RVKamper
CA
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1989 Class-C 25-foot Ford E350 RV gasser with 79K miles (first-year fuel injection).
Question: Upon start-up while preparing for a trip in Feb. 2022 there was a loud noise like something broke, clattered, and/or something in the bottom end.
Upon subsequent start-ups, it does not repeat the noise, but now what I get is after revving up the motor, as it settles to idle, there is a rattling (almost like a baby noise of the initial noise), seems like noise is from the bottom end except I cannot pinpoint where. it is when I rev the motor in neutral that it settles. And other than the rattle that settles, it seems “normal”. As far as the behavior when driving, it slowly, gradually loses power until I’m creeping along in the shoulder, then the tow truck. My thinking tells me if it was a catastrophic failure in the engine, as was my first thought, then it wouldn’t run at all. My home made other demands on my time this weekend (can you say garbage disposal?), so I have not gotten under the rig yet.
In the Fall of 2021 the RV would not pass smog. The goal was to get the vehicle to pass smog, which it did, but it was also in need of a tune-up. Some work done by the shop, some I did myself. Took one trip after tune-up with good performance, but now this problem. I am able to back the vehicle out of the driveway and drive (slowly) on my residential street and put it back in the driveway, but I cannot get on the highway. A mechanic friend suggests it might be either the heat riser (does the FI engine even still have a heat riser??), or the Cat, but neither of those make sense to me. Please advise. TY.
Work done to this point.
Tune-up (fluids, sparks, wires, distributor cap, rotor, belts, hoses)
Map sensor checks ok
Battery ok
PCV valve ok
Fuel pressure regulator replaced
Catalytic converter checked out ok
O2 sensor replaced
Fuel filter replaced
Fan clutch replaced (3 years ago)
Fuel pump replaced (Twice!!)
* This post was
edited 05/01/22 07:33pm by RVKamper *
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bobndot
USA
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At that age it could be so many things.
I would try to get more specific info on Ford forums if someone cant advise you here.
Here is one example. Read thru this or try others on the Ford truck forum.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10100........igns-of-a-bad-catalytic-converter-2.html
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jdc1
Rescue, Ca
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Why not drop the oil pan and investigate?
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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jdc1 wrote:Why not drop the oil pan and investigate?
I’m not certain the OP means bottom end like crankshaft and pistons. Maybe. But pretty sure it was a general under the vehicle reference from reading into the rest of his post.
OP. Describe how it runs in more detail.
No power?
Rev up smoothly in neutral?
Misfiring?
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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RVKamper wrote:1989 Class-C 25-foot Ford E350 RV gasser with 79K miles (first-year fuel injection).
Question: Upon start-up while preparing for a trip in Feb. 2022 there was a loud noise like something broke, clattered, and/or something in the bottom end.
I am able to back the vehicle out of the driveway and drive (slowly) on my residential street and put it back in the driveway, but I cannot get on the highway.
Like Gritdog posted
Can you expand on your second paragraph a little so we can get a clearer picture of the issue.
Is it only able to drive slowly or are have you not had a chance to drive any faster? What happens when you try to drive faster?
Does it just have no power?
Does it get really noisy and you're hesitant to drive faster?
Does it seem to choke up or lose power the harder you press on the accelerator?
2001 Suburban 4x4. 6.0L, 4.10 3/4 ton
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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RVKamper wrote:1989 Class-C 25-foot Ford E350 RV gasser with 79K miles (first-year fuel injection).
Question: Upon start-up while preparing for a trip in Feb. 2022 there was a loud noise like something broke, clattered, and/or something in the bottom end.
Upon subsequent start-ups, it does not repeat the noise, but now what I get is after revving up the motor, as it settles to idle, there is a rattling (almost like a baby noise of the initial noise), seems like noise is from the bottom end except I cannot pinpoint where.
Check the simple things first, like heat shields around the catalytic converters, exhaust pipes and mufflers.
If the noise is coming from inside the engine it is probably not worth fixing.
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Tom_Anderson
NorCal
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If the catalytic converter is broken inside, it can rattle, and it can plug up the exhaust, which would cause a lack of power.
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RVKamper
CA
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You are all great, thank you for the input. To expand on the second paragraph as someone suggested, it is when I rev the motor in neutral that it settles. And other than the rattle that settles, it seems “normal”. As far as the behavior when driving, it slowly, gradually loses power until I’m creeping along in the shoulder, then the tow truck. My thinking tells me if it was a catastrophic failure in the engine, as was my first thought, then it wouldn’t run at all. My home made other demands on my time this weekend (can you say garbage disposal?), so I have not gotten under the rig yet.
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ernie1
Sacramento,California,USA
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Joined: 02/10/2004
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At one time I also had a 1989 Ford E350 with 460 engine and FI. I also had the very same identical symptoms and the problem was the two(yes two) oxygen sensors had failed and the catalytic converter was glowing red while running hard and it was plugged up. All of this heat caused the AC high side hose to pop loose and the propane tank pressure relief valve to periodically let loose with a long violent whoosh! Along with not having much power for the engine, I was getting 4 1/2 mpg. Oh, also, the fastest the vehicle could go was 45 mph.
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time2roll
Southern California
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I would start with a compression check and possibly want to recheck the ignition timing to see if the timing chain jumped a tooth.
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