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Topic: Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story (Read 280 times) previous topic - next topic
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Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story
So, we left Michigan on Jan 21 to begin our two month trip wandering in Florida.  We were supposed to leave earlier that week but postponed while we waited for that winter storm ruckus in the southeast to pass.  The first night we stayed at a KOA in West Virginia and as we got on the freeway the next morning, the Check Engine Light came on.  I looked at the owners manual and it suggested it could be bad gas.  So I stopped to fill up and add a bottle of gas treatment and continued on.  The Check Engine Light stayed on until our next stop at a KOA in North Carolina (I filled the tank up again and added more gas treatment) and at our next stop at Huntington Beach Campground in South Carolina.  I searched this Forum for “Check Engine Light” and found out about P0 Fault Codes and failed Coils.  Oh great!  Our plan was to gamble and head to our next stop near Jacksonville and find a repair place.  A few miles down the road the Check Engine Light started flashing.  Oh S***. 

We headed back to the campground and searched for repair places nearby.  We found two Ford service places.  One couldn’t see us for a week and the other could see us the next day.  Now I’m stressed.  What’s this going to cost, how long, and what do we do about the string of camping reservations ahead?  I’m not medicated enough for this.

So the next morning we drove to the place - 7 miles - with the Check Engine Light flashing and my knuckles turning white.  They did a scan and found codes P0300, 302, 305, 307, and 316.  They advised replacing Coils 2 & 7 (they had shorted) and all new Spark Plugs - $1,200.  Minutes later after I was revived, I did some chanting and prayers and said OK.  They ordered the parts and said come back the next day.  I drove back to the campground.  Check Engine Light still flashing, knuckles white and now cramping.  We were able to get a campsite and had to adjust our reservation start date at our next destination. 

In the meantime, I called my neighbor back in Michigan who has a friend that is a senior engineer at Ford who did some research.  I found out that in June 2020, a Ford service place I had taken my MB to for a transmission issue had replaced Coils 1 & 2 under warranty.    I then remembered that I had mentioned to them that I sometimes felt some rough idling and hesitation going up hills.  But they never told me that they replaced the Coils.  At that time, our MB was 2-1/2 years old with 31,000 miles.  Hmmmmm.

So the next morning when I took our MB in, I told the service advisor about the previously replaced Coils and asked why Coil 2 has failed again after 14,000 miles and 1-1/2 years.  All he said was that he wouldn’t charge me for that Coil.  I went to the customer waiting area, sat and Bluetoothed some calming tunes (Enya) to my hearing aids. 

So, we are now at our next campground - Edisto Beach South Carolina.  I guess I don’t know what it is with the Ford V10 and failed Coils.  I guess I’ll need to do what others have done and buy some spares.  We had our 2002 MB for 15 years and 87,000 miles and never had a Check Engine Light or failed Coil.  We’ve had our 2017 for 4-1/2 years and 44,000 miles and have had four failed Coils.  And apparently, ten failed spark plugs.  But we do love our travels in out LD. 



Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
 
Re: Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story
Reply #1 –
Hi Glen;  At under 50,000 miles it would be nearly impossible to have 10 bad spark plugs, all in the same vehicle.
    Scotty Kilmer has a Youtube video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyvdWeyDHf4]            that covers this issue.  One cause could be a vacuum leak that makes the engine run lean, in your case around #2. Evidently the intake manifolds are plastic now, and can crack. Also vacuum lines could have been nibbled on. The rats around here prefer wiring to hoses, but you never know.
 Another cause is low fuel pressure. More likely to be a plugged up filter restricting pressure to the injectors, than a bad fuel pump. Fuel pressure is easy to measure. There is a test port there somewhere.  Going up a hill would use the most gas, and hesitation there would indicate a fuel delivery problem. It only takes one bad tankful to cause lasting problems. And third is a bad battery; good enough to start the engine, but not provide enough voltage to give a consistent spark on some coils. Rats in the wiring?
    Did you keep the old coils and plugs?  Always ask for those parts. Maybe I'm just a skeptic. I sold one of my cars so I'm down to seven right now. As a long time electronics technician I'd do an autopsy on the 'failed' coils.  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story
Reply #2 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
As a long time electronics technician I'd do an autopsy on the 'failed' coils.  RonB

Thanks Ron.  When we get back to Michigan, I plan on having an “autopsy” done.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story
Reply #3 –
Wanted to add my 2 cents worth....i worked for dealerships for almost 30 years...one certification i held was a warranty administrator ....in the front of your owners manual there is a 1 800 number for the zone office in your area of the usa. If you have issues that are prematurly happening on a low mileage vehicle and you are the original owner( and sometimes 2nd owner)...call and ask for assitance. All dealers have the ability to offer assistance to customers in this situation. If they say no call the 1800. Number and get a reference number and it will be looked into. Ford sells thousands of chassis to the rv industry and as customers using these vehicles less than the average car warrants an exception to warranty years/mileage limits. I recall in the past the coils being covered under the emission 8/80 warranty (coverage to whoever owns the vehicle) . Check your manual. If it is covered call the 1 800 number an exain you were traveling and needed imediate assistance at an independent dealer. Ask for assitance. They may ask for receipts and refund the amount. Also ask the zone if there are bullentins out on issues of coils going bad early. Esp if same coils over and over...could be they need to refer you to a dealer to see why this is happening. Also it is important to keep your records, invoices, repair orders for future recalls on issues finally deamed warranty issues. Having the receipt and being able to file a claim in the future. I issued many refunds in this situation. Never accept a.no from a dealer service advisor....warranty work Pays the advisor and tech less than customer pay...alot less. So they wont volunteer info so its up to you to ask to speak to the manager...then call the zone right and and let them know you are presently at the dealer and need assitance. There is tons of warranty assitance money given to all dealer for just such issues....I submitted alot of claims for customer assitance when warranty was out due to time but not by mileage. And some times out by both. Ask...it wont hurt....Hurt.... your warranty coverages...dust off the manual and crack open the most valuable info you have in the rv....most never open it....lots of info in there...like how things work and how to keep the vehicle maintained...also remember....do your maint by time not miles....those mileages are set for folks who drive 20 to 30k a year. Not rv owners
2017 Casita Spirit Deluxe
2016 Twin King 24ft
2017 Casita Independence Dlx
2004 Midbath 26.5
Re: Dreaded Check Engine Light - Long Story
Reply #4 –
Glenn, as a fellow MB owner of the same model year, I’m following your trials closely.  Best of luck and safe travels!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264