Shuddering Engine?

[Guest mbrown42]

It was all a bad dream.

This is bizarre how the car fired up and was no problem this morning.

I am not the only one this has happened to as you will read so anyone who has the same problem I would say turn the car off, leave it for a while and start it up again.

Who knows what causes this shuddering engine but hopefully no long term damage results.

if an oil control valve (vct solinoid) does block and then clear it self, there is no chance of any long or short term damage to the engine at all. The engine may run rough or lack power for a short time but no damage will occur.

[physh]

Yesterday morning, driving to work at the speed limit.

All of a sudden car starts shuddering, loses power, and when I pull over to the side of the road, it was idling at about 1600rpm - sounding like an old torrie XU1 with triple carbs and a wild cam... *whomp-whump-whomp-whump*

I'm thinking... Petrol smell out the exhaust, means unburnt fuel, got to be either fuel system or ignition system... either way I'm boned, I'm in my suit 'n tie so roadside mechanics is outta the question...

Called Ford Roadside and got a guy out there (mind you, he just turned up with a jerrycan of fuel, thinking from what the woman on the phone told him that I'd ran dry... ) within 20 minutes.

He took one listen to the car, and said yep - it was the VCT actuator solenoid. he'd already picked up three BAs with exactly that problem, including 2 police cruisers.

Indeed, getting it to the shop, the mechanic pulled the rockercover off and sure enough... a bit of grit had caused something to lock the cam timing to wide open... hence the "wild cam" sound!

So they're cleaning it out, changing oil and filter etc for me, gave me a loan car for the evening, and I'll have it back this morning.

BUT... still... it's a new car. I buy new cars so I don't have to get them fixed real often... but this is the 2nd time in 2 months I've had it pulled apart in the shop...

Ahh well. Other than that... 6,000km on the clock, car is beautiful!

I had to be without my car last week because some d*ckless pr*ck backed into the drivers door of my car, and I had to get it fixed... :(

All I'll say about the experience is I _HATE_ AUIII hire cars...

Although when it starts pissing rain, the whole concept of "hire car" and "exemption from tire damage" becomes a WHOLE lot more fun!!! :lol:

[CJF077]

I had the VCT Solenoid update and havent had this problem since..

[F6 RAPID]

I hope Ford will be intelligent enough to make sure that all the new ones off the line now don't suffer from this same problem!!!!

[Guest Turbo-6]

I had the VCT Solenoid update and havent had this problem since..

What exactly is the "VCT Solenoid update"?