dharrisonz

I decided that for me personally it was not worth the stress and cost to continue with the situation and traded for a new leftover 2014 Focus. I think the dealer gave me an ok deal all things considered, but Ford corporate did nothing for me.

I asked if maybe the intake manifold had a crack or the flappers were stuck on the bad cylinder, but they said the manifold had checked out ok. I dont know if they did a thorough inspection, but wouldn't they have had to take the manifold off when they replaced the cylinder head?

Thanks all, for the comments and suggestions... The PCM was replaced yesterday and ran through all the computer updates today. No change - the engine still runs rough at idle when just charging the battery and the check engine light still comes on. They are trying to get a Ford engineer to come out and review everything that has been done so far.

My 2013 C-MAX has been a good car with no issues (except for dead battery and associated recalls) until 80,000 miles when the check engine light came on and the engine started running rough at idle. The dealer I bought it from said they did something to the computer regards misfires and reset the check engine light ($191.00). Within 15 miles or so the light came back on. I took it back to the dealer and before even hooking the car up to diagnostics said it is not the same problem, and were very belligerent and almost hostile to my pleasant inquiries about what could be wrong. I took the car to another dealer (Colonial Ford in Plymouth, MA) whom I am very happy with regards how they treat me and discuss the issue with me. They have also been very good about keeping the car over night and rechecking to make sure the "fixes" they have made have fixed the issue, but the check engine light continues to comes on and the idle is rough. They have supposedly been on the phone or chat with Ford engineers every day. Over several weeks they replaced a fuel injector, replaced spark plugs, replaced a connector that they thought was corroded and seemed to make the issue occur if they wiggled it, but the issue continues. I dont know what the codes are, but there is apparently something out of tolerance and reporting an issue with one particular cylinder. Next they wanted to replace the head, which I thought made little sense because there are no traditional symptoms of a bad head (no exhaust gas leaks, no oil leaks, no coolant leaks, no funny tappet sounds or anything like that). I asked if maybe the computer or some sensor could be bad or some wires crossed, but they replaced the head (took a week to get parts and a few days to replace it), and then they said they needed to replace or adjust something with the tappets, which indicates to me that the replacement head is probably a used part, so now I have an old major part in my car, AND, of course, it did not fix the problem. Once you tear down/rebuild an engine like this it is never the same. Now they want to replace the whole computer - not sure how long that will take to get the part. Fortunately I bought extended bumper to bumper warranty when I bought the car, so there will supposedly only be a $100 charge to me if and when they ever fix the problem. Ford, and/or my extended warranty is covering a service rental, but I am paying $16 a day for no-worry insurance on the rental (this is Massachusetts, the rental insurance is expensive - car rentals in other states only charge $9 for it. Worth it for a few day rental, but this is now the 4th or 5th week and I cant afford it, but I commute 130 miles a day to work and have to have a reliable car. Although this car has 80,000 miles they are clean highway miles, the car has been serviced regularly at the dealer and is otherwise like new. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before and I am at a loss as to what to do. Even if they eventually fix the issue I have no confidence in the car - I wish that Ford would just buy me out of the car or give some special incentive to trade it in for something else. I think Colonial Ford has been straight-up with me and is trying to figure out the issue, but I am starting to wonder if maybe the extended warranty is just a license to perform work that is not needed - is that possible? Suggestions anyone?