HELP! She's a dying!
 

2006 F-150 XLT
AEM CAI
PHP Gryphon 93 Tune
51K miles, just today turned 51K miles.

I need everyone to understand, if this truck fails me and I can't afford to fix it I am SUNK, its my only means of getting to and from work. If I loose the truck, I loose my job, and then I loose pretty much everything I own.

Normally the truck is not ran hard at all, unless you call running to 3-3.5K rpms hard. Heck the thing is set to shift at 4,800 by my request to bill at WOT.
I won't lie, I have ran it hard before, but not every day.

As good as I keep and care for this truck there should be NO problems with it at all.
I have every sales slip for ANYTHING I EVER bought for the truck from the day I got it, I still got the temp tags even.

On the way to work the truck was running fine, then it just started missing like crazy and the CHT on the Gryphon went from 210 to 190 then 180, first it was like I dropped one cyl then a second one. I pulled over and the truck sounded like it was cammed way to much and missing like hell.

It kinda of started acting right, and stopped missing as bad, the CHT rose back to 190 and I limped back to work, right before I got to work the CHT rose back to 210 and the truck stopped missing but still was weak as water, I barely got it rolling again after having to stop at the intersection light.


Some one, anyone got any ideas? anything at all?

Like I said, I can NOT afford for the truck to fail me, and I am in a real tight spot and can't afford much in the way of repairs right now.
I owe 12,200 on it right now, would I be better off trading the truck off? I might be able to to afford a plug change, maybe.

First principles.

Maintenance history? Fuel filter, MAF cleaning, did you wash the engine bay recently? Did you check the FPDM up above the spare tire - check for cracks, corrosion, etc. Bad tankf of fuel? Pull any codes? ( post 'em up - may need to get a real scanner on ther to pull pending codes, misfires, etc). Any hard starting (leaking injector clue)?

imho - too soon fer plugs.

Set back to stock - even put the stock intake back on. see how it runs. You need to go back to basics to eliminate any mod implications.

This will give the real experts time to chime in.

Get busy. Good luck.

MGD

Gas no, I am at 1/4 now no problems with the whole tank.
Maf been cleaned.
Engine has not be washed in the past 2-3 months or longer.
No codes that I know of.
Can't go back to stock intake, I don't have one. Can go back to stock tune.


To be honest I found a 1995 Z28 thats gonna drop my Ins from $178 a month to $108 monthly , and as I only owe 12,200 and the z28 is 4,900 surely I could walk away only owing $4-5K and not 12K.

It looks like its in good shape, green in color. only 120K original miles.

So, lemme see if I got this right. You haven't even really begun troubleshooting what may be a simple problem ( cross fingers) on a truck whose history you know intimately, and are considering a completely unknown used vehicle that may have it's own set of issues?

What am I missing - you seem too eager - do you really just want out of a truck and into a car for other reasons?

Checked the FPDM yet? You may need to visit a shop with a proper scanner to pull pending codes...

==> https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...highlight=sell

MGD

MGD: You said it was to early for plugs. My truck has 48,000 on it and it started acting up real bad during acceleration, seemed to be slipping and stuttering. After a bunch of other things I finally changed all the plugs and it hasn't done it since. Not saying hes having the same problem as me but couldnt hurt to change em out.

Totally agree - but best to check the 'low-hanging' fruit' first. Plugs typically do not become an issue at this mileage - but as you have seen, there certainly are exceptions.

Titan - you up to try this yourself? Would save you a ton of money if it were to be a plug issue. Get a couple quotes in yer area.

MGD

Guess I forgot if he has the 5.4 with the plug breaking issue its gonna be kinda a hefty bill. It was alot easier for me since I have a 4.2.

Yeah gas millage, mainly and I am hoping its not a major issue and I really want a sports car. Ill likely take it over to dad and have him put it on his Verus and see what he says.

Mostly I am afraid that truck is going to die on me and I am going to be stuck with a broken truck I still owe on and can't fix. And Id love to trade down and lessen my debt load.

Don't get me wrong, I love the truck but I hate the debt and I am very afraid its going to be something bad, or turn into something bad thats going to be over my head to fix.
I was thinking about trading so far down that my debt level would be a little more manageable. I found a pony package V-6 for 3,995.

You need to get the codes......
Stop looking at used sports cars cause the truck ain't worth selling or trading until you get it fixed.

MGDfan has given you some good advice.

I feel silly now, its running fine. Ill just figure it out and fix it.

What was the problem? Don't leave us hanging.

With 120k the opti would be close to going out, Im not a fan of lt1's at all

nothing apparently, because its running fine.

Small electrical issue, some corrosion in some sort of fuse link type deal between B+ and the truck, cable from Alt seemed fine, I don't know I was half asleep when it got fixed, dad did most of the work while I held the light.

Caused the battery to drain dry and killed it, left me stranded for about 1 1/2 hours, luckily when I made it fine the first part of the day when I was 180 miles from home.

Worked on it last night after I got off work from my second job, worked on it till 3 Or 4am napped for two hours and went back to work of my mon-fri job, had to come in late.
Got a new battery from auto zone, dura last gold 850CCA, 3/5 year no questions/prorated was like $111, got a oil change while I was at it (30 something?), had to put it on my credit card.

great way to start the week off I guess.

Dad's gonna live it up because he had to pull me, so we are even now.

Seriously thinking of traded the truck to lighten my debt load, I really need to gtfo out my parents house im 24 years old, I had a aprt but had to move back after breaking up with g/f.

Beed looking at a -04 pony pack mustang V-6 (2995, 125K miiles) or 95 z28 T-tops 120K miles 4995.
I owe about 12,800 last time I checked, that was two $360 payments ago and I am about to pay another $360. Thats $1,080, surely that puts me under 12K and the truck books for 14.

I figure I can get $13,000 for it, leaves me about $1,000 for either car, I can be in for around $1,500 for the mustang or 4,500 for the z28. both cars drop my Ins 70 a month.
Nothing wrong with the truck, I just really want out of the debt.

Was looking at a red 95 5.0L mustang M/T, one owner 120K miles mint condition, new tires 17" cobra rims 5,995. Lots of extras, cobra intake, rims H-piped true duals with F/M, short throw shifter.

I love the truck, but the payment is killing me, I figure I could have either car paid off by early/mid next year, after profit sharing and taxes.

I don't know yet, some times I just wish I had something that ran and was paid for, figure I can take my gryphon, DVD player and W/T mats out and sell them as well as the amp/sub. Maybe find a stock intake and sell the AEM if I trade the truck off.

Just thought I would let you guys know.

And after doing some searching I found out the car lot I got the truck off of is now out of business and was really bad for selling flood damaged cars/trucks from out of state with clean titles.

Where do you work?
how much are your payments?