99 windstar running rough and tapping noise in engine

chewee · 05-17-2008, 05:53 PM

my mechanic said code said miss fire. changed plug and wires, fuel filter, air filter. a code for ect sensor also showed up but the mechanic said this would not cause a tap in motor. doesnt have time to get in it for last week because hes thinking its a lifter that came off or maybe the timing. he wants to go into motor. can it be the ect sensor or may be coilpack? really need my van back/

mark v · 05-17-2008, 07:30 PM

How many miles on the engine?

chewee · 05-18-2008, 11:24 AM

just bought a used engine 4 months ago about 75000

Flyingjackal456 · 05-18-2008, 11:58 AM

My guess is you have the 3.8 motor?

Ussually those motors are very durable and long lasting. I'd suggest pulling one of the front plugs off and checking the gap yourself (should be .052-.056). Is the tap like a piston tap, or more like a knocking? If its a knock, then you probably need to open the motor, get a second opinion and quote.

chewee · 05-18-2008, 06:12 PM

THANK YOU ! it sounds like a piston tap; changed the motor 4 months ago that was a knock

chewee · 05-19-2008, 07:30 AM

ironically i when this happend i got call that my 1 and a half year old grand baby got hit by a truck. my van ran fine all day. as i was going thru town i noticed a mist then when i got out of town to head to my house i tried to go up to 55 miles and hour and is would spit a sputter. got to my home killed it. this is a span of 3 miles one way. small town job is 3 miles from home. left there to go to hospital barley wanted to crank and spit and sputtered all the way there. a friend followed me home from hospital said no smoke of any kind coming out/. brought it to shop said miss fire and ect sensor from computer. brought to my mechanic he changed plugs and wires and also for the heck of it the air filter and fuel filter. well he called me and said to come get it he had no time for it now that none of the above worked. i have an old motor over there that i changed 4 months ago/ he said he would change coil pack/ off of old motor. well my boyfriend and i checked the coil pack/ its got fire to all six plugs/ he wants to open motor hes thinking a lifter came off or it has jumped timing/ just changed the motor very expensive cant afford to do too much more. thank you for your time letting me get this off my chest/ WOULD ECT SENSOR CAUSE ALL THESE PROBLEMS? NEVER TRIED THAT

GraybeardAv · 05-19-2008, 08:32 AM

Sorry about your baby. They are so fragile.

You didn't say if the mech did a compression check. That is basic to everything in the engine. You need fuel, compression and spark. Misfire code says spark, for sure.

A collapsed valve lifter will make a tapping sound. How is the oil level and cleanliness?

GB

chewee · 05-19-2008, 08:58 AM

No Compression Test /// Oil Good, Clean./// Showed code For Ect sensor. Wondering After Reading Forums If Tap Is Not Coming From Transmission Now. But That Wouldnt Cause The Motor To Run Bad

chewee · 05-20-2008, 11:54 AM

i have been doing alot of reading on the net/ could this be the ect sensor and knock sensor?????????????

chewee · 05-20-2008, 12:05 PM

where is the knock sensor and ect sensor and is there a way to test them?