Hi all can any one help me I have 2004 ba xr8 ute with 102000k's always looked after it then a couple of weeks ago it started not running right I took it to ford then they found out that in the head there was about 10 burnt out valves so then I got it fixed $3000 later. Then they tell me there's another problem and it's in number 1 cylinder and that the rings are Broken and that
Now it's not running properly and they said it's going to be a very big cost onto of the bill I already got. I then rang herrod motorsports and they said it's won't be the rings as they will pretty much not break but they said it's more than likely they have set the timing wrong and that will probably be the case. So if any one can shed some light that would be great so I can get my ute back on the road. Hope some one out there can help cheers

i would get the timing checked by someone like herrod or another ford specialist
for some reason ford mechanics dont know s**t they tried to my mate that his xr8 has 2 blown head gaskets because it has starting difficulties turns out the fuel pump wasnt pressurising enough on start up

Thanks mate for your help I'll definately get a second opinion or some one else to check out the timing also if it was a Brocken rings in piston wouldn't it still run fine and wouldn't it blow a bit of smoke. Should of heard it it was f**ked

the last car i saw with a broken ring would foul that plug in about 150 kms of driving it had a cam so i culdnt tell if was causing idle diffuculties and it would run on 7 when fouled
pull out the plugs and check if theres oil on no 1 plug that your answer

hi again all got some info on my ute today from ford but still not running right and here it is below and can you people have a quick look and see if they are right as im abit confused

Hi adrian,

As requested, list of what we have done, and what we have found with engine since.



Road tested car, found to lack power. Checked car on ids computer and came up with misfire on cylinders 1,2,4 & 8. Checked and found water in coil #8. Cleaned out coil #8, #8 all ok now. Swapped coils and plugs, misfire found still be there. Carried out compression tests on cylinder heads, found to have fault in right hand(drivers side) head as per below test.



-cylinder 1 -115

-cylinder 2 -125

-cylinder 3 -160

-cylinder 4 -120

-cylinder 5 -165

-cylinder 6 -160

-cylinder 7 -160

-cylinder 8 -165



Removed head and sent away to be repaired. Repairer dismantled head, inspected, cleaned and reconditioned head including cylinder head guides and valve seats. Reassembled head.



We then refitted head and replaced all necessary parts as listed below.



Rocker arm gaskets

Spark plug recess gaskets

Front cylinder cover gaskets

Crankshaft seal

Manifold gasket

Thermostat seal

Cylinder head gasket

Cylinder head bolts

Spark plugs

Coolant



Ran car, seemed a lot better but still had mild misfire. Now appears that once engine and exhaust heats up, cat converters appear to be failing therefore blocking exhaust and preventing the engine from revving.

We have since found low compression on #1, #3 & #4 by way of compression test. Obviously since rh cylinder head repaired and refitted, the head now fully sealing, is placing more load on the compression rings and has caused a failure in compression. The cause of the partially blocked cat converters would be a result of the valves not sealing and pushing unburnt gasses through to the exhaust system.



The replacement of the cat converters will only provide better engine breathing but not fix the compression concern….which will ultimately result in further damage.



Any questions please don’t hesitate to call

ok so i read this but it still doesnt tell you what is wrong sounds like you spent alot of mony to get the head reco'd for jack s**t really
i'd unbolt the exhaust from before the cats and try it but i think they're leaning towards a full rebuild
unless youre gonna do some work to the motor i'd just get a second hand one fitted and sell the parts off yours and save the nightmares

OK, so lets see. Before the head was replaced they had low compression on 1, 2 and 4. After they replaced the head they again have low compression on 1, 2 and 4? Doesnt sound like the head had anything wrong with it so i wouldnt pay for it!!! Take it Herrod and get there opinion mate.

It could be that they have put the timing back on wrong, like one tooth out. So it will still run but like crap.

If you have a standard exhaust you can unbolt the cats from the exhaust really easily "unless you have a seized nut like i did" and check inside. I would be checking myself before commiting that kind of money.

Ford mechanics just go in guns blazing. I remember once i had a new sump fitted cuz a hilicoil unwound in the plug hole, then i take it back for its first service since the sump was replaced and pick it up, 3 months later im bit low on cash so i do that service myself and what do i find? another helicoil!!!

hi all thanks for yor comments and helping out every one i have spoke to says check the timing they probably did it wrong when installing,hope that is the case, but they are trying to tell me after all this it now has brocken rings and will require a rebuild as it will only get worse, but im not so sure

I hope this is a lesson to a lot of people. unfortunately $3000 and 3 months to late for you Adrian.
DO NOT under any circumstances take your Ford to Ford for servicing!!
If rings were gone, pulling the plugs would have found them to be oiled up, and the sensor on that bank would have been malfunctioning from all the oil on it.
Bottom line, you would not do a full rebuild on one head without futher investigating!
Try and get a second opinion, but seeing the have your car, they will want money before they'll give you your keys!

hi all got my ute back today from ford had to pay $2500 and still runs like s**t, even worse than i give it to them, but recently i bought a obd2 code scanner and i have just plugged it in and 1 code comes up, so i looked it up and it says it P0006 fuel shut off valve.A control circuit low, what does this mean and how do i go about fixing it if possible