2000 F150 4.6L 4x4 E-Cab - Minor high rev on start-up, idles good, starts out fine, but seems to sputter at higher gears (i.e. Drive/OD) when gas pedal is pushed much above cruising. Tried really pressing pedal on one hill and sputtering took truck down to 45 km/h, with “Check Engine Light” flashing (oil/battery/temperature gauges all fine at time), but light went away and truck recovered on level. It seems to do better when manually disengage OverDrive for hills, but still have sputtering if try to speed up in Drive.

I changed the fuel filter and added some Lucas fuel additive, with possibly a minor improvement.

I checked the codes, but didn’t have time to run/trend anything (i.e., pressures, etc.):
IC B1202 Fuel Sender Open Circuit
IC C1284 Oil Pressure Switch Failure
PCM P1000 OBD System Readiness Test Not Complete
GEM B1398 Left Front Power Window Relay
GEM B1302 Accessory Delay Relay Failure
GEM P0500 Vehicle Speed Sensor Malfunction
GEM B1352 Ignition Key in Circuit Fault
GEM B1428 Safety Belt Lamp Circuit Failure

I am thinking fuel system (flush?) and/or Evap System (what to do)?

Cruises fine on flat so I don’t think its a tranny issue?

 

Check the fuel pressure at the shrader valve. You may be able to borrow a gauge from an auto parts store.

Erase all codes and see which ones come back.

 

I'd suspect spark plugs, wires, and/or coil packs. Another possibility is plugged cats.

 

Your description of drivability in OD suggests a coil fault.
If bucking occurs on throttle addition, the codes may be false. There is a reason for this. It gets complicated to explain.
Get the drivability issue cleared, do a clear of the codes then see what comes back after several drive cycles.
Good luck.

 

So I did erase all codes, then I replaced the fuel filter, then I had stutter, then I tried hill hard and got the "Check Engine Flash", and then I took it easy the next 100 miles. I did refuel and then had better luck on hills (~6-7% grade, 1/2 to 3/4 mile long) able to hold 45-50 mph (as long as not OD) but no higher without stutter initiating (then backed off a hair). The codes listed above all came back, including a general (no specific) identification of a misfire.

I wasn’t worried about plugs/wires/coils, since my other trucks (98/03) typically indicated proper (which cylinder) misfire codes (plug blow, coil fail, etc).

Only 138,000 miles, so I wasn't worried about catalytic converters, but that's primarily city miles.

 

Well your either going to listen or enjoy the misfires.
YOU HAVE AN IGNITION FAULT.
The fact that OD is where it shows up is the give-away.
In OD, at light throttle, EGR is opened.
When this happens the ignition is advanced, the fuel is cut back, the cylinder mix become lean due to feeding exhaust back to the intake..
This requires more spark to fire lean mixtures.
If the coil cannot supply it, misfires result.
Sometimes the condition puts interference out that propagates back to the PCM causing program interference.
Hence other codes can be set falsely and severe bucking can result.
Once your trans down shifts, the RPM goes up the EGR closes and that condition goers away.
If I have insulted you, sorry but that's the way it goes trying to help you.
I suggest you use a Scanner to look at program mode 6, test 53 at the misfire history of each cylinder to see if one cylinder is at fault.
Good luck.

 

Like I said, plugs, wires, and/or coil packs. You should also get the cats tested for excess backpressure.

 

Yes, 2 bad coils and a couple bad spark plugs, disappointed that codes did not lead me (as it did in my 03), or I would have done myself

 

For the kind of fault the coils cause, there will be no codes.
That's why they did not show up.
The reason is the misfire comes and goes so are cancelled because they clear when not present, so no code is set.
The misfire table that showed the 'hits' does not have the ability to set codes.
It's not a mystery once you know this.
The software designer could have written a pointer to a code but elected not to do so for whatever reason since the record is their to be seen with a Scanner..
Good luck.