Another P0305 question

[Keith1985]

Well my Ranger came back up with the P0305 code, misfire cylinder #5. I had already replaced the fuel filter, wires, coil and plugs. Cleaned the sensors and all also ran injector cleaner through the gas. So I broke down and took it to Ford. They spent 3 hours checking it out and found nothing. They did want to keep it over night and check "base engine issues", what ever that means, but also says "block test passed" on the bottom of the write up. I had them clear the code but it came back on the way home.

So I guess my question would be, what do I check next? It runs good but idles a little rough, not real bad just not real smooth.

Oh, it is a 2000 3.0L flex fuel.

 

[JC 97]

Possible Causes:
■
Air leak in the intake manifold, or in the EGR or PCM system

■
Base engine mechanical problem that affects only Cylinder 5

■
Fuel delivery component problem that affects only Cylinder 5 (i.e., a contaminated, dirty or sticking fuel injector)

■
Ignition system problem (coil, plug) that affects only Cylinder 5

This is from the chilton manual. I would take some carb spray and spray around the intake by cyl. 5. If it smoothes out or the idle increases you found a leak.

 

[snake]

I'd swap the #5 injector with a different one. If the code comes up on that cylinder, bad injector. If it comes back on 5 at least you know its not the injector.

 

[Keith1985]

Thanks guys. At least that gives me somewhere to start looking, Ford didn't seem to be able to find it.

 

[Keith1985]

Well finally got a chance to have the misfire #5 checked out and turns out low compression on #5. I guess actually the mechanic said "no" compression on #5. But I find that kind of hard to believe as it runs great when driving and only idles a little rough.

Now have to make the decision of what to do. Truck is going to be sold, got to get rid of some stuff, but can't sell it like this. Just sunk $1200 in a new trans and clutch and another $800 in a Bed Rug and used camper shell so getting back what I have in it now is going to be hard. Add in what it's going to take to fix it now and it's a lose/lose deal.

So guess I'm going to have to think about it. Mechanic said he thinks it's a valve problem but can't even get a estimate till it's torn down. Oh well, just wanted to get back to y'all and let you know what was going on.

Thanks for all the help.
Keith

 

[Rearanger]

Just sunk $1200 in a new trans and clutch and another $800 in a Bed Rug and used camper shell so getting back what I have in it now is going to be hard. Add in what it's going to take to fix it now and it's a lose/lose deal.

Vehicles are always lose/lose, the price we pay for convenient transportation.

Don't know your mileage or if you have alternate vehicle but what would you get in affordable used replacement of unknown condition? Gauge possible monthly payments against repair. If you can do most of the labor yourself then repair may be best way. I'd pull both heads since you're in there if you plan on keeping it. If you've done regular oil changes then bottom end is probably OK.

What was compression in other cylinders? Compression test should have been on hot engine.

 

[Keith1985]

Hey Rearanger.
Not sure what the compression was on the other cylinders, I didn't do it myself. I realize vehicles are always lose/lose but that's not really the point. The problem is I just spent a bundle having the rebuilt trans and new clutch put in not to long ago, before we decided to sell it. And I know I'll never get my money back out of it and that's what makes it hard to put more into it.

I was planning on selling it to thin out the heard a little. But heck, might just keep it as a desert toy now that I have to sink more money into it. They're all paid for anyway so it's just a little extra insurance.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Well finally got a chance to have the misfire #5 checked out and turns out low compression on #5. I guess actually the mechanic said "no" compression on #5. But I find that kind of hard to believe as it runs great when driving and only idles a little rough.

For some reason the truck 3.0L's eat up valve seats. You likely have a recessed valve in cylinder 5 causing low running compression. It will usually run fine off idle and under a load, but have a dead cylinder at idle.

 

[Keith1985]

For some reason the truck 3.0L's eat up valve seats. You likely have a recessed valve in cylinder 5 causing low running compression. It will usually run fine off idle and under a load, but have a dead cylinder at idle.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that but it makes sense. That's exactly how it's running. So guess I need to get the heads off and see now.
Thanks again.
Keith