The "Ask a Mechanic" Thread (merged)

[SpringfieldSkins]

I'd offer you some more help right now but I've got to shower before me and Mondizz take off for the Outer Banks for the weekend. It's a long drive ahead of us. I needed to get my ES fix.

[SpringfieldSkins]

is it hurting my engine badly? like i said I can replace it in about a week but I dont want to hurt the truck either.

A week probably won't make a huge difference at all. Every case is different though. It's hard for me to say.

I was looking up prices for oxygen sensors for your truck last night. I forgot to mention, they are remarkably cheap. Something like 30-50 bucks should cover the cost of the part.


Good luck with it.

[BigMike619]

thanks man and have a good weekend with mondizzle

[MikeSellers45]

Wanna bet?...I think my idiot dog likes the shock.

I do use GFI breakers though.
..

Big mike ,you can remove the tailgate,increase tire pressure to the max,and eliminate any excess weight,but changing the way you drive will probably result in the biggest change you can effect.
Look up hypermiling if you want extremes.

I thought I heard that trucks are designed to get better gas mileage with the tailgate up. But I guess if you take it off it makes the truck that much lighter.

[BigMike619]

I have a tonga cover for the truck so there is no drag there. i will do the tire pressure thing for sure though...

[HighOnHendrix]

I thought I heard that trucks are designed to get better gas mileage with the tailgate up. But I guess if you take it off it makes the truck that much lighter.

Yeah, that was on Myth Busters. One of those semi-crazy things that seems to go against common sense or at least conventional wisdom until you realize what's actually going on with all that pesky invisible air.

[Leonard Washington]

An update on my car situation...I took it to a major auto repair facility. They did their analysis and concluded that one of my wheel bearings was bad. However while they were attempting to separate the hub to get to the bearings, they broke my steering knuckle. They claim it is a dealer only part and now my car has to sit in their shop until they can locate it.

[SpringfieldSkins]

An update on my car situation...I took it to a major auto repair facility. They did their analysis and concluded that one of my wheel bearings was bad. However while they were attempting to separate the hub to get to the bearings, they broke my steering knuckle. They claim it is a dealer only part and now my car has to sit in their shop until they can locate it.

What kind of car was it again?

Also, it isn't unheard of for the bearing to wear into the steering knuckle or become frozen on the steering knuckle. If they admit that they broke it by accident, then that is good, at least they are being honest with you. It sucks that it happened but at least they didn't try and "take you on a ride".

It's very common for Ford Explorers to need knuckles, hubs and bearings when the bearings go bad. They become almost impossible to separate and often break the knuckles when trying to do so. Like I said, very common.

[Park City Skins]

What the hell. None of the mechanics here can figure this one out. At about 2200 to 2700 rpms,(no matter what gear),there is a stutter...a hesitation if you will in the engine. Nothing horrible. No lights come on and the truck keeps moving. Hasn't gotten worse. Happens somewhat regularly. Now while the truck is in 4 wheel drive,(last used that back in April),there is a very noticeable shake. Whole truck seems to just shake once and then keeps on going. I've been told O2 sensor,misfire in #5 cylinder,(Ford Ranger V6. Biggest V6 available for this model),4wheel drive,hell even a problem with the cruise control,(which I don't use all that often). Weird.

[da#1skinsfan]

What the hell. None of the mechanics here can figure this one out. At about 2200 to 2700 rpms,(no matter what gear),there is a stutter...a hesitation if you will in the engine. Nothing horrible. No lights come on and the truck keeps moving. Hasn't gotten worse. Happens somewhat regularly. Now while the truck is in 4 wheel drive,(last used that back in April),there is a very noticeable shake. Whole truck seems to just shake once and then keeps on going. I've been told O2 sensor,misfire in #5 cylinder,(Ford Ranger V6. Biggest V6 available for this model),4wheel drive,hell even a problem with the cruise control,(which I don't use all that often). Weird.

Is it throwing a CEL?

What kind of car, year, etc.

[Park City Skins]

2001 Ford Range2 XT. V6 4...er....something big ass liter engine. If that means what I think it means,nope.

[twa]

PCS, had a dodge truck that did that at about 3500rpms...changed the plug wires and it quit.

Doesn't make a lot of sense though.

[Park City Skins]

PCS, had a dodge truck that did that at about 3500rpms...changed the plug wires and it quit.

Doesn't make a lot of sense though.

Yeah. I took it in to the dealership and they hooked it up and said that #5 cylinder had a history of misfiring. Interesting since the truck has about 75,000 on it and those things should last until about 100,000. That and a few others are saying "Now wait a minute." Thought about just changing the wires and plugs myself,but before I go out and spend a bunch of money,I want to be sure what it is.

[SpringfieldSkins]

What the hell. None of the mechanics here can figure this one out. At about 2200 to 2700 rpms,(no matter what gear),there is a stutter...a hesitation if you will in the engine. Nothing horrible. No lights come on and the truck keeps moving. Hasn't gotten worse. Happens somewhat regularly.

I'd look at the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system for the source of this problem. If you don't have a check engine light stating that there is a problem with the EGR system, it could possibly be a build up of carbon in the passages.

Now while the truck is in 4 wheel drive,(last used that back in April),there is a very noticeable shake. Whole truck seems to just shake once and then keeps on going. I've been told O2 sensor,misfire in #5 cylinder,(Ford Ranger V6. Biggest V6 available for this model),4wheel drive,hell even a problem with the cruise control,(which I don't use all that often). Weird.

If this problem only happens in 4WD, I'd look to the front differential or transfer case first. I'd change the fluid on both of those units. If it only happens in 4WD, it sounds to me like some sort of driveline chatter. Make sure that the correct fluids are used in both units when they are refilled.

Could be a spark plug issue as well. It could be many things. I'd start with the obvious first though. You may want to check and make sure you have the same brand and model of tires as well. Tires with differing tread designs can cause an issue on 4WD vehicles.



I'm assuming that you have two different problems as I split them up above. Just making sure.

[SpringfieldSkins]

Yeah. I took it in to the dealership and they hooked it up and said that #5 cylinder had a history of misfiring. Interesting since the truck has about 75,000 on it and those things should last until about 100,000. That and a few others are saying "Now wait a minute." Thought about just changing the wires and plugs myself,but before I go out and spend a bunch of money,I want to be sure what it is.

Not so fast... the spark plugs are platinum tipped, yes. However, I see many, many times where platinum tipped spark plugs don't last until 100K as advertised. There are a number of things from dirty air filter to short trip driving to heavy carbon build up that can cause platinum tipped spark plugs to have a shortened life. I'd have to say that most platinum plugs don't last up to 100K.