stuttering caused by the cam sync?

[sickwilly]

2003 3.0 67000 mi. IF the cam sync were causing an occasional stutter, wouldnt the sync / sensor be damaged? I mean, the sync would have to be hitting the sensor right. Might seem like a dumb question, but im making sure im thinking right. The top of the sync looks like new, same for the sensor. Thanks for any help.

 

[RonD]

Unplug the 2 wire connector on the Cam sensor and drive it that way for a bit, CEL(check engine light) will come on.

If there is a no start then you won't be able to test it that way.
There are a few Cam sensor codes the computer can use, so have the codes read even if there is no CEL.

Computer has both the Crank sensor and Cam sensor for engine timing, so if one or the other is not synced the whole time then computer WILL set a code for that.
"missing a beat" would be easy for computer to "see".

Clean MAF sensor

 

[sickwilly]

Thanks for the reply. I would have thought unplugging the sensor would have screwed up the timing, i may try that later if the coil is not the problem. SAw a video by Makulo (sp.?) on youtube about cracks in the coil pack ,looked at mine and - there was a crack between coils 3&4, right where he said. So it looks to be a cracked coil. Ron, youve been around a while so ill ask, do i really need the motorcraft coil or are others brands as good. im looking at rockauto. thanks

 

[sickwilly]

i tried to insert pic of coil pack but the size was too damn big. oh well, i just hate spend $65 on it unless im positive thats what it is.

 

[RonD]

Motorcraft are just tested before being shipped to Ford, which is why they cost more

But any brand you chose will be fine, just a grain of salt, WE are the Quality Control Department now for "new" parts
"New" did mean tested and working, but not any more for 3rd party parts, labor is expensive so testing new parts was just too expensive.
"New" now means "You test it and we will replace it if it doesn't work", lol.

With a coil pack it's worth the chance of it not working out of the box easy to swap out, for a Fuel Pump???, your call

Many like the Accel brand coil packs

 

[sickwilly]

UPDATE, it was the plugs. i typed a more detailed reply but as usual i somehow got logged out while typing and i lost it . that gets old quick.

 

[sickwilly]

Short version, i halfass checked the plugs (literally ), i checked 1,2,3 and not 4,5,6 , so initially i didnt think it was the plugs. Then i learned about the waste spark coil and that one side wears faster. live and learn .

 

[cbxer55]

Just don't use any of the fancy spark plugs. I had an expensive set of iridium plugs get worn away on one side in around 5000 miles. Had a set of those stupid E-3's get eaten away on one side in about the same mileage. I've had better luck with Motorcraft double platinum's, and is what's in mine now.

Don't know about you, but I find 4,5 and 6 easier to get to than 1,2 and 3. Especially 3.

 

[sickwilly]

i used motorcraft sp-432 plugs. never found a straight answer whether they were dbl or single plat. And yeah AFTER i did it, i realized 4,5,6 were easier. Actually wasnt as big of a pain as i thought.

 

[cbxer55]

I can change all six in 20 minutes. not bad at all. Now my Lightning, that's another story. Plugs are way down deep in pockets, with COP's on top of them. MAJOR PITA! It's actually less time consuming and easier, to take the supercharger off, change the plugs, then put it back on again.