T will have to wait a while

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: T will have to wait a while
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 01:41 pm:

Mercy when it rains it pours.
I went to start my Focus last week.Shaky sputter,threw out the "light" at me.Missfire on 3.
Well,new plugs,coil,wires and oil change,$140 bucks that coulda went to the T's,went to that.Only to have it run great for a while and then start it this morning and it sounds like someone beating inside the valve cover with a hammer.:0 The money it saved me on gas,went poof on parts and it is worse now.Doa.
And the f150 that I use to tow my camper on trips,took me to Oaklahoma in 08,has decided to mess up.
So all that work and money that coulda went to my T's will go to the truck and i priced the focus to someone for 500 bucks.Hopeing they want it for whatever.
UG.
What luck.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 02:08 pm:

Won't the scrap yard take the focus. I think it's kind of crappy to dump it on some other poor soul. At any rate it sounds like bad luck, and I'll pray for your success with getting your truck fixed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matthew David Maiers on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 02:16 pm:

just start driving one of the Ts daily, much cheaper to keep up, and mileage isnt bad either.

so long as you dont have to go on the freeway it works out quite well.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 03:34 pm:

Um, you're not as much T-ightwad as me, Mac. I would have replaced just the plug and wire to start, then coil if it still wasn't making spark.

Could it be a sticking lifter in the Focus? My son had an OHC Escort and one cam follower went flat in short order. It was easy to replace.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 05:31 pm:

I would look at the cam follower. I'll bet it's not much to fix it. Take pictures. What is wrong with the F150?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Kelsey on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 05:32 pm:

Mack:

I feel your pain. I had enough money saved up to replace the upholstery on my Tudor and "poof" it all went to pay Uncle Sam this April. Life seems to deal us these blows now and then, "but this too shall pass."


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 11:36 pm:

Well,I do have my older cars and truck to drive.I drove the more modern stuff since it was neater and the air worked.
I offered the focus for the 500 to a mechanic that has parts on hand to fix it for resale.The shame of it,the air will freeze ye out of the car,the radio sounds good,a good cleaning and it looks good.I wouldnt pawn it on some one unknowing of it's issues though.I had fully intended to drive it a couple weeks if I could make sure the miss was gone on 3,and put it on Craigslist for 1000 bucks.Fiqured it would make a good first car.
I pulled it out from the front drive as it was in behind my "sunday car" and later opened the valve cover.It is a split port 2.o engine.Didnt find anything obvious,and from what I can tell,I cant see how a timeing belt with that bigga grooves could slip.Cam follower,I will research that so I can see what it is .

The f150,sheesh,It decided to become hard to start a week or so ago,then when it does,it does not run smooth on either fuel tank.Sometimes shakes violently and cuts off like you cut off the switch.
I have had so much going on my blood pressure shot up and I have been dizzy and sick all day,So all I could do was try a different ignition module and clean the underside of the dist cap.No change.
When it does run semi good,it does not run smooth and wont take gas.If I am able to work on it wedsday I will rent a fuel pressure tester and go at it from that end.Acts more a like a bad coil if it were a normal older car.
It trys to flash me codes,but with my head wobbly,I cant concentrate.I think I may ask my neighbor and see if they can count the flashes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:04 am:

Cam followers must be a dealer only thing,I cant find much on the web except on ebay from the uk.
Looks like a shrunk lifter from a older model.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:35 am:

Focus is probably a VCT engine (variable cam timing) and that system can cause problems.

Look for a cracked vacumn line on the F150. Years ago a friend of mine was having transmission problems on his Ford pickup. It would stay in overdrive and the trans was "hunting" for gears. The trans shop (an honest one) replaced the spark plugs and fixed the problem.

Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:43 am:

Try RockAuto for 2004 FORD FOCUS 2.0L L4 SOHC : Engine : Valve Lifter

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD

Or is it: 2004 FORD FOCUS 2.0L L4 DOHC ?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:49 am:

Mine is a 2000 with 2.0 split port.I am allmost 100% it is a single cam as there is only 1 big gear in the middle of the top of the head.I can see the very top of it when I had the valve cover removed.
What I can tell from looking up cam follower is it is not a interference engine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:06 am:

OK, I remember a roller cam follower that moved the rocker arm on the 96 Escort, which looks like same engine you have. It has same rocker arms. You might see something by watching the valve train while somebody cranks the engine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:25 am:

I know the feeling Mac. Sounds like my life over the past three years. If it's not one thing, it's another. Just when you think you have plans for the next day, the water heater goes out. Or your primary car craps out. Or you have four close relatives pass away within three months. Or you Mom breaks her hip. Or the well pump dies. Or the water line decides to take a leak. Or just when you've been waiting six months for a rain to soften the clay drive for repairs, the dozer blows a hydraulic line. Or the good smoke leaks out of a $400 plating rectifier. Or a plating tank hose leaks and you dump $600 worth of chemicals on the floor. And just when you think nothing else could go wrong, your girl friend's house burns down. The list goes on and on.

I'm gong to bed now. Hopefully, I'll wake up and it'll be a new day. That's the best we can hope for so don't let the gremlins hold you back.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 02:33 pm:

That is true Ken.I got a call from my buddy that mows grass commercialy,he came by and got his lawnmower,his help saw the car and his family is in bad need of a car and a family member is a mechanic.They want to come by and check it out,and will probably buy it for the 500.
That will put me breaking even as that is what I have spent on the car since march of 2011 for parts.I just have so much going on,and this will eliminate 1 worry and help out a family moving to West Virgina in a couple months.It wont have to pass emissions or anything up there.it if runs and rolls it will live.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - 11:02 pm:

Well,the F150 got a computer friday.I put it in,everything I checked lead back to it.Did fine till yesterday morning,then it was back in my shop for a ignition actuator.A 13 dollar part that requires hours of takeing apart the steering column.But it is fixed and hopefully ready to use for a while.First guy backed out on the focus but it is sold,getting paid friday i think.
I am just afraid it may need more than it is worth to me.I aint never liked it that much anyhow.This fellow wants his 14 and 15 year old boys to help and watch as it is being fixed so they can learn and then have something to drive in a year or so.
So now that my blood pressure is getting better due a perscribtion ,and this head cold is about gone,maby I will be able to work on something ELSE besides daily drivers!
Have a good evening folks.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 01:33 pm:

OH ME OH MY :-(

Many of us have stories about saving up for one thing and having to spend the money on something that breaks.

I had almost $500 saved toward new tires for the T when my daughters Dodge Caravan died.

I think the thing was watching and got jealous because I was getting ready to spend money on a Ford.
I got back at the Dodge by sending it to a junk yard and getting my daughter a Ford Windstar. HAAA HAAA

Let's hope the Windstar dosen't get jealous of her older sister and do something stupid when I start accumulating money for the T again! :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 03:07 pm:

Fred, if the Windy tranny hasn't been replaced...

The engines run forever. I sold one last Jan. with 214K miles, and it's still going good. I put in a used tranny at 140K miles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 04:40 pm:

Windstar has 170K but it is in good condition.
It is loaded with all types of gadgets.
There are a few minor problems that I'm working out such as the driver's power seat, and a stubborn power lock on the passenger's door.
I will not deal with the 6 stuck CDs or VHS player that dosen't work.

I know the person that owned it.
He changed the oil every 5,000 miles when the light went on and it has new tires and brakes.
The family was easy on the vehicle.
I'm hoping for 273,567 or more miles :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 07:32 pm:

Fred, there's an overload thermistor in each connector of all the locks and motors. It's a small sandwich you squeeze with pliers to get its resistance back down under an ohm. That's covered in the Windy stickies ref above.

The radio is an easy R&R.

Last year I picked up a 2003 Limited with Advance Trac for my son who had a weekly trip over the Sierra on a back hiway. With studded tires, it did ok.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 - 09:27 pm:

Well,just thought I would mention the Focus left on a trailer the other day,500 bucks.The fellow grew up here in the neighborhood and wants to teach his sons how to work on cars.So this will be a good example for them.
Best he can tell 1 of the valve seats has come loose from the aluminum head.
Makes sense now because it may have started out just barely getting loose,causeing the skip,and getting pushed back up for the rest of the day.
Then finally after that long 30 mile drive and then getting cold,just let the seat fall plum out of the head.
Anyhow,F150 seems to have done well the past couple weeks,gone to the mountains in the morning for a short while.
Thanks for the advice on these problems.
now maby next month I can get back to working on T"s


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 - 09:55 pm:

Mack, Anja and I both have high blood pressure and it's controlled for both of us by medication (she takes one pill daily, I take three). Talk to your doctor and take that worry out of the equation.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 08:14 am:

Thanks,I was given a perscribtion for 10mg of linsinprel.I came down with a terriable head cold the next day.So it coulda been because of that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 08:42 am:

Unlikely. A cold is viral infection.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 09:11 am:

Mack - Good move! :-)

Now that the Focus is gone you no longer have to focus on the Focus so you can focus on the T.

As for the $13 part on the 150 - I think the designers make some things hard to get at so you have to go to the dealer - AKA- the Stealer

I get an email (blog) about once a week that is titled "Designed by Monkeys" that describes stupid things designers do.
It is hard to believe that so-called professional - educated people do so many dumb things! :-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 05:46 pm:

Anyone see that show on TV the other day where a group of computer hackers were able to access a newer automobile via radio (On Star?), start it, move it and operate the braking system? They were a very special group that work to combat other hackers and the car hacking was to show just how much computers can be accessed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 08:42 pm:

Gary, that reminds me about using your wireless doolock key in public places.
Apparently some unsavory characters hang around parking lots to sniff out wireless door lock information.
Once they have that information your car is as good as theirs.
I always lock the doors using the switch in the car anyway.
It pays to remember if something can be sent it can be intercepted.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 08:57 pm:

Craig, that's interesting. I use the switch in the car because I am lazy. (Lazy people are the most efficient people.) It's easier to hit the door lock switch on the inside of the door as I exit the car (and my hand is there anyway) than it is to fumble with the key fob to find the "lock" button. It also doesn't honk the horn and scare the bejeezus out of someone passing the car on the parking lot.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 10:20 pm:

Exactly Dick!....... :-)
AND it conserves on the battery in the key fob too........


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