Need help with E350- lacks power problem

[Tiger62]

Hi,
New to the group and thanks in advance for any help offered... we need some advice.

We have a 1999 24 ft Jamboree with a Ford 350 engine. Second owner, about 50 K on the odo. We use the RV for vending with our business and are up against a deadline for an event.

After sitting for about 6 months between venues, we gassed it up for Hurricane Isaac as a precaution for evacuation/generator use. We weathered the storm ok, (lost power for a few days-- generator ran fine for limited use), and parked it back in the driveway.

It has been off-again, on-again throwing emissions codes for a few trips lately. We recently test drove it in anticipation of a trip (this weekend), and it lacked power to get to highway speeds. Codes indicated the EDPM sensor, which we changed. And the fuel filter. After another test drive, (at night), we saw the catalytic converter was glowing red hot. Exhaust system melted air shock line. Next move, change the $500 cat and fix air shocks. Test drove last night-- better power, but still not normal. Cat and muffler appeared hot and air shock line melted again.

We have to have this rig running for an event tomorrow. Pulling out hair, at wit's end... Suggestions? Coils? Bad gas? Generator runs flawlessly.

PS-- just tried gas treatment-- threw codes-- PO356, 357, 358, 359, 360 and lights on meter C EV O OX E. Gah!

Thanks!
Lauren

[Showkey]

Originally Posted by Tiger62

Hi,
New to the group and thanks in advance for any help offered... we need some advice.

We have a 1999 24 ft Jamboree with a Ford 350 engine. Second owner, about 50 K on the odo. We use the RV for vending with our business and are up against a deadline for an event.

After sitting for about 6 months between venues, we gassed it up for Hurricane Isaac as a precaution for evacuation/generator use. We weathered the storm ok, (lost power for a few days-- generator ran fine for limited use), and parked it back in the driveway.

It has been off-again, on-again throwing emissions codes for a few trips lately. We recently test drove it in anticipation of a trip (this weekend), and it lacked power to get to highway speeds. Codes indicated the EDPM sensor, which we changed. And the fuel filter. After another test drive, (at night), we saw the catalytic converter was glowing red hot. Exhaust system melted air shock line. Next move, change the $500 cat and fix air shocks. Test drove last night-- better power, but still not normal. Cat and muffler appeared hot and air shock line melted again.

We have to have this rig running for an event tomorrow. Pulling out hair, at wit's end... Suggestions? Coils? Bad gas? Generator runs flawlessly.

PS-- just tried gas treatment-- threw codes-- PO356, 357, 358, 359, 360 and lights on meter C EV O OX E. Gah!

Thanks!
Lauren

The CAT and hot muffler are results of most likely an engine misfire and raw fuel entering the CAT.............you must find and fix the misfire before you trash the new CAT?

Was the engine light flashing? That is the warning for CAT damage possible. Bad gas and stuck injectors can also give the same symptoms you are having since the vehicle sat unused bad gas is possible. Stuck injectors would fold the CAT with raw fuel and cause a misfire.

The codes are coil related but could be wiring to the coils as well ( mouse damage after setting) . Since you appear to have multiple coil codes you might look at was in common to all the coils..........wiring, PCM etc. is cyl 6,7,8,9,10 all one bank of this motor? If yes, wiring damage under the covers on that bank???

EDIT google says that all those cylinders are on the left bank (viewed from driver seat)

Bad gas not likely to effect only on bank...... back to the wiring....I smell a mouse

[Tiger62]

Hi, Showkey,

Wow... great advice. We have had mice in the rig in the past but never noticed any damage to the engine compartment. We live in a rural area and the place is rampant with field mice.

We will look into that immediately! Hopefully that's the issue. Would be an easier fix than what we've feared.

Thanks again!

Lauren

[mfsb]

I have a 1988 Fleetwood Tioga with an EFI 460. I had a similar problem, horrible gas mileage and almost no power. I am talking 2 miles to the gallon. I replaced the fuel pump thinking a weak fuel pump was the cause, it didn't help. I followed peoples advice on here and I found the Fuel Pressure Regulator was squirting fuel through the vacuum hose. I replaced that and it fixed it. I would look there, the fuel pressure regulator has a vacuum hose on top, take that off and turn the key on, if fuel squirts out of the vacuum port it is bad.

[Tiger62]

Hi, Folks,

Sorry we didn't post the "answer" to our issues earlier-- it's been a hectic few months.

Here's what we discovered and what it cost us: After searching for signs of mice damage, found none. Codes still indicated coil packs on left side of engine. Couldn't fix it on the driveway with our limited understanding of the problem, so gave up and had it hauled via wrecker to the closest Ford dealer that worked on RVs (also a local camper dealer). They said it was the computer, and that it would be about $850 to install and "program". Ok. Above our heads so we let them fix it. About five days later, they called for us to come get it. Said it ran, but had a little "lope" in it. Said we needed to change spark plugs. That would be $500 for them to do it. We said "no thanks" and drove it home. Sure enough, it ran, but still not right. We decided to brave the spark plug installation, seeking a lot of good advice from our local Napa dealer, and Youtube videos! Hubby started in on the work a couple of days later, and immediately discovered-- the dealership had left TWO coil packs DISCONNECTED COMPLETELY. Yeah, that would cause a "little lope", sure! We were extremely annoyed, and wondered if they did it on purpose to make us bring it back, but since we'd already bought the spark plugs and we going through with the job, we ignored their stupidity and carefully replaced each of the 10 spark plugs ourselves. Only one coil and one spark plug was bad (probably because of the weak coil). The others were not that bad and could have gone a little longer. After the spark plugs were replaced and all the coils were properly reconnected, we started it up and it ran like a champ! YEA!

So, to recap:
Catalytic Converter: (probably initially destroyed because of the Computer) $500
Vacuum Controller for EGR Valve: $60
Computer: $850 (could have changed ourselves for $150 from Autozone part!)
Spark Plugs: $50
Coil: $50
Special spray to loosen plugs from cylinder heads (Liquid DeepCreep): $8
Reconnecting the coils the dealership failed to do: N/C but AGGRAVATION!
Total: $1,518.00

Hope this helps someone else-- it's been on the road a couple of times since December (including a long distance 1,100 mile trip) and should be good to go for foreseeable future.

Thanks for your advice and happy RVing...

Lauren and Mike

[Conquest102]

THANK YOU for the info. I will keep this in mind.

[mfsb]

Happy for you that you were able to troubleshoot and find your problems. I have found so much information on the net, that most repairs are much easier than the dealer would have you believe. Good luck and next time you have problems remember you can probably fix it with a little help.