Everything's fine yesterday morning, except a red light in the message sender indicating that the boot was open. It was not. No big deal I thought, and then started up and drove for about 20 miles, when the engine started missing a bit, not much but I could just make out that it was missing. Within a mile or two it was barely running. Still only the red light and boot open message showing. Headed back to the house limping. The check engine light started blinking on and off ??? She would not idle without dying and would not rev over 2500 RPM.
When we returned home and put the gauge on her there were no codes available. The gauge is working, all the other indicators showed fine. Then then the "Reduced Preformance" message appeared on the board.
She was not running hot and everything seemed normal.
I have no idea where to start looking.
Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated...

 

Boot open seems odd for sure.

Try checking the voltage of the battery with the car off and running if you can. I've had a bad cell in a battery cause similar symptoms or a weak alternator might cause the batter to discharge which can lead to all manner of weird behavior.

 

Lol with the car off and running?

 

Have you attempted to clear the codes although you have no viewable codes and if you did does is it run normally? Plug your code reader in and drive the car and see if you can capture the problem code that way.

 

It does sound like a battery problem, but from your post I get the impression you don't have a code reader. You really do need one.

 

Fine, how about: Check the voltage with the car not running and also with it running. I.e. The static voltage of the battery by itself and also the charging voltage from the alternator.

The former should be around 12.5V and the latter 14V or more.

Do you understand now?

 

I do have a plug in reader, it shows no codes. It does read other readings. It has been raining here so I have not yet had an oppertunity to check the battery as other members suggested.

 

I was just busting your.....

 

I figured as much.

Tag, you're it!

 

What have you found?

 

[QUOTE=ccfulton;1048646]I figured as much.

Tag, you're it! [/

Glad to see you have a sense of humor.

 

Battery checked as new. However, now I get three codes on my device: 0300,0305 and 0306....I have lost my code list and do not know where to find one on the net or the Forum.
The car started immediately, but was missing as before.
If anyone would let me know where to translate the codes, I would appreciate it..Thanks

 

0300 - random misfire
0305 - Cyl 5 misfire
0306 - Cyl 6 misfire


Those are the kind of things I was getting when moisture was trapped under the coil cover plates.


Dave

 

Thanks for the reply! It is dry under the hood. It does seem like a moisture problem, if this were an old Ford I would be spraying the inside of a distributor cap right away. "Ain't progress swell" It once was a sequence of operation that would enable one to find a problem. If it were not for this Forum I would not be able to keep this beautiful car.

 

It may be dry under the hood, but you might want to remove those two coils, first two on the left bank and see if there is moisture or oil in the plug boots. An oil leak can cause a misfire. Then swap coils 7&8 for 5&6 and see if the error code moves to those cylinders.
You can download the DTC summaries from the DIY sticky on this forum.

 

This link to the DTC codes will help

Link http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Auto..._2001_OBD2.pdf

 

A bit of news: All bad.....So far we found cylinder 6 seems ok, but number 5 has 0 lbs. compression. Its spark plug has a odd chip showing, and with the spy scope, there appears to be a shiney bit laying on the on the piston top???? Will be removeing the head next week to get more information.

 

Ouch! It may have a broken valve and that may be a piece of it you see. It may be what chipped the plug bouncing around. Unfortunately that piece moving around could also score up the cylinder wall which would not be a good thing. Sorry about the bad news and hopefully you can get by with something relatively simple like just a new valve.


Dave