Injector Issues

[JaxHammer56]

I tried to find a forum where this question would fit but it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, so if I’m in the wrong place please forgive me and direct me to where I should be.

I replaced my fuel injectors in my 1996 F53 460 with Banks Power system because it was running poorly, especially at idle and first start. Since doing so, it runs and idles great but I get a CEL more often than not when under way. I haven’t flashed the code yet because it is an intermittent code and clears on its own.

The injectors I installed were Accel 24 lb., going by the limited information I could find online. Does anyone know if a 24 lb injector is correct for this engine, and whether or not it would have been changed when the Banks system was installed?

I’ll pull a plug in the not too distant future to see if I’m rich or lean but I’m recovering from surgery and not up to it yet.

[GypsyR]

24 pound per hour is correct for any 7.5 that is not turbocharged, supercharged, or converted to run on E85 fuel.
Rarely do stock Ford injectors fail but they do have screens in their inlets that tend to clog with fuel deposits. That our F53s technically have three fuel filters before the injectors doesn't seem to help with that. But anyway, problably you replaced Ok but dirty injectors with nice new clean ones. But that's OK, I did too.

Usually you can check the code with a scanner. If it disappears when the key is turned off you may not get it doing the check engine light flash method. My coach doesn't go anywhere unless the antiquated OBDI scanner I use is on board. I can't abide a check engine light and not knowing what it is. I also don't like counting flashes and looking up what they mean, though that usually does work.
Another truck of mine which is also Ford OBD I likes to turn the light on and off for a partially clogged EGR (probably). An EGR code in any case, which has yet to worry me enough to bump it up my to-do list. I can't have that sort of thing on my RV. That big ol thing is way too expensive and inconvenient to have towed. I attend to any such issue pretty quick.

[JaxHammer56]

Originally Posted by GypsyR

My coach doesn't go anywhere unless the antiquated OBDI scanner I use is on board..

I didn’t know they made a scanner for the old OBD system. I’ll look into getting one of those before they go obsolete. Thanks for the tip.

[GypsyR]

Originally Posted by JaxHammer56

I didn’t know they made a scanner for the old OBD system. I’ll look into getting one of those before they go obsolete. Thanks for the tip.

I once bought an Actron because it came with the old OBDI adapters. Reads everything BUT Ford for some reason. Other people have reported luck with Actrons, I may have gotten a bad one.
My RV's scanner is a Snap On Modis that was last updated in 2009. (Also is a scope and does OBDII) I don't care that it is outdated because I keep it specifically for older stuff and they do not update information for 20 year vehicles anyway. I found it at a pawn shop. The Actron came from Amazon.
Look for one that does "datastream", very handy. Using it you can see when a temperature sending unit has failed making the computer think it is in high summer when it's actually below freezing. Not starting and not setting any codes. One real world example you will about never figure out with just a blinking dash light.

[House Husband]

I suspect you may have an O2 sensor failing.
Also, those 24lb. injectors in your F53 have 14.4 ohm coils.

Richard

[JaxHammer56]

Originally Posted by House Husband

I suspect you may have an O2 sensor failing.
Also, those 24lb. injectors in your F53 have 14.4 ohm coils.

Richard

Thanks Richard. Forgive me but I'm still pretty much a carburetor guy. I'm trying to catch on to the fuel injection thing but it's been a bit of a learning curve for me. I went with the Accel injectors because I have some history with their products and know them to be of good quality. tried to check the specs on them and it only says high-impedance. I did notice that they are also available in a low-impedance configuration. Unfortunately, I don't know what that means.

[JaxHammer56]

I received my new scanner yesterday. Bought it through Amazon. It's a INNOVA 3145 specifically for Ford and came with a really thick book. I don't know if it has datastream capability. Looks like I'm in for some more studying. Hope to try it out in the next couple of days.

[JaxHammer56]

Okay, so it looks like I'm good for the coil impedance. According to a web search, high-impedance uses 8 to 16 ohms of coil resistance while low-impedance is 4 ohms and below. Now I can focus on scanning and perhaps O2 sensor failures. Being an older rig, an O2 sensor failure won't surprise me.

[JaxHammer56]

I finally got to run a test for codes today. I only ran the KOEO test as it produced codes, which I have to clear before progressing to the KOER test. The codes it produced is as follows:

539 - KOEO code - A/C on during test. It was. Easy fix. I'll turn it off next time.

654 - KOEO code - Not in "Park" during KOEO self-test. It was. I'm not sure what to do about that.

171- CM code - (Trucks Only) HEGO (HO2S) sensor fault/not switching.

172 - CM code - HEGO (HO2S) sensor fault/lean.

From this I gather there is a problem with the O2 sensor. The parts listings show an upstream and downstream sensor on both banks but I have only one sensor mounted in the Y-pipe. Not sure how to identify the right sensor at this point.

Any tips are welcomed.

[House Husband]

You only have one O2 sensor in your system.
Look closely and you'll see that the O2 sensor is only reading the left bank.
The ECM diverts the smog pump air from the left bank for a few seconds and then reads the O2 sensor.
The ECM takes random readings, and over time makes adjustments to the A/F ratio.
Also another item of note on the injectors. The OEM injectors have 4 small delivery holes for better fuel atomization. Hopefully you didn't purchase injectors with only one delivery hole.

The Neutral Safety Position Switch, on the left side of the transmission, determines what position the shift lever is in. If your F53 starts when in park, the NSPS is doing it's job.

Richard

[JaxHammer56]

I am amazed by your understanding of this system. I had noticed that there was only O2 sensor and it was monitoring only the left bank (couldn't have told you why). I finally got it replaced (would sooner have nailed my hand to a tree!).

Cleared the codes and rescanned. KOEO came up clean except that it still doesn't believe the coach is in park. KOER is showing a code 412. I know it has something to do with the computer's ability to control the throttle. I'm not sure where to go from here, TPS, AIC, something else? I don't even know what controls it has.

I did find that the injectors are 14.4 ohm impedance. I couldn't find anything about the number of holes in the injectors. The only thing I saw that may mean something to you is "low-mass disc design". At any rate, the coach starts and runs great and so far there is no check engine light.

I haven't taken it for a drive to see if it will generate any other codes. I would kind of like to take care of the code 412 first.

[JaxHammer56]

So, I took some initiative and pulled off the IAC solenoid. Inspection showed that the plunger has barely moved for some time. I purchased and installed a new one, then ran a KOEO and a KOER test and both came back clear, except for the code that says it thinks it's not in park.

I have yet to take it on a test run but it's coming in the next week or so. I don't expect any more issues.

I cannot thank you guys enough for all of your help. You are AWESOME! God's blessings my friends. Unless I am wrong about the test run, I think we can put this one to bed.

[JaxHammer56]

We took the coach on a short camping trip last weekend. It did real good for about 8 miles then it threw another code. This time I am getting a code 327 in Continuous Memory. The CEL will come on intermittently, more on than off.

Several years ago I replaced the EGR valve but not the EVP sensor. I pulled the plug and contacts appear to be fine. I suspect the EVP sensor and have ordered one but was wondering if there is a way to check voltage, while I await the new part, or if there are any other checks I should conduct in the meantime.

It just baffles me that I never got a CEL until I replaced the injectors and now it has been one code after another, apparently all legitimate. I guess, as different systems come back up they identify other failures!?!