Valpo Camper
Valpo, Indiana
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Joined: 10/01/2005
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My 2005 class C is built on a 2004 frame with the Ford V10 in it. It has developed an intermittent misfire this year but not enough to give a CEL.
Google searches tells me that it probably needs new plugs to cure this.
I am planning to replace the plugs despite their low mileage although being original. Rig only has 26,000 miles on it. Should I do coils at the same time or just the plugs?
2005 Gulfstream Conquest LE 28 foot
2018 Wrangler JLU - pulling duty as a daily and toad
2012 Audi A7 - daily fun car
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mleekamp
Washington, IL
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I'm not a fan of replacing parts in hope it will cure the ailment. Sometimes we need to, but I'd dig deeper and find root cause. It may not throw a code, but reading data while driving (having co-pilot to help) would be better. Could be a long list of things from plugs, coil pack, and more. Having had a V10 in a C, I've not experienced the misfire issue. Hopefully you can gather more info, perform a few tests first.
**real life example: my friend had intermittent issue with a zero turn not starting, not even turning over. He began replacing parts...battery (twice), starter, coil, some other items...turns out, after all that, he mentions it to me...and after 30 seconds of looking at it, I saw a loose ground to frame. That did it. Not saying yours is that easy...but in this case, $500+ spent and turns out issue was to put the proper lockwasher on the ground to keep it tight.
Issues such as random misfire can be hard to diagnose.
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nickthehunter
Midwest
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Joined: 07/18/2005
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More likely it’s the coil pak rather then the spark plugs. If you put a code reader on it it will tell you how many misfires there are on each cylinder. I’ll bet one or two of them has an exceptionally high number of misfires compared to the others.
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zigzagrv
Nazareth, PA
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nickthehunter wrote:More likely it’s the coil pak rather then the spark plugs. If you put a code reader on it it will tell you how many misfires there are on each cylinder. I’ll bet one or two of them has an exceptionally high number of misfires compared to the others.
^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^
Get a OBDII code reader, they're cheap. Over 100k miles on my 2002 and still has original plugs. However I have replaced 3 coil packs in that time. Code reader tells me which cylinders are misfiring.
Ron
2003 Gulf Stream Ultra Supreme 33'
F53 Class A
2013 Ford Edge toad
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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^What these guys said. Likely one or more of the coils. Very common Triton motor issue, all displacements. I’d narrow that down, replace the one(indicated bad) figure out how to check that with code reader and keep a spare one or 2 for future quick fixes.
However the bigger issue with the Triton platform is the spark plugs. And there were 2 different issues. Some will shear the threads in the head and spit out plugs (also easy to strip or shear threads off when removing them, especially now that they’re old and corroded, anything with original crusty plugs is more likely).
Other models the plugs will rust in and stick and the plugs will snap off and stay stuck in the head.
I believe your model year and V10 is a spitter, not a sticker. And being 2004 is a 3 valve motor which has 8 threads vs the original 2 valve heads which had only 4 threads.
Regardless, both engines will spit plugs, the 2V is more likely than the 3V. And some would also randomly loosen due to mis matched mating surfaces. And others would break the spark plug (8 thread heads) resulting in a similar condition to the ones that even more commonly got stuck but not as often.
I’ve had 2V V10s spit plugs and newer v8 tritons stick plugs. Never had an issue with the 3V V10s and had a few of those too. Adjectivally they are IMO the least bad of 3-4 different bad designs. Few years ago bought a pristine 30k mile Mustang GT (a sticker not a spitter). Car never even saw rain in over 10 years until we bought it. I went after the plugs right away and it was touch and go getting over half of them out without snapping them.
If I was planning on keeping it a lot longer, I’d first verify and fix the issue with the misfires which is 90% chance the coil packs. Then I’d analyze whether to get those plugs out of there or not. And I’d buy repair kit (it common enough that there are diy repair kits available forever now) and know how to use it. And use copper antiseize on ANY/ALL Triton spark plug threads. For different reasons based on what engine it is.
Also good news if it does spit one plug, it’ll still run well enough to get you somewhere besides the shoulder of the road, but with the obvious consideration of it pumping out gasoline vapor 2-4000 times per minute…lol.
Not sure I’ve ever seen random misfires as a defective spark plug condition in hundreds of 2 and 4 stroke engines. Fix the coils and then if you win big at the casino one night, your luck may be still good enough the next morning to get the plugs out without stripping or breaking any.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Idk how bad the access is on a C van chassis to repair stripped blown out threads. Only did it once on an old 2V class A but removing the doghouse provided good access.
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Valpo Camper
Valpo, Indiana
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I already have a code reader, will hook it up and see what's going on.
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Home Skillet
Pearland Texas
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Joined: 10/21/2004
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Mine had the same misfire, not enough to generate a DTC.
I just changed all the coils and plugs.
No point having another coil go out on a road trip.
2005 Gulf Stream Conquest 31ft
BigFoot Levelers,TST in tire TPMS,Bilstein Shocks,Trans temp guage,Lowrace iWAY
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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I used to carry and ODBII reader with me and read for misfires that didn't throw a code. I also carried spare coils. It got to the point I could change them in 5 mins. One thing I found did help, put a lot of dielectric grease on them before installing. The deep plug wells on the Fords hold moisture and think that's what fouls them. After doing that I never had the issue anymore.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Valpo Camper wrote:I already have a code reader, will hook it up and see what's going on.
If it's not throwing a code, look for misfire count on each cylinder. It's easy to see which one is the culprit.
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