2007 Ford Fusion 3.0 Duratech V6 - P0302

My friend picked up the car, and the CEL came on as he drove home. ☹️

If it turns out to be a P0302 again, I'll pull the ECM and investigate further.
Tell him you got a P0PITA -- incompatible driver or driver effectiveness below threshold
 
Tell him you got a P0PITA -- incompatible driver or driver effectiveness below threshold
I'm sure he's a good driver. I likely didn't push it hard enough when test-driving it.

He said the CEL came on while the car was going up a significant overpass (high enough to clear railway tracks), so perhaps that much load was required to bring out the misfire. (Of course I'm assuming it's a misfire code - I haven't read it yet.)
 
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Back on the Fusion. There was no CEL when my friend brought it back, but I pulled the ECM and we took it to a local rebuilder.

The tech had it over two weeks. He said he found a lot of problems when he opened it up. He bought a used from a wrecker, and transplanted good bits from it into the old one (presumably so as to not have to have it reprogrammed with FORscan).

I reinstalled the rebuilt ECM on Tuesday, and the car runs way worse now. It chugs like an ancient tractor (to paraphrase a fine Scottish mechanic I worked with many years ago, it's rougher than a porcupine's posterior).

It responds poorly to the throttle, not wanting to rev past 1000 RPM.

Surprisingly there are no misfire codes, but there is a P0353 (Cylinder 3 coil malfunction, and a P050B (problem with cold-start ignition timing).

I think it's a problem with the rebuilt ECM.

My friend contacted the tech who said to swap the #3 coil to another location, and see if the code tracks the coil. If not, he'll take another shot at repairing the ECM.

So, this afternoon I've pulled the upper IM and have removed the three coils in the rear bank.

Yikes, they're all Brand X, made in China - specifically, SPECTRA C-768 V:278 2219. (2219 could be a manufacturing date - 22nd week of 2019, or 19th week of 2022. Just a guess.).

EDIT: Likely a date code - The other two coils are marked 3619 and 4019.

Anyway, I think the owner still has the original Ford coils. I plan to get them from him, and install them in the rear bank.

I don't this will fix anything, but at least then the rebuilder will take another shot at the ECM.

20241010_131657.webp20241010_131723.webp
 
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Back on the Fusion. There was no CEL when my friend brought it back, but I pulled the ECM and we took it to a local rebuilder.
It wasn't broken so you decided to fix it?

With no codes, I would have left it alone
 
It wasn't broken so you decided to fix it?

With no codes, I would have left it alone
It was running poorly. The CEL came on, but was off by the time I saw the car again.

(I say poorly, but running like champ compared to now.). 🤪

I now wonder if we could have left the ECM alone - perhaps the cheapy coils were breaking down under load. Arg!
 
It was running poorly. The CEL came on, but was off by the time I saw the car again.

(I say poorly, but running like champ compared to now.). 🤪

I now wonder if we could have left the ECM alone - perhaps the cheapy coils were breaking down under load. Arg!
Also if the front three are OEM and you believe them to work, that's a known quantity and I'd move them to the rear.

Even if the owner has used OEM on the shelf, I'd wonder why they were removed from the rear bank?

Or are the mounting tabs mirrored and they can't swap?

I didn't know Spectra made ignition components-- that's terrifying. I barely trust them to build a radiator and will not use their fuel pumps.
 
Also if the front three are OEM and you believe them to work, that's a known quantity and I'd move them to the rear.

Even if the owner has used OEM on the shelf, I'd wonder why they were removed from the rear bank?

Or are the mounting tabs mirrored and they can't swap?

I didn't know Spectra made ignition components-- that's terrifying. I barely trust them to build a radiator and will not use their fuel pumps.
I don't know why I didn't previously check the front three coils for manufacturer, but they're also Spectra. ☹️

Anyway, I'll have the original Ford (Motocraft?) coils back later this afternoon. Three of them will go into the rear bank.
 
@bdcardinal, I appeal to your knowledge of Ford parts once again.

So, I put things back together with three original FoMoCo coils on the rear bank.

The cars runs terribly, as before, and the same two codes come up - P0353 (bad coil CCT on #3), and P050B (cold-start ignition timing issue).

But anyway, I've now jumped through the ECM repairer's hoop, and have removed the ECM for him to take another shot at repairing.

I noticed that the original ECM and the donor have ve different part numbers. I wonder if this could be part of the problem ...

Original:
20241012_134716.webp

Donor:
20241012_134724.webp

Your thoughts? And thank you!
 
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I hope my 3.0 Ford Fusion behaves itself in the future. This poor running/misfire issue must be pretty frustrating by now. Watching this thread with interest.
 
@bdcardinal, I appeal to your knowledge of Ford parts once again.

So, I put things back together with three original FoMoCo coils on the rear bank.

The cars runs terribly, as before, and the same two codes come up - P0353 (bad coil CCT on #3), and P050B (cold-start ignition timing issue).

But anyway, I've now jumped through the ECM repairer's hoop, and have removed the ECM for him to take another shot at repairing.

I noticed that the original ECM and the donor have ve different part numbers. I wonder if this could be part of the problem ...

Original:
View attachment 244982

Donor:
View attachment 244983

Your thoughts? And thank you!
Man I'm curious, too!!
 
Based on the engineering number you provided, these are acceptable replacement engineering numbers: The 7E5Z-12A650-AMARM is the service part number that would be on the box label. The other 8E5A PCM engineering number shows fitting 2008 and 2009 Fusion and friends 3.0L

1728766551075.webp
 
Based on the engineering number you provided, these are acceptable replacement engineering numbers: The 7E5Z-12A650-AMARM is the service part number that would be on the box label. The other 8E5A PCM engineering number shows fitting 2008 and 2009 Fusion and friends 3.0L

View attachment 244996
If it ain't on that list-- which is furnished directly by Ford -- I'd tell the PCM rebuild guy to sit and spin.

When you're dealing with suspected "brain box" issues, why introduce an additional variable?

How will you ever know if future driveability issues are a result of an internal PCM fault, or just the incorrect PCM altogether?
 
If it ain't on that list-- which is furnished directly by Ford -- I'd tell the PCM rebuild guy to sit and spin.

When you're dealing with suspected "brain box" issues, why introduce an additional variable?

How will you ever know if future driveability issues are a result of an internal PCM fault, or just the incorrect PCM altogether?
Agreed - all thoughts I've had. But I don't know what parts the rebuilder transferred over.

We'll give him another shot at it.
 
Agreed - all thoughts I've had. But I don't know what parts the rebuilder transferred over.

We'll give him another shot at it.
Yeah, but unless you transfer basically everything-- including the primary circuit board -- it seems irrelevant.

If attempt #2 fails I'd start searching ebay and junkyards for the list @bdcardinal provided you. Now at least you have a fighting chance with that list in-hand.
 
Yeah, but unless you transfer basically everything-- including the primary circuit board -- it seems irrelevant.

If attempt #2 fails I'd start searching ebay and junkyards for the list @bdcardinal provided you. Now at least you have a fighting chance with that list in-hand.
There are a number of rebuilders in the States who will provide a known good (tested and repaired as required) ECM, reflashed by FORscan to be compatible with your vehicle. (You provide the VIN.)

Depending on how things go here, that might be the way to go.
 
There are a number of rebuilders in the States who will provide a known good (tested and repaired as required) ECM, reflashed by FORscan to be compatible with your vehicle. (You provide the VIN.)

Depending on how things go here, that might be the way to go.
I was going to suggest looking at who Eric O (South Main Auto) goes to to have electronics rebuilt.

Or, get a good one and have it re-flashed to match the car.
 
There are some applications where it notes in the catalog that the replacement PCM will come blank. Also the techs at my work have said that programming goes a lot faster on weekends since there are a lot less techs logged into the IDS and FDRS servers.
 
Guys, if you were replacing the spark plugs on this engine, would you go with the (assumed) original plugs (Motorcraft single platinum), or one of the double-platinum or iridium choices? (If not the Motorcraft single platinum, I'd likely go with one of the NGK or Denso options. The ignition is COP, so not wasted-spark.) Thanks!

Screenshot 2024-10-29 at 20-08-34 2007 FORD FUSION 3.0L V6 Spark Plug RockAuto.webpScreenshot 2024-10-29 at 20-09-07 2007 FORD FUSION 3.0L V6 Spark Plug RockAuto.webpScreenshot 2024-10-29 at 20-09-30 2007 FORD FUSION 3.0L V6 Spark Plug RockAuto.webp
 
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