Off to a rough start with 2016 GT

[Canuckican]

Return it.

Like most used cars, it was sold as-is. Plus paying to ship it back is $$$$.

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[Canuckican]

I know there’s people here that work at Ford dealers I hope they’re able to look up the service records for contact information

I am trying to balance getting the info I need with the previous owner's right to privacy and me not coming across as a whack job stalker.

But it is a tempting idea.

 

[Canuckican]

I suppose I had better check the fuel injectors too in case I revert to the 2015-17 intake. I have a line on a nice 2017 intake for the reverse swap. Not sure about removing the long tube headers too and just running it on 87 octane with the factory tune . The headers look like they'd be a real treat to remove especially without a lift.

 

[Canuckican]

The plugs were covered in wet soot and smelled of gas. I'd say it is running a bit rich.

 

[Canuckican]

Lund Racing was gracious enough to check their system and they don't see the VIN in it. They also gave me some ideas on what to look for.

Next up is to call the dealership in Florida that sold the car to the previous owner when the car was a year old and ask them if a) they still have a record of the sale in their system and b) they can try to contact that person and give him my contact information. I have very low expectations of a) or b) panning out.

 

[Canuckican]

If it does have an E85 tune, do the stock fuel injectors flow enough or are the injectors typically upgraded as part of running an E85 tune. I think later today I will pull the injectors and see what's there. I am also going to add a can of VP Octanium to the roughly 14 gallons of 87 octane gas in the tank now.

<Edit>

I was told that it should have at least 47 lb injectors (e.g. FRPP LU47) if it has an E85 tune with the 2018+ intake manifold. I will check that out in a bit.

 

[Lonniesgt]

Could it be bad 02 sensors. They will make a car run pig rich and get bad fuel mileage.

 

[5.0_Lojos]

I know the dealer that sold it to the dealer I bought it from but not the owner that sold it to the first dealer. I am going to call the first dealership and ask them if they will contact that person on my behalf to call me. I won't ask them to give me his contact info but will leave it up to him to decide if he wants to talk to me.

I am a PI (Private Investigator) for a fee payable direct to my agency I can locate the owner(s) info of the vehicle. I did the same when I bought mine. When I called last owner and identified myself to him he freaked out but was kind enough to send me all info of the car. Lucky for me the car was built at 707 performance shop so they had all records. Car has low miles.

 

[NGOT8R]

Did you reset the gaps when you pulled and cleaned the plugs? Were you able to get them really clean?

 

[Canuckican]

Did you reset the gaps when you pulled and cleaned the plugs? Were you able to get them really clean?

Yes and yes. They were nice and shiny clean and adjusted. I will probably have to do it again before I make another attempt to start it.

 

[Canuckican]

Lund Racing was gracious enough to check their system and they don't see the VIN in it. They also gave me some ideas on what to look for.

Next up is to call the dealership in Florida that sold the car to the previous owner when the car was a year old and ask them if a) they still have a record of the sale in their system and b) they can try to contact that person and give him my contact information. I have very low expectations of a) or b) panning out.

Yup, just as I expected, the Ford dealership that sold the car to the previous owner can't help me out. They said they can't give out that kind of information. I said I am not asking them to give me the person's contact information. I am asking them to call that person and give them my name and number and leave it up to that person do decide if they will call me. Oh well.

 

[K4fxd]

They misrepresented the car to you. Did they say it had all stock parts in writing? If so you should be made whole by the seller. If just verbal.......

 

[NGOT8R]

If it does have an E85 tune, do the stock fuel injectors flow enough or are the injectors typically upgraded as part of running an E85 tune. I think later today I will pull the injectors and see what's there. I am also going to add a can of VP Octanium to the roughly 14 gallons of 87 octane gas in the tank now.

<Edit>

I was told that it should have at least 47 lb injectors (e.g. FRPP LU47) if it has an E85 tune with the 2018+ intake manifold. I will check that out in a bit.

When you pull the IM to inspect the injectors, I suggest taking the time to zip tie the IMRC connectors to the main wiring harness to prevent rattling around and possibly creating a false knock that will be detected by the knock sensors underneath the IM. Here are pics of how I did mine.

I reinstalled the two actuators onto the IM, capped off the vacuum ports on each and plugged in the two connectors, so that I only had to worry about zip tying the remaining two.

 

[Canuckican]

When you pull the IM to inspect the injectors, I suggest taking the time to zip tie the IMRC connectors to the main wiring harness to prevent rattling around and possibly creating a false knock that will be detected by the knock sensors underneath the IM. Here are pics of how I did mine.

I reinstalled the two actuators onto the IM, capped off the vacuum ports on each and plugged in the two connectors, so that I only had to worry about zip tying the remaining two.

None of the four connectors at the back of the 2018 manifold currently installed are connected to anything and are zip-tied out of the way. I was told that is because the tune currently on the car, whatever it is, has locked the IMRCs so the plugs do not need to be connected. I hope the PCM is not completed locked by whatever tune is on it now so that I can't install a new tune. That'd be no fun.

 

[Canuckican]

I pulled the plugs again and gave them another good cleaning. They had no carbon on them, just wet from fuel. I then added a full 32 oz can of VP Octanium to the roughly 14 gallons of 87 octane in the tank. Then I cranked it without touching the throttle, with the throttle wide open and in between. Absolutely zero difference to the behavior before adding the octane booster. Maybe it's still all sitting in the gas tank and the fuel rails have not been visited by it yet.

Tomorrow I will try to pull the injectors to identify what they are to help me narrow down what tune this this has. I think this riddle would be a whole lot simpler to resolve if the factory intake was on in place of the 2018.

I am also not totally convinced that the vacuum tubing at the front to the 2018 intake is plumbed correctly especially with respect to vapor canister purge valve. I've seen a handful of ways others have it connected but ultimately from my understanding there is a single vacuum tree at the front to the 2018 manifold that is shared.

I've been doing some asking around to see if anyone knows a bloke that knows how to work on this type of issue for some after-hours work. I am hoping I don't have to get it towed somewhere to get it started.

I just hope I am not damaging anything in these attempts to get it running. The first thing I am going to do after it runs and idles decently is change the oil again.

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