- Joined
- Aug 4, 2023
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 11
- Location
- Covington, LA
- What engine do you have?
- V6 engine
- What year is your Sport Trac?
- 2003
- What Generation is your Sport Trac?
- 1st Gen Owner
Hi Guys!
I need to describe this Scrabble game that has me by the short hairs. I ask your indulgence while I lay this out as best I can. It's long and I have spend a bit of time looking through the forums/threads for any ideas. I've found pieces-parts. But nothing that hit the nail. So...
2003 Sport Trac 4x4 XLT 4.0L V6. Guilty of over-mileage oil changes. 247K miles.
About 4 months ago my starter began acting up. The hammer trick would only work for a short time and physically, I have trouble doing it. A friend's daughter dates/works with a guy that volunteered to change the starter for nothing. I supplied the starter. He had a rack, so I let him at it. Watched him work. He became more and more frustrated as he couldn't get the starter out. When I saw the cutting torch, I got a little nervous. There is a part that I can only describe as an "torque restrictor" mounted near the transfer case. Described as not needed, it was cut off the frame. (I still have it).
So he put it all back together with the new starter and we went off down the road. (You might be asking, "What does the bracket have to do with anything?" Keep reading)
About two weeks later, girlfriend was rolling down I-12 and, as described by her, started running rough and soon just killed. I went to meet the skid truck and had it towed to my house. I couldn't get it to start. So, after a deep breath, and I tried again to start it. It took a second and some serious pedal pumping. But it started. Idling was rough. But as I gave it a bit more gas, it smoothed out a TINY bit, to where I could pull it in the carport to work on it. I bought a new coil pack, and set of plugs and wires. My first thoughts were timing chain. But with starting, I thought that I'd begin with ignition. I put the battery on the charger, to be safe.
These engines are not easy to change the spark plugs. I started replacing the plugs first. Every one of the six plugs came out with the center electrode looking like piranha teeth - short and pointed. No oil on them. So I set gap at .54 and put new ones in.
Then the coil pack and finally the wires. I noticed that the battery was losing voltage. Cleaned the posts and it seemed to calm down. It is jacked un and on stands now so I can slide under with the creeper and check the wiring to make sure that during the excision of my frame parts that a wire wasn't burned. *To note - When I looked the truck over the next morning after the tow, there was a wire and electrical plug hanging down from the transmission area. Plus I have no clue as to whether or not this guy cut or burned a wire underneath. Could/would a dead short cause any of this? (I should get credit for one stupid question)
Before I get too far, I could not get it to throw a code.
After dumb mistakes concerning the cylinder banks and plug wire identification, I put the key in and started it. No change at all. Will run. With protests and still what feels like a dead miss. Starts and runs with help. Meaning if I let it go to idle, it kills. Shift into reverse, kills. Still won't throw a code.
I figured that if it was the timing chain, a LKQ/Used engine would work. To get a Jasper or other reman runs close to $5k. I found one for $1495 with 81K miles, 5 year warranty and free shipping to repair shop.
So here I stand. I don't know where to go at this point. No way can I do the timing chain(s) thing. Too old and too broken - Me, not the ST. Lol. Shops laugh at doing timing chain job. (I actually don't blame them) I'm looking for some learned opinions. I do have another coil pack and I was going to swap that. But after a crank sensor busted my butt, I had no idea where to start with this. I really do love my truck. But that damn line between wallet and physical pain...
Thank you in advance for reading.
Jes S.
I need to describe this Scrabble game that has me by the short hairs. I ask your indulgence while I lay this out as best I can. It's long and I have spend a bit of time looking through the forums/threads for any ideas. I've found pieces-parts. But nothing that hit the nail. So...
2003 Sport Trac 4x4 XLT 4.0L V6. Guilty of over-mileage oil changes. 247K miles.
About 4 months ago my starter began acting up. The hammer trick would only work for a short time and physically, I have trouble doing it. A friend's daughter dates/works with a guy that volunteered to change the starter for nothing. I supplied the starter. He had a rack, so I let him at it. Watched him work. He became more and more frustrated as he couldn't get the starter out. When I saw the cutting torch, I got a little nervous. There is a part that I can only describe as an "torque restrictor" mounted near the transfer case. Described as not needed, it was cut off the frame. (I still have it).
So he put it all back together with the new starter and we went off down the road. (You might be asking, "What does the bracket have to do with anything?" Keep reading)
About two weeks later, girlfriend was rolling down I-12 and, as described by her, started running rough and soon just killed. I went to meet the skid truck and had it towed to my house. I couldn't get it to start. So, after a deep breath, and I tried again to start it. It took a second and some serious pedal pumping. But it started. Idling was rough. But as I gave it a bit more gas, it smoothed out a TINY bit, to where I could pull it in the carport to work on it. I bought a new coil pack, and set of plugs and wires. My first thoughts were timing chain. But with starting, I thought that I'd begin with ignition. I put the battery on the charger, to be safe.
These engines are not easy to change the spark plugs. I started replacing the plugs first. Every one of the six plugs came out with the center electrode looking like piranha teeth - short and pointed. No oil on them. So I set gap at .54 and put new ones in.
Then the coil pack and finally the wires. I noticed that the battery was losing voltage. Cleaned the posts and it seemed to calm down. It is jacked un and on stands now so I can slide under with the creeper and check the wiring to make sure that during the excision of my frame parts that a wire wasn't burned. *To note - When I looked the truck over the next morning after the tow, there was a wire and electrical plug hanging down from the transmission area. Plus I have no clue as to whether or not this guy cut or burned a wire underneath. Could/would a dead short cause any of this? (I should get credit for one stupid question)
Before I get too far, I could not get it to throw a code.
After dumb mistakes concerning the cylinder banks and plug wire identification, I put the key in and started it. No change at all. Will run. With protests and still what feels like a dead miss. Starts and runs with help. Meaning if I let it go to idle, it kills. Shift into reverse, kills. Still won't throw a code.
I figured that if it was the timing chain, a LKQ/Used engine would work. To get a Jasper or other reman runs close to $5k. I found one for $1495 with 81K miles, 5 year warranty and free shipping to repair shop.
So here I stand. I don't know where to go at this point. No way can I do the timing chain(s) thing. Too old and too broken - Me, not the ST. Lol. Shops laugh at doing timing chain job. (I actually don't blame them) I'm looking for some learned opinions. I do have another coil pack and I was going to swap that. But after a crank sensor busted my butt, I had no idea where to start with this. I really do love my truck. But that damn line between wallet and physical pain...
Thank you in advance for reading.
Jes S.
