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Sputtering or missing

Tiny
MCOYLE42
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD TAURUS
Engine Performance problem 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 65000 miles

my car suters or at least it seems like sputteing. Any ideas?
Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 4:19 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
First thing you need to do is have the codes read, Autozone does it free, Post the results with the code number(s). Even if the service engine light is not on, there should be freeze frame data stored.
If it won't make it to Autozone, buy a cheap scanner, they can be had for 30-40 dollars, a good investment, since they cover all cars sold in the USA from 96 on.
If the light is blinking, it means possible damage to the converter. Service it right away!
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
MCOYLE42
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for the advice! The code came up P0301 and P0302 which are cylinder numbes 1 and 2 misfiring and also P0316 which is misfire detected at startup. Guess its a good idea to start with plugs right? I have the 24 valve engine with individual coil packs
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 9:34 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Plugs should at least be checked. Unfortunately this can be anything from fuel injectors, plugs, coils and PCM.
You can replace the plugs and if the codes come back, try moving the coils to 3 & 4 cylinders, and code should change to P0303 and P0304, this would tell you if the coils are bad or not. Injectors should ohm out at 11-18 ohms.
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Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
REDNEKWIZARD
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
My 2004 does the same thing. But it comes up with a differant code and it says to replace the MAF sensor, which I did, Replace the plugs and wires, done, and replace oxygen sensors, done that too, but guess what it still spits sputters and revs to 3000 on its own.
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Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 AT 12:28 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Post the code(s) here and I'll look at it!
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 1:17 PM
Tiny
REDNEKWIZARD
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
P0171
P0174
these are the codes that keep coming up
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Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
These are lean codes for both banks and you have a vacuum leaks, check the air tunnel from the air cleaner to the throttle body and the clamps and gaskets, there is unmetered air getting in throwing off the maf sensor and idle air control system.

You may have a vacuum leak, get a can of spray gumout, spray the vac lines and maniflod area, when the idle changes, youve found the leak! You want the engine running and spray on the outside but do direct the stream onto the hoses, if it is a vacuum leak, the engine idle will change speed, then you have detected a leak, repair the vacuum leak and see how it runs! If that doesnt do it, you may need a new idle air control valve, it's bolted to the throttlebody
Pay attention to the PVC system and hoses as well!
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 AT 1:02 PM
Tiny
APRIL BUNTING
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hello MERLIN2021. I have a 2004 Ford Taurus SES 3.0 DOHC V6. I am coming up with 4 codes now, but it changes. What I mean is one time I will have 2 codes, then another time I will have 3, and now I have 4. The codes are P0300, P0301, P0304, and P0316. All misfires. I have changed all 6 coils, all 6 spark plugs, fuel injector on cylinder 4, fuel filter. When I first bought the car it only had a misfire on startup and on cylinder 4. I changed the coil and spark plug on cylinder 4 the 2nd day I owned car. Since that didn't fix the problem I changed the injector. For some reason the misfire keeps bouncing. There is a slight stumble when I first startup and when it idles to long. Also, stumbles at low speed. I also have low oil pressure.
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Friday, July 21st, 2017 AT 8:34 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
Hello,

What happens is the mixture is a little off causing the misfire codes. 9 times out of 10 it is the MAF sensor that needs to be replaced due to the sensor wire getting contaminated. Here is a guide that will give you an idea on what you are in for when changing the sensor.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-mass-air-flow-sensor-maf

Here is a diagram (below) on what it will be like on your car. It just shows the wiring that goes to the sensor which is in the air intake tube.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-an-air-intake-boot

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, July 24th, 2017 AT 11:16 AM
Tiny
APRIL BUNTING
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Hello Ken will replacing the MAF sensor fix the misfire codes?
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Monday, July 24th, 2017 AT 3:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
It should, please let me know what happens.
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Tuesday, July 25th, 2017 AT 11:43 AM

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