Problems with my Ford F-150

deerefan · Sep 6, 2011

One thing I see not mentioned is a problem on my 97 F150, 4x4 auto with 4.6. It had a shudder to it, felt like a miss. Service manager at the dealer flushed the tranny and the problem went away. Mine did it either 1st to 2nd or shifting into o/d under normal driving conditions. This occured around 40k miles and has not done it since.

timswi · Sep 6, 2011

deerefan said:
One thing I see not mentioned is a problem on my 97 F150, 4x4 auto with 4.6. It had a shudder to it, felt like a miss. Service manager at the dealer flushed the tranny and the problem went away. Mine did it either 1st to 2nd or shifting into o/d under normal driving conditions. This occured around 40k miles and has not done it since.

I had that problem once with a GMC at similar mileage..Mine would dump from 3rd to 1st and throw down a wicked hole shot if I was on the gas, it was scary sometimes actually. Same repair, same result as you had.

Bigfoot62 · Sep 6, 2011

MossflowerWoods said:
My 2001 F-150 (automatic, 5.4L V8, 2WD, 4-door, 97,500 miles) is giving me fits. . .I swear my truck is acting like there is water in the distributor cap. it is randomly "missing" and making the entire truck shudder and lose power.

This is typically when gently accelerating like a slight hill, or just creeping the speedback up. It was TERRIBLE yesterday with my little JD LX266 mower on a flat bed. It was terrible this morning going into town, but it was flawless all the way back home.

I have no warning lights, and they put a machine on it and I have no codes.

I have checked and rechecked every mechanical thing I can think of.

Got any good ideas?

Thanks in advance,
David

Hold on there, Dave!

I didn't see anything suggesting that you have changed the spark plugs. Since the first of this year, when the refineries started dumping "corn squeezings" into our gasoline, I've had to change the plugs in ALL of our older vehicles. (one car, one truck, and my motorcycle - all late '90's models) The ECM's on these vehicles were not designed to burn ethanol blended fuels. I'm not an engineer, and I can't tell you exactly why, but old plugs and this hog slop they are selling us for gasoline won't work for very long.

In all of the vehicles we've had since the industry went to COPs, I've only seen one bad one, and it was a dead miss. Nothing intermittent about it.

If you have to go somewhere with a better scanner, you might want to call some of the local garages. One near us has as good of a rig as the dealerships. He charges $25 to run diagnostics, but waives that fee if you let him fix it.

Beltzington · Sep 6, 2011

I believe Wedge wins the door prize. Recently my Mother-in-Laws 2002 E-150 Van was having the same issue, I had about convinced myself it was a transmission issue and was already expecting to see the $2000 estimate. Took it to a local Ford Dealer and he called me in an hour and said they had found the problem it was the coil pack. $200 later it was fixed. On another note I have never had a transmission shop not recommend a full rebuild, I am sure there are some honest transmission businesses out there, I just have not found or heard of one. Good Luck!

flusher · Sep 7, 2011

Fuel pump. It went out on my 2001 F150 at 110,000 miles. A $900 job at the dealer's shop.

Bigfoot62 · Sep 7, 2011

flusher said:
Fuel pump. It went out on my 2001 F150 at 110,000 miles. A $900 job at the dealer's shop.

Ouch! That hurt.

EagleTDL · Sep 7, 2011

I'm gonna have to agree with Bigfoot about your plugs... 3 weeks ago I had very similar problems in my '06 -150 (5.4L & 4x4). Would buck off the line and once you got it going, would buck/shudder under light acceleration. Sometimes the Check Engine light would come on, sometimes it wouldn't?? Never spit a code one on multiple handheld scanners!

You'd think that the Check Engine light would have registered one, but it didn't...

Took it to my local Ford Dealer, 30 minutes later the mechanic walked in with two plugs in his hand. "Bad plugs, Sir." His diagnostic machine went right to 'em, whereas the handhelds didn't show a thing.

Strangely enough, I was at 89,300 on my odo and what does Ford recommend you do at 90K?? Yep, change the plugs! I suggest giving that a try if you haven't changed them already as part of your normal servicing routine. One last suggestion... If you do try to change your plugs, see if a buddy has a lift you can use 'cause changing the plugs ain't the easiest thing to do on the planet. Easier to do from underneath than it is from up top, use multiple extensions and wobbles...

MossflowerWoods · Sep 7, 2011

Bigfoot62 said:
Ouch! That hurt.

Bigfoot, I LOVE the new Avatar! :thumbsup:
PRICELESS!!!

David

MossflowerWoods · Sep 7, 2011

This morning on the way to the dentist for the WRONG kind of seat time, I was driving in a downpour and it got MUCH WORSE.

After the dentist, it was missing all the time, even at idle. After a couple miles I finally got a CEL (Misfire Cyclinder 6).

My local shop has the truck now. He is goign to determine if it is the COP (I bet 95% odds it is), or the plug. Should be fixed today or tomorrow (Thank God).

As for the Moonshine gas Bigfoot mentioned. Here in DC area we have 10% ethanol ALL YEAR, and yes it suck. The plugs are due at my 100K checkup, I will be replacing them.

My thanks to all of you for advice. I will def let you all know what the final cure is.

Be well,
David