Valve remaining closed on one side ?

[Julio]

Hi everyone,
I searched the forum for an existing thread with a similar issue but could not find one.

I've read the several discussions on exhaust valves remaining closed, but my understanding is that it always goes together with the impossibility to select driving modes anymore.
Mine seems to have a different pattern:
- I did not notice anything in terms of sound or driving dynamics, but...
- when looking at the car from the back with valves opened, I noticed that only the right side would be smoking ("interior" pipe, normal as valve open)
- Did the test again tonight and indeed when valves closed, both sides blow air but when opened only the right side of the car changes and only one pipe blows air ("interior pipe" on the right side of the car, proof that the valve is now open on this side). On the left side, I feel some air (less) but on the exterior pipe
My conclusion is that I have a valve stuck closed on the left, do you agree ?

What is really strange is that when someone followed me he told that one side of the car would be smoking when standstill, and as soon as I pulled away (revs? clutch ? gear ?) then both started to smoke.
Still, when coming back home I felt the only exhaust being really hot was the interior pipe on the side...

Would love to hear what you guys think
Thanks

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[autobahnGT350]

Hmmm, is this symptom present when the car is first started? All valves should open on cold start, and then close when warmed. Experiment when cold, start, and play with the manual exhaust toggle to see if you can hear a change in tone, it might be brief, and you will get the drive mode not available if you use the steering wheel mode, so use the toggle switch to see if you can hear the exhaust valves open and close. If warmed, and you don’t get any sound changes when doing this, you could have something wrong with the valve. Have not heard about solenoids going out, but it is possible for sure.

 

[Julio]

Hmmm, is this symptom present when the car is first started? All valves should open on cold start, and then close when warmed. Experiment when cold, start, and play with the manual exhaust toggle to see if you can hear a change in tone, it might be brief, and you will get the drive mode not available if you use the steering wheel mode, so use the toggle switch to see if you can hear the exhaust valves open and close. If warmed, and you don’t get any sound changes when doing this, you could have something wrong with the valve. Have not heard about solenoids going out, but it is possible for sure.

I did both cold and hot start, and played with the driving modes each time. As a conclusion I can definitely hear the change from closed to open, and driving mode selector is always working.
But I wonder if it's possible that one valve is working (hence changing the sound enough for me to recognise it, as well as allowing the driving selector to still work), but the other one does not work...

I also forgot to simply look if the valve is open instead of wondering with the air flow - you can see, looking in the pipe, if the valve is open/closed, right ?

 

[autobahnGT350]

This sounds like you need a second set of ears to perform the tests when cold. Good luck

 

[GT_Dave]

You don't need ears to tell what's going on. The valves are 6 inches back in the tailpipe, just look in there with a light in sport mode and normal mode with the car running and see if they're open or closed .

 

[Demonic]

Are you pressing harder on the right side of the gas pedal?

 

[Julio]

Are you pressing harder on the right side of the gas pedal?

So I've tried to specifically press the left side of the gaz pedal and weirdly it does not change the issue - too bad I was convinced this would work.... :lol:

I checked this morning and the valve on the left remains closed, and the one on the right opens up when changing driving modes. This is why I did not really noticed any change in sound, and also seems why I can still select driving modes.

Will go to my mechanics and we'll try plugging and unplugging the connector, and also see if a rock is preventing it from opening.

 

[tdzee]

.......is this symptom present when the car is first started? All valves should open on cold start.....

Unless you crank up in reverse. Started in reverse, the valves stay closed on start up. FYI

 

[Zitrosounds]

If the issue is valve failing to open and close as commanded, try hitting the pivot points of the valve with a lubricant. If the valve does not open or close after that then you probably have a bad solenoid.

 

[Julio]

Went to my mechanics and we tested the motor responsible for opening the valve and concluded it was dead... Have ordered a new one

Thanks for your advices !! will keep you posted

 

[Julio]

Hi everyone, a quick update.

Motor responsible for opening the valve on the left side was changed but it did not fix the issue. We have confirmed that the old motor was dead by installing it on the other exhaust - would not open the valve. When putting the new motor on this other side it does open the valve.
So the motor is now good but the issue is somewhere else...

We will continue investigating but it might be an electronic issue... what is interesting is that when disconnecting the motor on the right side (the one that works), driving modes cannot be selected anymore. When doing the same on the left side driving modes can still be changed, suggesting that the system does not detect the presence/absence of the motor...

More later (but if you have any idea let me know !

 

[Sl13cobra]

Hi everyone, a quick update.

Motor responsible for opening the valve on the left side was changed but it did not fix the issue. We have confirmed that the old motor was dead by installing it on the other exhaust - would not open the valve. When putting the new motor on this other side it does open the valve.
So the motor is now good but the issue is somewhere else...

We will continue investigating but it might be an electronic issue... what is interesting is that when disconnecting the motor on the right side (the one that works), driving modes cannot be selected anymore. When doing the same on the left side driving modes can still be changed, suggesting that the system does not detect the presence/absence of the motor...

More later (but if you have any idea let me know !

Take it to a Ford dealer

 

[Julio]

Take it to a Ford dealer

I would love to but I have the chance to own this car in Europe (not distributed by Ford here), but will bring it indeed to the local "specialist"

 

[Tomster]

Is it possible the valve is corroded stuck in one position which burned up the actuator? I recently read of a case where the valve was stuck due to dissimilar metal corrosion (galvanic) and it required the removal and rebuild of the assembly. Simply put, does the valve move freely?

 

[rj45]

I’ve been wondering if these muffler valves should be lubricated from time to time. Any thoughts?

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