Flushed heater core now truck won’t run, misfire on all 6 cyclinders.

[smythcounty]

I didn’t have heat so I flushed my heater core and replace the heater control valve. When I flushed my heater core, I got water all over the engine compartment. This was two days ago and I thought maybe it needs to dry out, but I still get misfires on all six cylinders, engine won’t take fuel, rough idle. So today I replaced the ignition coil thinking maybe something had shorted and I have the same results. I’m at a loss. Any ideas be greatly appreciated thank you.

99 Ranger 4.0L

 

[RonD]

Recheck firing order on Coil pack

3 4
2 6
1 5
front

the 5 6 4 side often gets mixed up

 

[smythcounty]

Recheck firing order on Coil pack

3 4
2 6
1 5
front

the 5 6 4 side often gets mixed up

Thanks. I marked the wires before swapping out and rechecked them and they’re in the right firing order.

 

[RonD]

If I had a nickle for each time I said "firing order IS CORRECT" when it wasn't I could have retired at 25, lol

But that's really all there is in a 1999 4.0l

Long shots would be:
Shorted out condensor on coil pack, just unplug it, its for radio noise suppression
water/coolant inside Cam sensor
water/coolant inside 104 pin computer connector on firewall

After 1995 Rangers just are not that complicated

 

[smythcounty]

I’m wondering if all that water could’ve messed up the plugs and/or the plug wires? Or MAF sensor? It will start and rough idle and die. if I give it fuel it’ll take it for about 5-10 secs and then die.

 

[smythcounty]

If I had a nickle for each time I said "firing order IS CORRECT" when it wasn't I could have retired at 25, lol

But that's really all there is in a 1999 4.0l

Long shots would be:
Shorted out condensor on coil pack, just unplug it, its for radio noise suppression
water/coolant inside Cam sensor
water/coolant inside 104 pin computer connector on firewall

After 1995 Rangers just are not that complicated

Okay. I’ll unplug the condenser and check the 104 pin connector at the firewall. Cam sensor, not sure about it.

 

[Angie]

lets back up to the start... how did you flush the core? and is the truck turning over but not firing nor running?

1 other question... no heat ... is your thermostat faulty? or the truck over heating?

 

[smythcounty]

lets back up to the start... how did you flush the core? and is the truck turning over but not firing nor running?

1 other question... no heat ... is your thermostat faulty? or the truck over heating?

Okay, I only had heat at idle and while driving heat would go away, and then eventually heat stopped working completely. I had changed the heater control valve in the summer because it was leaking. I decided to replace the heater control valve to see if it fixed my heat problem because it was sticking. While replacing it I flushed the heater core witha garden hose thinking it may be clogged. I got good flow from both sides of the core but while doing it a lot of water got all over the engine compartment. I started the vehicle and let it idle but it was idling rough. But it idled long enough to know I had heat again so I started to drive the vehicle and it stalled. I managed to drive it about 1/4 mile and it died. It would start but as soon as I would give it fuel it would backfire and eventually die. So I got towed back home. Dried off everything I could with a blower. Replaced the ignition coil and still the same. Rough idle and won’t take fuel for very long before it dies. My scanner was showing misfire on all 6 cylinders.

 

[Angie]

While replacing it I flushed the heater core witha garden hose thinking it may be clogged.


How much pressure did you have the hose set at when you turned it on while inside your engine? Was the engine hot enough to open the thermostat while water was circulating?


Dried off everything I could with a blower.


Water externally on an engine shouldn't cause too many problems, unless it gets sucked into your airbox to cause a hyper locked piston(s).

 

[James Morse]

Do you mean hydrolocked? Then if you pull plugs and crank the engine, water should come out plug holes. He said he could still turn it over. But it would mean a lot of water had to sucked in the intake, kind of hard to do? It's not a jet ski.

Remember, I know nothing.

I recommended garden hose on out side of core for main reason to prevent water in engine compartment, it would divert just about all water down under the truck.

 

[Angie]

i didn't say he would have hydrolocked the engine. my point was that major way to cause a problem with external water is to get ample amounts into the engine from it.

My other concern is that he over pressureized the internals of the engine and blew apart the head gaskets....

 

[James Morse]

Ah, thanks for clarifying. Yeah, a bit of water shouldn't do anything, after all, what if you open the hood in a rainstorm, the thing shouldn't be so fragile as for that to cause failures.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Pull the plugs and check. Check the sparkplug wires at both ends for water. Check wires for cracks.

 

[Angie]

If there was little pressure in the engine, next thing is what ron said.... recheck all the fire order as that would be the next place to back track to. cheers

 

[James Morse]

Pull engine, replace w/ 5.0L and upgrade tranny etc. Problem solved.