3L swap problems...

[Nafunu32]

First off, my 2.5L had a lot of problems. One problem that stood out was cylinder 2 misfire. It stands out because my new 3L that blackcoog built for me is also misfiring. I have a feeling there is a problem with the actual car. I replaced the coil pack so I know its not that. Injectors came with the new motor, as did new plugs. Does anyone know what would cause the cylinder 2 misfire? Also, since the 3L swap, my transmission gear light keeps flashing as does O/D on/off. The car also idles high, and then low while in any gear. If I leave the car in drive for a few minutes with my foot on the brake and then start to take off it bogs down and almost dies. (example: taco bell drive through) I am lost and need some help. This car frustrates me like no other.

[Topik]

who put the engine in? did blackcoog just build it?

[Nafunu32]

My uncle put it in. He has a 2 bay shop with a lift and all the tools.

[Nafunu32]

Why would the transmission cause rough idle and misfire? ;)

[RodneyBur]

posting your stats might help.

Did you ever get it tuned??

what all was done to the 3L?

IIRC it was a straight 3L with a mail order tune form ADC?

[Nafunu32]

By the way, i'm not getting any CELs during this whole process.

[Nafunu32]

Just an ACT chip mail order. Just a stock 3L swap, taurus intake and escape block. It used to throw a cylinder #2 misfire and I called a dyno shop and they said they couldn't tune it with the CEL on.

[RodneyBur]

If you had the PRP I would say get some datalogging and see if warmonger can help you fiugre out the tune situation to rule that out. Maybe buddy up with someone close to you who has the SCT flash to get some datalogs.

Its kinda odd its only misfiring on cylinder two. How bad is the misfire? Can you get a vid?

[Nafunu32]

A vid of it revving or what? Thats another problem I have, no one in my area is familiar with a cougar, much less a 3L swap. Anyone without a few hours of Texas/Ark border mind workin on it and getting it running right? Just name a price please... I didn't spend so much money on this car and motor just to have it running like this.

[RodneyBur]

It's kinda odd no CELS are coming up. If it was misfiring then the engine light starts flashing, usally. Is it an occasional misfire? How do you know it is just cylinder two?

Unplug that plug wire from the spark plug and see if it is still causing a misfire.

If a misfire is still around after an engine swap then it sounds like a sensor, or ECU problem is lingering. Some of the things I would try and do would:

Check timing with timing light...especially on bad cylinder.
Check signal to injectors.
Switch sensors you pulled off your other engine, especially timing sensors.
Switch MAFs..pick one up from a junkyard.
Switch ECU's..again pick one up from the junkyard.

First get a haynes repair manual and a Ford repair CD and see what they say about it.

If you talk to any mechanics about it dont mention the engine swap. It just confuses them. If you do just tell them it follows the 2.5 specs completely.


Most importantly check into getting a good tune. This would probably entail either buying the flash or if you want to stay with the chip upgrade to PRP. Most important thing is to be able to datalog and get into the tuning forum and talk to the people who know what they are doing. Warmonger can give you a good tune that you can rely on not having any issues.

[Nafunu32]

It used to have CEL flashing all the time it seemed like. Then it set up for 6 months with hardly any driving, and now it doesn't come on. Been driving it for 2 days. Prolly just haven't given it enough time yet.

[Nafunu32]

Also, with my SCT chip, if I grab another ECU, will I have to get the chip reflashed? Is it worth it for me to just fork over the money for an SCT programmer?

[RodneyBur]

the chip will drop right on in a new ECU if it is the same code as the last one. You have to get the same code anyway so your fuel system and other options match up correctly. You can't interchange different coded ECU's unless you are doing it for a reason and know why you are doing it. The ECU code is on the ECU and its located under the driver side dash. There is plenty more info on the ECUs in the forums.

Go you have you car checked for CELs anyway. Maybe one is stored and the light isn't coming on. They will check for free at most parts stores.

As far as having the tune checked, it maybe worth it and you can probably just pull the chip out and take it down by itself. I'd call first though to see what they can do for you.

If I was messing with my tune, which I plan on doing later, I'd get the PRP from SCT. It allows you to datalog and read codes in the ECU.

Datalogging takes readings of the way the engine is functioning. It allows an experienced programmer, not me, to decide what changes need to be made to get the car running correctly.

If you had a datalogg some people on here could help you get the tune straigthened out, again not me.

[Rikenbomb]

Just an ACT chip mail order. Just a stock 3L swap, taurus intake and escape block. It used to throw a cylinder #2 misfire and I called a dyno shop and they said they couldn't tune it with the CEL on.

There in lies one of your problems. An ACT mail order chip isn't going to work properly. I know. Dan G and I had to deal with several burnt chips. I'd recommend going to a reputable dyno to get it tuned.

Also get your Transaxle looked into. Do you have a transmission cooler installed for it?

[Nafunu32]

Yes, the tranny has like 120k miles on it, and I don't think the previous owner ever flushed it. I've noticed that when I punch it from a stop the car will hang as its trying to shift. Prolly need a tranny rebuild soon. Just wanna get the motor fixed first. I'll check on getting a PRP. It as simple as plugging it in, recording the codes, posting the codes, and getting it fixed?

[RodneyBur]

ummm... maybe a little more than that.

Plugging it in.
Datalogging
Sending datalog to good tuner...see "tuning" forum here or CEG
Get tune fixed from new tuner
burn tune on chip

datalog some more and check to make sure everything ok. It will probably take a while to figure it out if you don't know what your doing. By what I saw datalogging only takes a few miles of driving, but you might need a laptop.

Start a post in the tuning forum and see if someone can help you out with tuning.

[Nafunu32]

About how much is the PRP? (pro racer package right?)

[RodneyBur]

I'm not really sure. I think it is 3-4 hundred to add it on. You'll have to call around. There was someone on CEG that had a dealer liscense to sell SCT products and gives good prices.

http://www.sctflash.com/index.php

[skater]

Tell us about your spark plug wires - type, age, etc...

[Blackcoog]

I've had quite a few people run into issues with the injector clips which cause this issue. Make sure all of your injectors are plugged in. The newer style injector (oval connector) seem to break fairly easy on removal. If that's the case they may not be making contact with the injector. Without some injectors firing you would have this issue. You can verify all of them are firing by placing some paper towels in each port after you remove the upper intake manifold. Unplug the coil plack to keep it from starting and then crank it for a second or two. Check the paper in each port to make sure there is fuel on it.

[Nafunu32]

Alright, an update. So Blackcoog sent me new plugs with the motor, and I had just put wires on the car before putting the 3L in. The wires had MAYBE 50 miles on them. Well, I drove the car for a while and it was still messing up. Some one suggested Coil pack, I eventually got one. The car drove perfect for about 10 miles. I killed it at a car wash and cleaned it up. Started it up and it missed fired from then on. Today I bought new plugs and wires. Fired it up and its running better than ever before. Prolly just put about 15 miles on it running up and down the interstate and down a street with a few traffic lights. Hopefully when I start it tomorrow on my way to work it will run great.

Something I did notice... When I pulled the UIM off to get to my plugs and coil pack I noticed 5 of the slots had a fluid around them, and one was bone dry. Would this be gasket related or what? One of the gaskets fell off (one of the wet ones) and since I live about 2 miles from Oreilly's I called'em up and got some new gaskets for it while it was off. The dry one was the middle cylinder closest to the front end of the car.

[skater]

What kind of wires were they? The Ford Racing wires have seemed to be at the root of a number of people's problems - even DanG, who used to swear by them, has now sworn off them in favor of the stock wires.

It's also possible one of the plugs was bad. It does happen - a friend's new car died on the way to work one day because of one.

[Nafunu32]

regular wires from oreillys.