How often does this happen?

[KD8KKT]

So it all started Thursday I was driving down the road and suddenly my truck started shaking violently. I stopped by my friends work because I was close and they know me over there. I had a check engine light immediately so i know I can scan it. I grabbed my friends car and headed up to a shop that is run by my cousin, I grabbed the scanner and it came up with 4 codes! I had P0304-305-306, and P0171 they are engine misfires on cylinders 4,5,6. and bank 1 lean.

From here it is easy to say that something on the drivers side of the truck was majorly wrong, the whole left side was dead. At this point im like "This is major I need to get the truck home." I actually took a huge risk and decided to crawl home driving it because the truck would still idle okay.

I called the shop back told them what was wrong they said there are 3 things that can narrow it down as to what is the problem. It could be an: Intake manifold/vacuum leak, a dead ignition coil, or the worst a broken valve spring.

I couldn't find anything leaking anywhere, the coil was fine everything had plenty of spark, so I decided that sense the truck is broke might as well tear it apart further.

Aww yisss parts everywhere now lol.

But continuing on I basically go until I can get the valve cover off and inspect the top of the cylinder head. as you can see below I have located my problem....

It's a broken valve spring , and at this point I now need to get my parts ordered, and clean everything, and figure out the best way to tackle this.

I already plan to change the plugs, all the seals on the top end, and I need a new radiator hose. any other recommendations? or comments?

 

[swynx]

You could do a cam upgrade while your in there.

 

[AgPete139]

lol Swynx, you're that little red devil on my shoulder whenever I take something apart, aren't you? Go bigger, faster, lighter...

KD8KKT, uh, well...yea. That is not common at all. Things like tensioners, cam sensors, and that kind of stuff go bad on the newer 4.0L's not valve springs. What do you think caused it?

 

[swynx]

Well yeah. I often wait for something to break then when I do I replacement everything I can touch with far superior parts. I know I will have tto or want to replace that later. So do it now

 

[jhammel85]

That's pretty odd. I haven't see that when everything else is OK. That's the only broken one? All the others on that bank are OK?

Something just doesn't seen right. I hope you don't find more wrong and it's just a fluke.



......on the upside, that motor sure looks clean!

 

[adsm08]

I have never seen a 4.0 break a valve spring before. I have seen them pop chain guides, spit rollers, blow head gaskets, throw rods, but never break a valve spring.

 

[KD8KKT]

Thanks for the reply's! I will be working on it today I will update yous on how it goes. I will likely just replace the one if I wanted to change all the springs, or upgrade the cam I would have to tear the other side of the engine down and my truck is my only vehicle so i don't have time for that. but I am replacing a bunch of other stuff as-well, Upper Radiator hose, heater bypass hose, PCV Valve, intake gaskets, valve cover gasket, spark plugs, coil, and cleaning everything and painting every bolt with ani seize, puting di-electric grease on every connector. . so the truck should be running good when im done with it. I will try to take as many pics as I can and post them up here. I got a good handle on the situation fortunately.

 

[KD8KKT]

Update! plus pics!

well i had some time to work on it and my uncle came over to walk me through it we made some progress but we didn't have the tool to remove the valve unfortunatly, but I got a better look at my engine now.

there's the cam, the caps, and the retaining bolt

heres a better look at the broken valve spring with everything removed.

the ford service manual says to put rubber bands around the timing chain to hold its position but I opted to use wire as it is stronger and thats what I had on hand.

in hindsight I should have gotten the ford valve removal tool but I didn't because my uncle said he had one but what he had was a normal valve tool and it didn't fit. note to self, get the tool! now I have to wait because i go back to work for the next 4 days grrrr.

 

[swynx]

If you have the cash and plan on keeping the rig. Just buy the specialty tool.

 

[KD8KKT]

yea I will it is 60 bucks for the special valve tool and I can have it here by the time I have time off again fortunatly, probably wednesday or thursday I would like to have this problem fixed. I miss my ranger! I am driving my uncles Dodge 1500 and it is a terrible truck it gets maybe 8-10 mpgs but I have no choice right now but to drive it.

 

[adsm08]

I am driving my uncles Dodge 1500 and it is a terrible truck it gets maybe 8-10 mpgs but I have no choice right now but to drive it.

Beats walking. Driving a MOPAR is still two spots above walking and three spots above a Honda on my preferred list of transportation.

 

[wildbill23c]

yea I will it is 60 bucks for the special valve tool and I can have it here by the time I have time off again fortunatly, probably wednesday or thursday I would like to have this problem fixed. I miss my ranger! I am driving my uncles Dodge 1500 and it is a terrible truck it gets maybe 8-10 mpgs but I have no choice right now but to drive it.

Good lord how old is that Dodge? My Ram 1500 would get 24-26mpg highway. Is the parking brake stuck? Boat anchor not reeled in !!!!

 

[KD8KKT]

Beats walking. Driving a MOPAR is still two spots above walking and three spots above a Honda on my preferred list of transportation.

Oh lol, I agree with you on that one. I am not to picky when it comes to my vehicles but my preference is for Ford or Toyota, my friend has a 1992 Camry that we took down to ohio and we averaged 31mpgs round trip, it's a 12 hour drive from up here. we have beaten the shit outa that car and it just wont die! it has 275,000 on it. We take care to maintain it properly though.

 

[KD8KKT]

Good lord how old is that Dodge? My Ram 1500 would get 24-26mpg highway. Is the parking brake stuck? Boat anchor not reeled in !!!!

I probably over exaggerated a bit, it gets like 12mpgs last time I filled it up. its a mid 90's something with the 5.9 magnum. Holy Jesus 24-26 mpg's from a full size dodge?!?!? where you towing it?

 

[Kowboy]

I will start by saying I'm sorry for High Jacking the thread here but, my 97 Dodge 2500 360 got -13 MPG at best on the highway and was without a doubt the most expensive vehicle to own for me ever.