford service guy on that one. They never painted the inside of my hood. I test drove a GT and last minute went with a CS that had a bad paint problem on the inside. Many of the black ones had this problem at the dealership.

I am compiling my records now to call him next week..

[black07cs]

SCT and I have done the data log before. They hooked one up at the dealership today. It is not a consistent problem and gets worse after about a month after the new plugs or coil packs.

[C MY 4D]

Originally Posted by black07cs SCT and I have done the data log before. They hooked one up at the dealership today. It is not a consistent problem and gets worse after about a month after the new plugs or coil packs.

I have a feeling the plugs are being burnt due to detonation. The detonation can be caused by a sensor reading nuts, the tune is jacked up or you're getting shitty gas from somewhere. What will help is if you can make a datalog when it is doing it....? then upload it onto the site.

[Lariat Trucker]

I would go in a different direction on this. If the factory ECM was screwed the SCT would have had issues when it validated the stock strategy. When you blank the ECM before loading a tune most tuners will throw an error. I am thinking it is a fuel delivery issue. I would run a fuel pressure guage on the rail and look at what it says when the problems occur. If the "run rough" occurs across the RPM gain and the plugs are burning up a fuel lean problem makes more sense. I think there was a TSB about the fuel pump sock being restricted.

[black07cs]

I have had intermittent issues with the SCT - it has blown 3 dash fuses and failed a couple of times when trying to flash or return to stock.

[Lariat Trucker]

The only dash fuse that could be affected by the SCT is the cigarette lighter fuse. That is the same circuit feed for the OBD II system. That normally happens when something is plugged into the cigarette lighter like a phone charger or radar detector. If you have a XCAL or XCal2 you need to give the tuner time to function because of the lower memory capacity.

[OC_GT]

My 2 cents...do NOT use BP gas. It is the cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to kill a motor regardless of the octane.

[Grabber523]

Originally Posted by OC_GT My 2 cents...do NOT use BP gas. It is the cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to kill a motor regardless of the octane.

Wow...the only GOOD gas in this area comes from BP... I had a similar problem in my 350Z, and it was just bad premium from podunk gas stations (everybody drives Chevy pickups here, not a lot of turnover on premium). Drained the fuel, filled at BP, never had the problem again.

[IronStomach]

Originally Posted by Grabber523 Wow...the only GOOD gas in this area comes from BP... I had a similar problem in my 350Z, and it was just bad premium from podunk gas stations (everybody drives Chevy pickups here, not a lot of turnover on premium). Drained the fuel, filled at BP, never had the problem again.

Yeah around here it's either Shell, BP or Citgo and BP has always been the better quality. Sometimes the local Shell station has off fuel.

Granted I don't know of anyplace that stocks 93 either... it's 91, 89 or 87. Though 100 octane AVgas can be had down the road I don't feel like testing the heat threshold of the engine internals.

[catchtheroadrunner]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! I see. Well it sounds to me like you're going to have to take the car in to them, ask for the service manager, and say something along the lines of "Look. I understand this problem has been difficult for you guys to find. And I appreciate the work you have done so far in trying to correct it. But I am now going to leave this car with you guys, and you will fix it so that it works perfectly, even if that includes having to replace the PCM. Or else I'm going to have to start climbing the food chains....first here at this dealer, and then at Ford. Fix my car."

I had my car in 4 times in 4 months when I got it. I emailed Ford and they jumped right on it. Within a week both the dealer and the mothership were calling to see what could be done. I wanted the the failed work redone at a shop of my choice and for the dealer to pay for it. The dealer refused. The Ford mothership agreed to pay for it, but wouldn't allow me the pleasure of having the money extracted from the dealer's budget.

[Lariat Trucker]

I use Exxon or Shell we are lucky not to have very many BP (Bad as Piss) down here. We made a trip to Ohio in my 2002 and got a tank of that crap up there. Mileage dropped 3mpg and the car ran like sh*t.