1997 Ford F150 bucking or jerking while driving. Previous owner said plugs were changed recently. I may pull codes today or this weekend. It just started recently.

 

Which engine and transmission?

 

2wd v8 4.6 auto transmission

 

If they are Motorcraft plugs and not damaged, I'd start looking at the plug wires and coil packs. Bad gas is a possibility, I'd change the fuel filter and throw some Techron in the tank on general principle.

 

Did prev owner get the wires to the correct plugs?
Motorcraft plug wires ONLY!

Jim

 

It just started recently and have had truck for months.

 

still haven't pulled codes, just changed radiator due to leak.

 

Recently I was taking my 97 4.6 to get inspected, and it started missing and bucking, especially up hills. Went back home, pulled plug wires, found one of them looked corroded where it contacts the plug. New set of wires, reset misfire code, problem gone...

 

Yeah, it's really amazing what a tuneup will do for a misfire problem....

 

ok thanks

 

4 codes are 420. 430 and po420, po430 ...or po420 and po430 twice

 

Your cats are missing, shot, or plugged.

 

1 if plugged is there a cheap and easy way to unplug??
2 Would this cause the jerking/bucking??


Thanks.

 

1. Drop the pipes off them and bash the crap out of the guts with a long screwdriver and hammer.

2. I suppose it could - but your P0420 and P0430 codes are cat low efficiency both banks. Gutting them will still throw those codes.

3. Perhaps the wisest thing to do would be to take it to a muffler shop for a diagnosis. They have the equipment to test the cats for blockage.

 

They aren't plugged, they've been contaminated by too much unburnt fuel due to the misfires which were left uncorrected for too long.That ruined the ability of the substrate to store oxygen and they're now passing the exhaust untreated which has triggered the efficiency codes.

If you have emissions testing, it will be real hard to avoid replacing the cats.