QuestionQUESTION: I have a flashing engine light on my 2001 ford Windstar SE. we changed the plugs and wires, checked the air filter, put fuel injector cleaner in it a couple of times now, we are trying low cost ways to deal with the problem, but we don't really know what it is. we had a mechanic hook it up to a machine that read the code and said it was "piston number four misfire." he recommended a tune-up and a fuel injection line cleaning, but we couldn't afford it, so have been trying to fix pieces of it. i just don't think a "tune up" is really the problem. it feels like it misses when on the highway, you can sense it slowing down and picking up again, which is when the light will start flashing. when you drive slower, such as in town, I've noticed it getting more shaky. I also read online somewhere that someone else was getting a "piston #4 misfire" reading and the shop kept fixing things and nothing was working and it turned out that his codes were not updated. when they were finally updated it turned out to be a "knock sensor". when that was replaced, everything was fine.
sorry, I really haven't the first clue what I'm doing and we literally have no money. I really just need to know about how much I need to save up for and would love some reassurance that it's not very major. We have been using only premium gasoline on someones recommendation as well, but it has not stopped the flashing.
thanks for any help,
Grace H.
ANSWER: I apologize for the delayed response. I am kind of puzzled as to your question? It looks like their is no longer a problem, and that the knock sensor fixed the problem. In all actuality,there probably was a break down in the number 4 spark plug wire. The codes don't update as they told you. Well, not in that way. What happens is that once you replace the mechanical problem, the vehicle must go through a couple of "drive cycles" to remove the code. That is probably what they meant by updating. So I don't believe that you wasted your money by tuning it up. As far as how much money to save up? Try and schedule regular tune ups every 36 thousand miles or so. Budget for that. Replace your fuel filter every third oil change. Now if you are looking at a rainy day fund. I would shoot for the cost of replacing the transmission. Around 2.500 dollars. If you have that amount, and something does go bad, you can always use it as a down payment when you trade the vehicle in.
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QUESTION: Hello again, and thanks for the response. It was not my van that was helped with the knock sensor. it was someone else i had read about online that was having similar problems. we did replace the plugs and wires but the misfire is still occuring.
my question, then, would be if you believe the knock sensor could be my problem, and what my next course of action should be to solve the misfire if it is not the spark plugs/wires? (also, about how much you think it would cost)
sorry for the misunderstanding, and thanks for your response,
Grace H.
AnswerWell, the next thing we want to do is to have the trouble codes retrieved from your local parts store. Welcome their interpretation, but it is the actual codes that we want. Not just their interpretation of what they mean. A knock sensor could be at suspect. However, so could the ignition coil. If you are not able to send a follow up response. Go to this website"http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/ford It will help you decide what the codes represent.
