2004 f150 with 199,800 miles. In the past 3 months have replaced brakes, fuel pump, computer and just last week knock sensor and spark plugs. Replacing the spark plugs ran up a huge bill because they kept breaking and the head had to be removed. Ran fine for 3 days, than gradually went down hill. Now engine light is back on flashing more than 30 times, truck jerks and shakes once it is warmed up and is extremely hard to steer. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!! After investing over $6000 in recent months it is hard to consider trading the truck in but we can not afford another $2000 repair bill. Please help!!! Thank you!!

 

If the CEL is on pull the codes, That will point you in a good direction!

 

Right but what I'd like to know is if this has happened to anyone else, if maybe there is a problem with one of the new spark plugs or other problem that may not have a specific code as the CEL just came on. Thank you!!!

 

check to see if some of the plugs porcelain is cracked/broken and have you had the COPS changed? make sure they are plugged in all the way

 

missfire- what engine do you have? what brand spark plugs did you get? how long has it been since the fuel filter was changed?

hard steering- whats the power steering fluid level?

 

Whoever did the job didn't know what they were doing. Take it to a competent Ford dealer and have it looked at.

 

Agreed. It should be a very rare instance when a head has to be removed, now that there are tools and experience with the breakage.

 

If antisieze was applied to the electrode shield during the plug change you could have applied it too close to the electrode causing a misfire. I have also heard that some plugs come faulty from the manufaturer and can be replaced under warrenty, I think its champion plugs that go bad.

Did you have the work done at a Ford garage? The heads never should have been pulled to get the plugs out. Its much less expensive and easier to use the $70 Lisle Tool for this job.

Does the engine seem to loose power when it jerks and shakes, loss of power could cause power steering to not function properly.

I would start with having the check engine codes read, it could be as easy as a bad sensor. I understand your frustration, $6000 is alot for it to still not be running good. Seems like Ford doesnt make them like they used too. Brand new there awesome trucks, get 100K plus miles and good luck.

 

All of the work has been done at a Ford Dealership! Fuel filter was replace less than 2 months ago. I can't tell if it loses power because it jerks and shakes so much. We just took it back to the dealership but it sounds like they don't know what they were doing the last time! It was an 18 hour job to remove the head to get to the last spark plug. They even told us they broke the tool that removes them. It ran good for 3 days. Then engine in 5.4. Please wish me luck!!!

 

Ford said it was a bad coil and the rack was also bad.

 

i had a similar problem with my 05 5.4 i went through 4 coils until i finally got pissed at the dealer nd made sure they checked the wiring. turned out to be one of the wire harnesses was chaffing against a fuel rod and shorting out the coils. sorry it took so much to find that out. the dealer should of been able to tell from the engines computer that it was a coil issue, it pops the code within seconds of the first few knocks. mine would start out as a studder like water in the fuel then get worse until you could tell there was a cylinder not firing

 

Unfortunatly there are poorly ran/trained dealerships. I'd find a different one if I were you.

 

Okay, so truck ran good for about 6 days and today it died again. It appears the fuel pump quit AGAIN! It was supposedly replaced in August. What would make it go bad again???

 

Crud in the fuel tank. Running it too often with too low a fuel level.