Hi all, I have posted several times and still haven't got my truck running yet... Let me know what you think about this latest development.

I realized I hadn't changed the fuel filter. So, I bought one and took it to a mechanic for them to replace, but then to clean injectors and such. The fuel filter came off with gas in it as black as oil, the gas tank had a bunch of gunk, and some filter by the new fuel pump was full of sediment as well. When they got to cleaning the injectors, they ended up telling me all six of them are bad.

Does that seem likely? Would they throw any codes? They are going to cost me about 100.00 a piece, so I don't want to just go out and get them (besides the fact that no one in country stocks them... so it will be two weeks or so...).

Gas is terribly bad here. Do you think bad gas would have knocked them all out, especially since I have no idea if/when the previous owner ever changed the fuel filter?

 

how has your truck been running? any check engine codes? if running lean or rich it could ruin the injectors, but all six is doubtful unless rich or lean is extreme. if they claim all six r bad i would look for other problems such as a wiring issue.

 

The truck is giving all kinds of grief. Basically it is losing power, especially when driving slow (most of the roads are very rough unpaved, so I take it easy). It sounds loud on startup, and seems to idle rough and high. Then it takes a while to get running smooth. It almost seems like the cylinders don't all kick in. At this stage it will start cutting out, and sounds kind of like a toy engine. The engine will rev up and down on its own, if you stop and let it try to kick in. It may die. Usually, if you shut it off and restart, you get a surge of power. Eventually it seems that all the cylinders kick in it will run fine at higher speeds until you slow down, stop and go, and such. This will bring on the hesitation, loss of power, and shutting down again.

I had the spark plugs changed, a couple oxygen sensors, the air filter, and just recently I changed the MAF.

I checked the codes, and it is showing the following:
P0452

P1132

P1152

The mechanic showed me the injectors and said there is supposed to be a screen on the end to help filter, but they were gone on all of them. He said that because the tank, filter, and all was so dirty, that the dirt had finally blown through the screens on the injectors, now they are stuck open, constantly spraying gas. That would explain why it has been sucking fuel like crazy. Does that make sense at all?

 

Injectors are 40 bucks each, 50 for motorcraft. He is hosing you good, not sure if these prices translate to Belize.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,6224

Not sure what you have this link is for 98 4.0

 

Yes, I know I could get the injectors for that in the States... but by the time they get here - the prices are jacked up. The mechanic doesn't have them. I have to order them and I have called all around. One of the drawbacks of living in a developing country. I just brought the MAF with me from the States - would have cost 300 bucks here. So, if the injectors really are bad, I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay the exorbitant prices!

 

To me it sounds like you got some bad gas and the clogged up your injectors. There may be some methods of cleaning your injectors out, such as running a fuel injector cleaner in your gas tank, but if the sediment is too bad than that may not work and you will have to by new injectors.

 

A screen in the injectors? I've never seen such a thing.
Any injectors I've had plug up I was able to clean with a spray can of carb and choke cleaner using the extension tube. Place the tube into the inlet side of the injector,hold it away from your face,and press the nozzle.Blows the crap right out.Shake the injector a little and do it again.My old Dodge plugs them up with rust from the fuel line and I have to do this every year or so and it works every time.
Your "mechanics" believe they have you over a barrel .

 

No matter what, the fuel filter should block all sediment and other dirt from entering the engine/fuel injectors. I would check the fuel lines, and the injectors, and make sure to be using a good repair shop, because if someone came out and told me that I had 6 bad injectors, I would tell them to kiss my ***. I don't think this helps much, but let me know