Lincoln Navigator w/rough idle

WILLFLE

MEMBER
LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

I have a 1998 Lincoln Navigator with a 5.4 V8 and 90400 miles. The truck runs fine except for a rough idle(slight but noticible shaking) in drive and reverse when warmed up. There is no coolant/oil mix, it does not stall, the idle is static while stopped in drive at 650 rpm, no sweet smoke or steam from the exhaust, no overheating, but I am not sure if it lacks power as I have never driven such a vehicle. The check engine light came on after an oil change, they reset the light and it has not come back on, but the rough idle is still there. The error code was P0171 system too lean (bank 1). Took it to several small mechanics, none could isolate the problem. I took it to a Ford dealer who conducted a compression check with all four cyclinders low on the bank.5, 6, 7, &8. The mechanic seems to think that due to the lack of other problems this is a timing chain issue, does this sound right, if not what else should I be looking for before pouring more $$$s into diagnostics?

1 Reply

WILLFLE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Well, the mechanic took the front of the engine apart and low and behold damage everywhere(cams, dead cylinder, said I was basically running a 6 banger #5, 6, 8 -20compression #7 0), need to get a rebuild, found a mechanic that will go for 3100 for the long block(same as the dealer) and 900(2800 for dealer) labor, 3 year 75k warranty, alot of cash. But more than half the labor of the dealer. Mechanic said that the previous owner ran it low or no oil. Sounds about right as my bro-in-law owned it and drove it from South Carolina with the same problem and was quite low on oil when I bought it. Good news (relatively speaking) is that I am only in for 4500 now, the question is now whether to sell as is and try to break even( 2300 wheels on it+factories) or put the cash into it and have a nice vehicle. My instinct says stop the bleeding, but that falls short of the wife wanting an SUV, anybody want to buy a truck?
Second question, what does putting a rebuild in do to the overall value of a vehicle when trying to sell?