Community Forums

Crasher · 07-30-2017, 05:55 PM

A friend has a 97 Pace Arrow on a Ford chassis with a 460 engine. It was just worked on and a loose battery cable was determined to be the problem. He drove it to our home on Friday and it ran great. We went to move it yesterday and it would hardly run with rich black smoke coming from the exhaust. It will not clear up with high rpm or running it for a few minutes.

For you 460 mechanics, what are the cause possibilities?

subford · 07-30-2017, 06:17 PM

Vacuum line came off the MAP sensor would be my guess.

429CV23 · 07-30-2017, 06:28 PM

+1
MAP vac hose

Crasher · 07-30-2017, 06:48 PM

I just came back in to post that I found the problem and see that both of you were right. We suspected a vacuum line when we opened up the doghouse. The previous problem was random engine shut downs for 2-5 seconds while on the road. The tech had to hook up to the OBD1 right next to the MAP and must have loosened the hose, but it did not drop off till the engine cooled down Friday night. That problem turned out to be a loose end of the positive battery cable. The clamp was tight, but the cable was loose in its end.

Thanks for the responses.

InGear · 08-04-2017, 08:07 PM

I have a 1996 Coachman Mirada it runs between the A and the L sometimes pass NORMAL it has a 195 thermostat I am thinking of putting a 185 thermostat has any body got any ideas? Thanks,

subford · 08-05-2017, 05:53 AM

Most trucks I would say don't do it as the PCM needs the right temp to work right. But your era F53 runs in open loop 95% of the time an also runs on the warm side so I do not see where it would make any difference running in warm areas.
Might be a little problem if you run the F53 in the Winter up North.

Nick-B · 08-05-2017, 04:13 PM

First, verify your coolant temps. You could have a faulty temp sending unit or bad gauge. An IR temp gun is a quick, easy way to check, or remove the radiator cap and stick a candy thermometer in there.
If it truly is running hot a 185 t-stat is a poor bandaid to what is more likely a plugged radiator or simply a failing t-stat. Stay with the correct 195. Remember those temp numbers are only where the t- stat starts to open, it does not control full operating temp.