2005 Ford Freestyle - misfire / fix it or buy a new car?

Maintenance/Repairs
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1

I have a 2005 SEL Freestyle with 114K miles. Cyl #3 missing. Has all the symptoms of a “lean misfire” - reading the code said #3. The indy mechanic already replaced the spark plug and the coil. Misfire still a problem. Tried to put some cleaner in there which did not help. He thinks the head needs to be replaced … cost over $2500.

The a/c is also busted. Needs a compressor. $900 to fix. So I’m staring down $4000 to fix a car that’s 9 yrs old. Not to mention I’m probably looking at brakes before much longer.

If I buy a different car - new I’m looking at $30000 plus to get the same type of vehicle. Used I get someone else’s problems and even then I’m looking at $20000 for something 2 or 3 yrs old. This car at best will get me $500 on trade in… if they are merciful. Chance I could lose my job any month now… the business i work for is not doing well. So a car loan is a really risky thing to get into as well.

I love my car - a lot. Tempted to just fix it and move on but no idea what else can go wrong moving forward. Surely there will be expensive scheduled maintenance coming up. … not to mention the surprises.

I am not a car person. I take really good care of what I have but don’t know enough about cars to make a good decision on this one.

2

@Kentuck‌

Some thoughts . . .

Has the mechanic checked compression on #3 cylinder

Has he performed an injector balance test. Perhaps #3 is partially restricted. Might even have an open circuit

Why are you so sure it’s a lean misfire?

If that’s where you’re headed, have the mechanic use his evap/smoke machine to find those intake leaks

If I were in your shoes, I’d keep this van

The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t . . . isn’t that how the saying goes?

My priorities would be the misfire and the brakes

Why does the mechanic think your head is a goner?

If it just has a burnt valve, a machine shop can take care of that. Cheaper than $2500

3

There are so many other things , other than spark plug andf coil that could be causing the misfire. 02 sensor… injector???

What tests has he performed that he thinks the head is shot.

Yosemite

4

Mechanic said he would not put that money into this car but I don’t know why. Sounds like I really need to go ask more questions.

5

If the mechanic is unwilling to do more tests, or at least explain why he thinks the head is shot . . . find another mechanic

6

or, has the mechanic made you a low ball offer on the car? He might have ulterior motives. A 2005 with 114K should have a lot of life left in it.

Get a second opinion from a mechanic you find by clicking on the MECHANICS FILES at the top of this page. Let us know what s/he finds out. I’m betting it doesn’t need a cylinder head.