Code P0355, misfire on cylinders 5, 7 and 8

Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Please help. My truck was running fine then it wouldn't start. Changed multiple things. Crank sensor fuel pump. Fuel filter. And ended up being a bad PCM. (Took to a mechanic). Got new PCM installed and truck ran great but had engine light on. Diagnosed forever to figure out why and spent a lot of money. Well, ended up being I got a bad PCM. I actually went through 3 PCM's because the check engine light wouldn't go off. Had 3 different mechanics suggest this. So when waiting on 3rd PCM I (stupidly) washed around my truck motor and undercarriage.
I tried staying away from electrical components because of small oil leaks and was trying to see exactly where the leaks were. After I got my new PCM in and installed the truck now misfires on cylinders 5, 7, and 8. But when I first start it and drive it runs perfect for about 15 to 20 seconds. Then will not accelerate and runs really rough. I'm only getting code P0355 but I have a buddy who works for Ford hook it up to his laptop that has a good program and it shows those 3 cylinders are having the misfire. I have done plugs and coils and replaced intake manifold gasket but still misfires. I even swapped plugs and coils and injectors from bank one on cylinders that were running fine and no change happened. Still 5, 7 and 8 are missing. I have confirmed the coils are firing and getting signal from pcm like they should so I am pretty sure I have ruled that out. And the problem was never occurring until I washed it. I have spent $1,200.00 US dollars on this truck trying to diagnose and have gotten nowhere. I need any help I can get and no one seems to know.
Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 AT 3:15 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

I would verify the compression to be sure there are no issues.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

I attached the possibilities for you as well. It looks to be electrical. Check for power to the coils. There should be battery voltage with the key turned on.

Roy
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
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So I did the checks on the coils with a 12v test light. And with key on engine off it would light up. Then started engine and checked the other side and got a pulse light. So its getting the signal from pcm. And I haven't done a actually compression check but my buddy who works for Ford did a compression test to see if all cylinders were in same range and they were all perfectly in the same range. Just the test on his program on his laptop doesn't tell the actually compression numbers, just if a cylinder is out of range from the others. And they were all in range.
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 AT 6:19 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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It would be better with a voltmeter to be sure the voltage is correct. A test light will light up at 7 volts.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

The pulse is the voltage from the coil to the ECM, the ECM does not provide voltage.

Roy
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
I checked with multimeter and battery was at 11.56 coil with K.O.E.O. Was 11.34. My battery is a little low it has been about a week since started last. What would you suggest now with those readings?
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 AT 9:22 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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The battery is drained out. Charge it to 12.6 and retest the voltage.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-charge-your-car-battery

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Start there.

Roy
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
Okay, got battery charged up to 12.6 and with KOEO coil wire was at 11.97. I also checked the signal side of coil wire and got a pulse signal from 0.0 to my highest reading was 0.8. On average it was 0.0 to 0.4 - 0.3.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:33 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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There is no laptop test for compression. It needs to be done with a gauge.

You need to do both cranking compression and running compression test.

Do you have a vacuum gauge to measure vacuum at idle?

Roy
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:54 PM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
I don't have a vacuum gauge. And will be doing the compression test tomorrow. I got tied up at work and it was too late to work on the truck. But the laptop test doesn't show the actual compression numbers, just shows if one of the cylinders is out of range from others.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 8:20 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, keep me updated.

Roy
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Tuesday, January 5th, 2021 AT 3:03 AM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
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  • 36 POSTS
Compression was 60 on cylinder 5 and 65 or so on cylinder 6. But 120 on start up. Bank 1 side cylinder one 120 start 120 running.
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Okay, that is too low.

Bank 1 sounds better but not great. It looks like you either have a burned valves or a possible bad chain for bank 2.

I attached a youtube video for you of the timing chain replacement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB_G7-r5_3Y

Roy
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
I forgot to mention. I noticed my radiator reservoir pressurizes really fast and had some smoke in there. I can get more readings from other cylinders if it would help. I stopped there thinking head gasket. I think cylinder 7 is the only cylinder I cant get my compression gauge on because some things are in the way. But your ideas of the problem would save me a lot more.
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes, that sounds like a head gasket.

All this will require major work on the motor.

I would suggest replacing the motor with another motor. A good used one would keep the price down.

Roy
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
  • MEMBER
  • 36 POSTS
Yup, that's what I was thinking also. Is the radiator reservoir I pretty strong sign of that? New motor would be easiest. I think i'm just going to sell. Had a $1,000.00 offer how it sits and I only bought since I got a good deal. Plus I bleed Chevrolet truck, lol.
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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It would be a good time to move on. Now you can look for the truck you want.

Roy
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Thursday, January 7th, 2021 AT 2:52 AM
Tiny
BKAEMPFE1989
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Thank you for the help sir I really do appreciate it. You have no idea the headache this has caused. Been one thing after another with this truck.
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Thursday, January 7th, 2021 AT 9:12 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Thursday, January 7th, 2021 AT 9:36 AM

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