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hello i have an 2006 mercury milan 2.3.. i just replaced the

 
 
 

Customer Question

hello i have an 2006 mercury milan 2.3.. i just replaced the engine in it. the customer broke a rod or something theirs a hole in the block.. but anyways i put the new engine in it and it will not idle right. i can give it gas a little and it will start but idle still not right. the idle will go up and down when holding petal open a little. i have checked for vac leaks. none that i see.. i do have auto light plat plugs in it. can you help? i did swap out the cranksenser at the time i did not know that their was a tool to align it up.. will that cause it to act up?

Submitted: 1088 days and 5 hours ago.
Category: Ford
Status: CLOSED
 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1088 days and 3 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

Hello and thank you for asking your question on just answer. I suggest you start by checking to see if there are any codes set in the pcm with a scan tool. Also to answer your question, Yes a misaligned crank sensor could cause this, crank sensors can cause all sorts of issues. The crank sensor should be aligned properly I have seen a bunch of problems caused by this exact situation - engine replaced and crank sensor not aligned properly. I hope this helps you with your repair.

Thank you,
Kyle

Please hit accept, otherwise I will not get paid for answering your question

 
 
 
 
 
 
1088 days and 3 hours ago.

Customer Reply

how do i align the crank sensor? theres a special tool i have to have. i have alldata its telling me to take the block plug out and insert the tool to align the crank sensor... i have never done this before. whats the purpose for the block plug? alldata doesn't tell me much about this. can you futher explain? thanks

there are no codes.. theirs one but it's the relearn 1000 something like that. that part will have to wait to i get the drive cycle done...39962.1913456366

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1088 days and 2 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

There is a block plug in the lower part of the engine block on the back side of the engine. It is about level with the horizontal centerline of the crankshaft, maybe a little higher or lower. When you remove the blind plug, you will then thread in a pin that a couple of inches long or so. Make sure that you thread the plug in with the engine at TDC or just past TDC. Then you will roll the crankshaft against the pin this puts the engine at exactly TDC. Once this is done you will then align the crank sensor mark with the mark on the crank pulley. This pin is used because there is no keyway used to align the crankshaft timing chain pulley, so if you remove the harmonic balancer bolt without this special tool in place the engine will loose timing. This pin is also used when timing the camshaft to the crankshaft and installing the timing chain. To my knowledge the only way to get this tool is through Ford, but it might be available through an aftermarket tool source. OTC is the manufacturer of the tool. I hope this helps you with your repair.


Thank You,

Kyle

Please hit accept, otherwise I will not get paid for answering your question.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1088 days and 2 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

There is a block plug in the lower part of the engine block on the back side of the engine. It is about level with the horizontal centerline of the crankshaft, maybe a little higher or lower. When you remove the blind plug, you will then thread in a pin that a couple of inches long or so. Make sure that you thread the plug in with the engine at TDC or just past TDC. Then you will roll the crankshaft against the pin this puts the engine at exactly TDC. Once this is done you will then align the crank sensor mark with the mark on the crank pulley. This pin is used because there is no keyway used to align the crankshaft timing chain pulley, so if you remove the harmonic balancer bolt without this special tool in place the engine will loose timing. This pin is also used when timing the camshaft to the crankshaft and installing the timing chain. To my knowledge the only way to get this tool is through Ford, but it might be available through an aftermarket tool source. OTC is the manufacturer of the tool. I hope this helps you with your repair.     Thank You,   Kyle    Please hit accept, otherwise I will not get paid for answering your question.

 
 
 
 
 
 
1087 days and 9 hours ago.

Customer Reply

Hello again well i had to order the crank sensor they said it came with the tool.. I have alldata it only tells me but so much. Can you tell me how to align it? since their are no marks.. i know where the block plugs is and how to get it up on TDC. know once i have it on TDC i install the special tool. (how far do i srew it? all the way?) now once i have it in do i turn the crank at all? Now where are the marks on the crank balancer and the sensor it self? do you have an pic of it? tell me as much as detail as you can thanks
john

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1087 days and 3 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

I have posted a couple pictures below to help clarify a few things. Once the engine is at TDC you will then remove the block blind plug and thread the timing tool all the way into the hole by hand. You will then turn the crankshaft clockwise until it contacts the special tool. The timing peg will not thread in unless the engine is at TDC. I hope this helps.

Thank You,
Kyle

graphic

graphic

 
 
 
 
 
 
1086 days and 23 hours ago.

Customer Reply

ok yeah i know how to do that. how do i align the crank sensor with balancer? thats what im asking. how do i know when the crank sensor is align. where are the alignment marks? the crank sensor will slide up and down a little how do i know where to adjust it to? ...Thanks John39963.3752855324

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1086 days and 16 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

There is a centerline mark on the sensor and you align the centerline mark with the nearest trigger wheel tooth. If there is no center line mark on the sensor then just align the center of the sensor with the center of the trigger wheel tooth. Before sensor installation it is important that you install a 6mm X 18mm standard bolt into the crankshaft pulley at the six o'clock position. Install this bolt hand tight only. There is information listed on alldata about this bolt under crank sensor replacement. Ths bolt aligns with a hole in the cover and aligns the proper crankshaft trigger wheel tooth so that the crakshaft position sensor can be aligned centered to that tooth.


Thank You,
Kyle

 
 
 
 
 
 
1086 days and 13 hours ago.

Customer Reply

ok cool i got that. know this is an junt yard engine. just to make sure that i'm on the right trigger tooth wheel. how can u tell? just to make sure that the harmonic balancer has never been off.. is there something that i need to look for? cause I know this engine does not have a key in the crank.. So if needed how do i align the harmonic balancer?

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1086 days and 12 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

You will put a 6 X18mm standard bolt that threads into the balancer and then into the timing cover. This aligns the balancer on the crank once it is at TDC and the crank has been rotated clockwise against the pin. I have posted a picture of this alignment bolt below.

Thanks,
Kyle





graphic

 
 
 
 
 
 
1086 days and 12 hours ago.

Customer Reply

yeah i understand that. but im talking about what if someone has taking the balancer off. how can i check to see if it's in time? Remember this is an junk yard 2.3.. I swapped the engine in it and it's not starting. so the only thing i did was swap over the crank sensor plus everything else. i can turn the key it will try to start but no idle. i can hold the gas petal a little open it will try to to run for a few minutes but then will shut off.. I have no vac leaks. So the only thing i can think of is the crank sensor being off. but it does start but no idle. i can push the petal but i have no responce from the gas...39963.8817769676

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1086 days and 9 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

If you have the timing peg/tool in the blind hole and the balancer hole at the six o'clock position with the bolt threaded through it and into the timing cover, then the balancer is aligned correctlye. There is also a plate that times the cams together and to the crank. If all of these tools are installed properly including the bolt going throught the balancer, then the engine is successfully timed.

Thanks,
Kyle

 
 
 
 
 
 
1086 days and 8 hours ago.

Customer Reply

Lol duh you right i have been worriing about this car since i put the engine in.. i just can't get it to start. but i will know once the crank sensor gets in. i will let you know as soon as possible. but yeah i see what you are saying about the timing with cams and the special tool. thanks i will be getting in contact with you first of this coming week... i may need something else..

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1086 days and 8 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

Please hit accept if I have answered your question sufficiently, otherwise I will not get paid for answering your question. Any other questions you have for me can be asked on this thread as a reply at a later time.

Thank you very much,

Kyle

 
 
 
 
 
 
1084 days and 15 hours ago.

Customer Reply

got another question for you. I'm going to pay you with no problem. I was just wondering? now once I get the crank sensor on. what if it does the same thing? what will be the next step i go to.

The car will start with a little gas applied (after a few minutes of starting it)also it will crank and start with no gas just has no idle. but with the electronic throttle body. but once started it will serge a little and also the rpms will go up and down from about 1000 to 2500. after a few minutes of playing with the gas petal the car will just then shut off. it will crank back up again. but i have no vac leaks. what would the next step be? far as i know the car was running prier to the engine swap. just had a hole in the block behind the starter. So what can i check? it has fire, fuel, and compressing... thanks john

 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by Kyle 1084 days and 14 hours ago.

Expert's Answer

I suggest checking to see if any fault codes set with a scan tool. Write down all the codes, then clear the codes and then duplicate the problem and then retest for any codes again. The codes will be very helpful in diagnosis.

Thank you,
Kyle

 
 
 
 
 
 
1084 days and 14 hours ago.

Customer Reply

no codes, i tried that all ready

 
 
 
 
 
 

Accepted Answer

Sometimes it takes a while for a code to set and you want to check for memory codes as well as perform key on engine off and key on engine running self tests. If there is still a problem a code will set when both self tests are performed. Make sure the crank sensor doesn't fix the problem first though.

Thank you,
Kyle

Picture
Expert: Kyle
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 183

Ford Technician

Ford certified - Diesel, gas, electrical, a/c, man trans, diff, suspension. Specialize in Electrical

 
 
 
 
 
 
1084 days and 10 hours ago.

Customer Reply

ok i got it it was an vac leak at the intake. So took it off and put new gaskets on them. It fired right up and drove good.. It's an college kids car lol he thinks he is in a porshea or something. i guess i will will be putting a trans in it to sooner or later.. Anyways thanks for your time...

 
 
 
 
 
 

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