Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) February 11, 2024, 08:18:55 am Looking for mechanic recommendations that excel at diagnosing difficult engine issues, traveling to San Antonio for the eclipse, so ideally someone along the route (Denver to San Antonio to Omaha). This is a follow up to the unresolved check P030X engine codes (cylinder misfires) from Alaska last summer, on going since 24k miles for about 7k miles. Started out with just a few generic P0300 misfires (no cylinder mentioned), then P0302 (cylinder 2), followed by P0301, PO304, P0306, P0308, P0309 code.Currently get P0300 or a specific cylinder P030X codes every couple miles, both before and after the plug/coil replacement. Engine does not run rough, plenty of power, fuel efficiency is where it’s always been, drives fine. This issue has stumped several mechanics in Alaska and a Ford dealer in Calgary.It doesn’t affect day to day driving, but I completely ignore the codes at this point, using my OBD-II scanner every day or two, so I’d like to get this resolved before heading up to Newfoundland.Things done in Alaska in an attempt to address: Dirty air filter replaced Copious amounts of Seafoam to make sure it’s not bad fuel Replaced MAF sensor Replaced all plugs and coils (at 27.5k miles)ThanksDave
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #1 – February 11, 2024, 12:19:10 pm With the cylinder misfire coming from both sides of the engine, I would suspect that it is caused by an electrical problem that affects all the cylinders. There are two or three large electrical plugs under the hood with bolts through them, try tightening them along with the computer's plug, it is located on the driver's side on the firewall. The computer directly controls the coils and the injectors, problems with either system can cause misfires. My money is on a wiring issue or a bad computer.https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157712133464272/Two summers ago, our LD had an unresolved misfire, one you could hear and feel but didn't always throw a code. Many parts were replaced during my attempt to eliminate them. It resolved itself when one of the misfiring cylinder's valve guides fell out, bending the valve before the valve guide shattered, throwing metal through the engine and destroying the piston. A large piece of the guide was found at the bottom of the intake manifold. The only good part was the engine destroying itself at home in the driveway instead of being several hundred miles away as we had been the day before. This type of problem is almost impossible to diagnose, none of my mechanic friends had ever heard of such a problem nor had I.Four months and $14,000 later, a Jasper remanufactured engine cured the problem. 15,000 miles later, all is still well.I hope your problem is something simpler.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #2 – February 11, 2024, 02:02:12 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 11, 2024, 12:19:10 pmWith the cylinder misfire coming from both sides of the engine, I would suspect that it is caused by an electrical problem that affects all the cylinders. There are two or three large electrical plugs under the hood with bolts through them, try tightening them along with the computer's plug, it is located on the driver's side on the firewall. The computer directly controls the coils and the injectors, problems with either system can cause misfires. My money is on a wiring issue or a bad computer.https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157712133464272/Thanks for the suggestion Larry. Your Flickr link doesn’t work.
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #3 – February 11, 2024, 04:35:36 pm Quote from: Dave Katleman - February 11, 2024, 02:02:12 pmThanks for the suggestion Larry. Your Flickr link doesn’t work.Works for me using an iPad.
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #4 – February 11, 2024, 06:06:51 pm Quote from: Larry W - February 11, 2024, 12:19:10 pm"Four months and $14,000 later, a Jasper remanufactured engine cured the problem. 15,000 miles later, all is still well.I hope your problem is something simpler."Hey Larry, I just read this post and if memory is correct, you had replaced your original engine when you had a sparkplug problem. Am I correct to think you are now on your 3rd engine?!Steve K
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #5 – February 11, 2024, 10:21:22 pm Quote from: HiLola - February 11, 2024, 04:35:36 pmWorks for me using an iPad.Works for me now too.
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #6 – February 12, 2024, 01:05:25 pm "...so ideally someone along the route (Denver to San Antonio to Omaha)."Should your travels take you anywhere near Albuquerque I highly recommend Statkus Engines in that city. Home - Statkus Engines - Albuquerque, New Mexico 1 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #7 – February 13, 2024, 10:29:45 am Quote from: Lazy Bones - February 12, 2024, 01:05:25 pm"...so ideally someone along the route (Denver to San Antonio to Omaha)."Should your travels take you anywhere near Albuquerque I highly recommend Statkus Engines in that city. Home - Statkus Engines - Albuquerque, New MexicoThanks Steve, will do if I can add Albuquerque to the route. 1 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #8 – February 13, 2024, 03:11:23 pm Hey Larry, I just read this post and if memory is correct, you had replaced your original engine when you had a sparkplug problem. Am I correct to think you are now on your 3rd engine?Steve KYes, it is. The Factory engine blew out a spark plug at 95,000 miles (yes, the plugs had been changed earlier and torqued to the new, higher specification) and in the process, damaged the cylinder, requiring a new engine.The engine was replaced at Ford with a "Ford Certified Rebuilt" engine. It lasted five years and 35,000 miles before falling apart. Investigating deeper, I found the heads were not matched, resulting in lower compression on one side of the engine. Instead of well-manufactured rebuilt, it was assembled using non-matching parts..a piece of junk. I assumed with a 36-month/100,000-mile warranty that it was a quality piece. I was so wrong...education isn't cheap. Ford rebuilds are not to be trusted.Talking with several mechanics around the area and those I know, Jasper was the preferred rebuilder, not cheap but remanufactured in a real factory with dozens of the same engine done at the same time in batches Jasper pre-ran the engine and did the initial breaking on a dynamometer. So no start-up surprises.No issues with the new engine in 15,000 miles. Doesn't burn oil either, unlike the previous two engines.Larry 4 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #9 – February 13, 2024, 04:45:50 pm Thanks for the candid reply Larry. Sorry you have had those problems. I have followed your maintenance posts and learned much from you over the years.My 2003 Lazy Daze has the improved head design. I had the 1st set of sparkplugs replaced a bit earlier than needed but concerns about plugs blowing out made it seem wise to do early. The Ford dealer was well aware of the issue and issues with the 3 valve per cylinder engines too. $14,000 for an engine would be a difficult decision for me.Steve K
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #10 – February 13, 2024, 06:40:03 pm Quote from: Steve K. - February 13, 2024, 04:45:50 pmMy 2003 Lazy Daze has the improved head design. I had the 1st set of sparkplugs replaced a bit earlier than needed but concerns about plugs blowing out made it seem wise to do early. The Ford dealer was well aware of the issue and issues with the 3 valve per cylinder engines too. $14,000 for an engine would be a difficult decision for me.Yes, it was a lot of money but the most included replacing almost everything on the engine, coils, injectors, water pump, hoses, idlers, etc. A motorhome with a blown engine isn't worth much and we plan on keeping the LD until the wheels fall off or we hang the keys up. Blown spark plugs are not a problem in remanufactured V10s, the spark plug threads are bored out and steel inserts are installed. Larry 2 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #11 – March 06, 2024, 12:34:50 pm Update:Going with Steve’s recommendation of Statkus Engines in Albuquerque (on April 1st), since it’s further south than Denver, being a bit warmer is worth the slight detour. Will provide another update in early April.Thanks to everyone with their input! 2 Likes
Re: Mechanic recommendations (Denver/San Antonio/Omaha) Reply #12 – April 02, 2024, 05:04:19 pm Update from Albuquerque.Very happy with the thoroughness and communication from Statkus Engines, they tested the heck out of the RV: Verified engine wiring was sound, nothing suspicious. Compression was 150 on all cylinders Fuel pressure is fine Swapped the coilovers aroundEngine runs just fine, no performance impact, the P030x codes are thrown at any time, cold start up, after it’s been running, load going up hill’s doesn’t matter.But still no identifiable cause for the frequent misfire codes. I could tell they aren’t used to being stumped in diagnosing issues like this.Have two more opportunities to have the RV looked at, San Antonio and Omaha, just need to find decent mechanics in each place. 1 Likes