HELP!!! 2.9 is gutless (duh)

[out cast]

I've been having issues with my new truck lately. At first, it was sluggish, coming from a 4.0 explorer with a 5 speed, I was expecting it. Then I started realizing that, THIS AIN'T RIGHT!

I replaced plugs (bosch super+platinum) and wires, did an oil change (castrol 10W-30 GTX, Fram SuperGuard filter). I was happy then with how much power I unlocked...

Then, on Sunday, I went to a July 4th festival, which I had to climb about 1000' in 27 miles. On every hill I came to I had to drop to 4th... then 3rd... got up to the top and truck was fine again. Next hill, same shit. So when I got home I slot cut the airbox, put a fuel filter in it, and also a 4 liter radiator I had laying around.

Now it seems to be worse... when I shift to 2nd or 3rd gear and give it gas, it acts like its being flooded or not getting gas at all. When I give it gas, it chugs down and almost dies unless I let up. Also, now it is popping on the passenger side, almost like a backfire, but smaller.

Figured you guys would want codes...

CM = 89 - 86
KOEO = 1 - 41


KOER = 1 - 41 - 77 - 74


By what I get out of it...

CM 86 2.3L or 2.9L Truck - A4LD 3/4 shift solenoid - Transmissions
(M) 1.9L MFI - System has corrected lean condition - Fuel control

CM 89 A4LD - Converter Clutch Override solenoid - Transmissions
AXOD Torque Converter Control solenoid circuit - Transmissions
Exhaust Heat Control (heat riser) solenoid circuit - Solenoids

KOEO 11 System checks OK
(I'm guessing the 1 is supposed to be 11)

KOEO 41 (R) System lean - Fuel control
(M) System was lean for 15 seconds or more (no HO2S switching -
Fuel control

KOER 11 System checks OK
(I'm guessing the 1 is supposed to be 11)

KOER 41 (R) System lean - Fuel control
(M) System was lean for 15 seconds or more (no HO2S switching -
Fuel control

KOER 74 Was brake depressed after engine ID was received ?
Brake On Off (BOO) signal open or short to ground - BOO

KOER 77 System did not receive "goose" test - see TESTS

 

[88_Eddie]

the 2.9 in my b2 used to be really sluggish when i had the stock airbox on it. i put in one of those spectre air filters from pep boys and it helped a ton....but, i havent driven it in the mountains in 10+ years

 

[out cast]

Yeah I slot cut the side of the airbox. I think in doing that it'd give it more surface to get air from over a cone filter

 

[chazzone]

If you cut up the air box, then you just introduced hot air to the intake charge.

Definitley not something you want to do if you want more power.

I'm willing to bet that the Bosch plugs aren't doing you any favors, either.

Fix the air-box and put in a NAPA Gold filter, then throw out the Bosch plugs and replace them with the Motorcrafts that it is made for.

if it's running lean, then you probably have a vacuum leak. Check to make sure that you didn't unplug anything or break the plastic hard-lines when you were butchering your cold air box.

I'd also check the timing and fuel pressure.

-zz

 

[Big Jim M]

When will these guys learn about putting stock plugs in ANY engine? Please guys NO PLUG can do better than the stock one that came in your engine.
Big JIm

 

[ChopTop84]

Sure has a lot of lean codes. Sounds like a vacuum leak, or poor fuel pressure. Get a vacuum gauge and a fuel pressure gauge on it and see what your getting for readings.

 

[disciplerocks]

You've got a fuel problem for sure. Check the regulator and I would replace O2 sensors. And of course clear your ecu after you have changed anything.

 

[fastpakr]

O2 sensors can be tested with a voltmeter. I'd do that before blindly spending the money on replacing them.

If you've got a decent library nearby, it'll have a set of the Mitchell manuals with fantastic troubleshooting sequences to use. Start with the KOEO codes and get them resolved completely before looking at KOER at all.

Also, re-run your codes. As listed, they don't make sense. You will always get two digit codes, and you'll never get both a passcode and an error code on the same section of the test.

 

[out cast]

stock airbox is in, motorcraft plugs... even more gutless. died twice going into second and once in first

 

[disciplerocks]

O2 sensors can be tested with a voltmeter. I'd do that before blindly spending the money on replacing them.

Chances are they need to be replaced anyway. O2 sensors are part of your tune up. They should be replaced every 50k miles unless you have an OBDII vehicle, then its 100K.

Why does no one realize that? They only replace them when something goes wrong.

 

[RustedRanger]

Dumb question but did you unhook the battery after the last mods to clear it out? Once I added some engine Restore and some Lucas fuel treatment and it ran crappy until I cleared the comp and it ran better then it did before adding the Restore and Lucas. New O2 sensor is a good idea too.

 

[fastpakr]

Chances are they need to be replaced anyway. O2 sensors are part of your tune up. They should be replaced every 50k miles unless you have an OBDII vehicle, then its 100K.

Why does no one realize that? They only replace them when something goes wrong.

It's not that I 'don't realize' it, it's that I disagree with you. There's no reason to replace a part that's working just fine. Test it and replace as necessary. Putting a new one in when the old was ticking right along is a waste of money that could have been spent replacing the part that was actually broken.

 

[fastpakr]

stock airbox is in, motorcraft plugs... even more gutless. died twice going into second and once in first

Run the codes again and post the corrected numbers. Once you've done that, you can do the proper troubleshooting to diagnose and fix the problem.

 

[BlackBII]

It's not that I 'don't realize' it, it's that I disagree with you. There's no reason to replace a part that's working just fine. Test it and replace as necessary. Putting a new one in when the old was ticking right along is a waste of money that could have been spent replacing the part that was actually broken.

x2

There are tests you can run on nearly every single part to see if it's malfunctioning.

No reason to replace something that is working, as it will do nothing to help fix the problem.

 

[disciplerocks]

My bad. I just like to replace things when you are supposed to. Guess I'll keep that in mind next time I need to change my plugs. 'Eh they're still working, why replace them?'