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93 T-Bird V6 Temp Gauge and Engine ...


ned032002
09-06-2006, 07:20 PM
Ok so I searched all of the old threads for the answer to my question. So when I first start the car up the temp gauge is obviously at the lowest point. Well I can drive 10 miles and the needle has yet to budge (this happens for diff. amounts of times) suddenly it'll show in the middle roughly in the gauge and everythings fine. But here's another problem and I know that they are related somehow, when the guage shows as low as it can go whenever I hit the gas no matter how gentle, the car seems like it's hesitating and I was told by one of my fellow employees that it looked like a puff of smoke came out my exhaust when I hit the gas and the car "hesitates". I know that often times a cold car will act funny but this happens for a while after I start it and it never does it when the gauge is reading anything but low. Also I've watched the RPM gauge as I hit the gas and I see that the RPMs drop as well and 2 times now I've had it stall on me. I've changed the fuel filter, plugs and wires and I've checked the air filter and it looks clean. I don't get a CEL and haven't checked any sensors yet. I'm thinking about changing my thermostat but I don't think that my problem is related to that.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

intrcptrbird
09-06-2006, 09:48 PM
Im not 100% sure if the V6 has one but the 4.6L has a seperate temp sensor in the coolant crossover. That may be your problem if it has one.

ned032002
09-06-2006, 11:34 PM
I was told that the puff of smoke is caused by the fuel not being burned like it should, which tells me that A. it's starving for air or B. no spark? But what would cause this in a low temp situation?

Come on guys any help is worth posting.

intrcptrbird
09-07-2006, 11:38 AM
that depends on what color smoke it is. Black-fuel, blue-oil, white-coolant.

ned032002
09-07-2006, 08:24 PM
I'm sorry the smoke was black so I was told. Today I changed the thermostat and that didn't fix the problem, so I took the car over to the family mechanic and tomorrow there going to work on it. I'll let you know what they find.

Just for the record, the thermostats on these cars are damn near impossible to do right the first time. It's just too hard to get the thermostat to stay centered.

ned032002
09-09-2006, 02:16 AM
Won't know till Monday.

ned032002
09-12-2006, 07:13 PM
Found out that my Head gasket is shot. I can't believe it that this happened, the car only has 83k miles on her. O well this weekend I'm doing the job so hopefully I'll have everything back together. I'll post some pics up just for something to do so you wall can see how everything goes.

intrcptrbird
09-13-2006, 12:13 PM
Yeah very common problem on those engines (im sure you've picked that up on this forum in other pages). Hope they arent charging you an arm and a leg for the repair

ned032002
09-13-2006, 06:41 PM
Actually my buddies and I are changing it ourselves, one of my buddies dad changed the head gasket in a 3.8 in a Taurus so he has some experience with these engines. What do I need to buy besides tools to get the job done?

List of stuff I know of so far:
Oil and filter
Anitfreeze
Gasket Kit
New Studs? do I need to get new ones and if so where can I get them?

rhandwor
09-15-2006, 02:52 PM
Ford thermostats have the grove in the top. Either buy an origional equipment one with springs on the side to hold it in place. If you are tight go to a parts store and get a tube of yellow adhesive. Set the thermostat in the housing. Cover the gasket with adhesive and glue the thermostat in place. After it dries I use permatex No.2 and install the unit. It sure saves cracking the housing.
I would get a straight edge to check the head. Get all surfaces very clean I use a air tool and cleaning pads. Almost like polishing.Use a flashlight and look between the cylinders for cracks. When I had a garage I took the head to a machine shop and had it pressure tested. Although I am retired I would still pay to get my own head pressure tested. At the least use a flashlight and look closely for cracks.
If I was young with a lot of energy you can use the other gasket in the set if you have problems. Use a power wire brush and clean the threads on the bolts and use thread sealant. If you don't have a good torque wrench by a decent quality one at sears or a parts store.
Believe me doing it correctly beats doing it again. Get a diagram with torque specs and follow it.

ned032002
10-01-2006, 12:43 PM
How many studs do I need to buy?

rhandwor
10-01-2006, 02:46 PM
Normally you can reuse the studs just wirebrush and clean. Replace any broken,rounded head,stretched or bad threads. The last ones I purchased were $15.00 each. But these were for a volvo.

ned032002
10-02-2006, 10:03 PM
Normally you can reuse the studs just wirebrush and clean. Replace any broken,rounded head,stretched or bad threads. The last ones I purchased were $15.00 each. But these were for a volvo.

How many do I need?

I was told that the factory studs are the problem with the 3.8s because they tend to "stretch" over time due to wear but they stretch more than normal causing the head gasket failure. I really need to know how many I need so I can order the parts before I start the project which is asap.

KimMG
10-03-2006, 01:00 AM
The dealer parts counter will be able to help you with the number of studs needed. Check with the dealer for prices, sometimes they can be less than a autoparts store. Check to see if they offer discounts. Local dealer here gives a discount for autoclub membership.

rhandwor
10-03-2006, 08:52 AM
Call a automotive machine shop they are generally cheaper and will sell them to you. Count the holes in the head as you said you had it pressure tested.
Call them and they will sell you a set.

ned032002
10-03-2006, 06:20 PM
Count the holes in the head as you said you had it pressure tested.

Sorry haven't had that done.

And I'll call the dealer tomorrow to find out about the studs. Thanks guys for all your help and I'll keep you all updated.

ned032002
10-15-2006, 07:57 PM
Well as you all know my head gasket is blown and so I finally have the money and time to do it so heres some pics from tonight. I started at 6 and finished at 10. We got almost to the head, all that is left to remove is the lifters which are going to be tricky and then the passenger exhaust manifold and then the heads then all thats left is putting back together. In a couple of the pictures you'll see my pansy brother in law wearing white gloves, yeah he's a pussy.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/1-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/2-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/3-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/4-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/5-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/6-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/7-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/8.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/9.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/10.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/11.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/12.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/13.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/14.jpg
Tomorrow at 8AM I'll be back at it hopefully till it's done. And yes I'll have more pictures.

ned032002
10-15-2006, 07:59 PM
Heres day 2 and everything went together ok but it took alot longer than I had expected. It all started at 8 this morning and ended around 5. Heres some more pics.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/1-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/2-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/3-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/4-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/5-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/6-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/7-2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/8-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/9-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/10-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/11-1.jpg

Here is where the only problem so far is. I have a plug that doesn't go to anything that I can see. So I've got to figure out what it goes to now also I have a CEL but that might have to do with the plug.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/12-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/13-1.jpg


Here's my question to you guys, what does this plug go to on your cars? I need an answer asap. Pics would be great but any advice would be great. And how much smoke is normal to come out of the exhaust after a gasket change? I did clean up as much of the antifreeze on the pistons as possible so that's not an issue but I do have smoke out the exhaust, how much is normal? I wouldn't doubt that you will get some but how much?

Mike75
10-15-2006, 08:35 PM
Hey man, I just went and checked mine out. I have what appears to be the same plug exposed on my 3.8, but mine comes out from under the plenum on the front side, near the thermostat. Mine does seem to come from where yours is located, tho - just extended to come out the front side. It appears to be coupled with another wire that seems to come from the 02 sensor. I have always wondered what the hell it is supposed to go to. This may just be a standard wiring harness used for several different types of engines. If you find out otherwise, please let us know!

Hope this helps.

ned032002
10-16-2006, 05:15 AM
I also have a wire coming out the front as well next to the thermostat but I remember that one from before the project started that it was extra whewww. But I do still have 1 in the back free, I'm just figuring if I have to tear apart the very top half again to plug it in, I would like to know what plug it needs to partner up with ya know.

ned032002
10-16-2006, 05:22 AM
I too have the wire that comes out the front like in the picture
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/rrg.jpg

The plug in the back looks alot like that one but its not the same one. The one in the back doesn't have much slack to it so if it plugs into anything then it's got to be near by.

Also how do you pull codes on this year car? Can I do from inside the car?

rhandwor
10-16-2006, 08:06 AM
Their is an engine coolant temperature sensor ECT near the thermostat housing. This will set a code. Its possible you broke it off. Use a flashlight and look for a metal base where a socket would be used to screw it in. On the rear wheel drive it sits between two small hoses a little back of the rear of the belt tensioner. Close to where one small hose changes to metal.
The other one on the back look closely at the first and second picture after it shows him putting on gloves it shows a picture of the plug.
Hardly ever does a head gasket leak unless you have a problem overheating.
Make sure you check your fan and that your thermostat opens and you are getting circulation in the radiator. You will have to refill after the thermostat opens. Make sure your heater is working also.
Also change your oil and filter as some antifreeze leaked into the engine.
I didn't see the smoke but you normally get some after changing a head gasket. I would drive it around town a few times to make sure you are not leaking water.
In the back of the engine their is an intake air temperature sensor and a IAC idle air control valve.
Just take a flashlight and take the wire check how far it goes and look closely if it is used you will find it.

ned032002
10-16-2006, 08:24 PM
Ok so I found where that plug went and it did indeed go where it once mentioned a couple of posts back, also I found that the pipe from the exhaust that goes to the EGR was connected all the way so I reconnected that. So I put it back together and now when I start it up I don't get a CEL but the engine revs up and then stalls. If I try to keep it running I don't get a CEL but it wants to stall. I can smell gas like crazy out the exhaust so I know it's burning rich, what could I have done to make this happen?
Here's all that I took off:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c208/ned032002/7555.jpg

I didn't add more silicon to the gasket under the black part of the intake manifold gasket, should have I?

What else could have gone wrong here?
-No CEL
-Smell like burning rich
-All sensor believed to be plugged in

rhandwor
10-16-2006, 09:06 PM
On your injectors did you lube the o-rings with vaseline? Did you bolt them down. Did you connect the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator. Take a flashlight and watch the o-rings shrink sometimes you have to buy new o-rings. Napa sells them or the ford dealer. Look around the fuel rail as it may have a lose connection. After all leaks are stopped spray around the injector bases if you have an air leak the engine will smooth out. Also spray around the intake manifold including the area you are worrying about. Any vacuum leaks the engine will smooth out. Fix gasoline leaks first then vacuum leaks.

ned032002
10-16-2006, 09:22 PM
No I smell gas out the exhaust not under the hood. And I replaced the o rings so those are good and I did lube them up.
For combustion you need:
-Air
-Fuel
-Spark
I'm burning rich, what would be the signs of no spark? No combustion can occur so that can't be the case. So I'm not getting air cause I am deffinetly getting Fuel. I believe that it has to do with the one of the air control sensors or a really bad vacuum leak. I'm getting too much fuel but no air. HELP

ned032002
10-16-2006, 11:30 PM
Just got done taking apart everything above the upper intake manifold AGAIN and guess what? On the edge of my gasket the edge folded over some how and it got pinched and so that is the issue. Tomorrow I will have that fixed and no this couldn't have happened to any of the other gaskets cause theres a long story as to why this happened.

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