I have a 2004 supercrew 5.4

When I am following someone and have to keep it at around 1/8-1/4 throttle, it jumps and stutters..like it hesitates to shift. It will quit if i give it more gas. Well yesterday I turned my over drive off and it doesnt do it.

What would cause this? Is it a simple fix? Expensive?

 

The truck is in between shift points or between lock up points for the converter.

 

ok so how do I fix it?

 

It could also be a low grade misfire. How many miles on the truck and how many miles on the spark plugs?

 

it has 132,000. I got it with 115,000. I havent changed them yet. I meant to do it until this started and I was thinking it might be something to do with my transmission. I will change them soon.

 

My truck does the same thing, but doesnt do it when over drive is off. That makes me think it is not a misfire. I know the older body styles have a sensor in the transmission that would make the shift in and out of overdrive jump a little but im not sure about ours.

 

I would guess its your plugs, but if the transmission fluid is the original you could try flushing and replacing that to see if the shifting improves. It should probably be replaced anyhow if you don't know if it's ever been done.

 

I was having a similar problem on my truck. Mine is a 2006 and it started doing that around 70,000 miles. I too thought it was the transmission. I took it to a tranny shop and the guy drove it and said it was a slight misfire. Changed the plugs that weekend and that's what it was. Do your homework before you change the plugs, if you haven't already. They can be a pain. Fortunately I had the lisle tool on hand before I started because I broke two.

 

I too had a similar problem, and thought it was the transmission. I had it at the dealer. They changed the fluid, and filter...did a tsb (changed valve *****) and it still did it. Turned out to be a misfire on cylinder 3.

For what its worth!

It would occur right between 40 and 50 mph when transmission shifts into overdrive. It would jerk a couple of times. It wouldn't do it with over drive off, so that makes you think its the overdrive.

 

Thats exactly what its doing. Thank you all for the help. Ive read and read about changing the plugs and I know what a pain they can be. I am a little scared but I guess I am going to be doing it soon.

Thanks again.

 

So I got some seafoam to run a few tanks with it before attempting to do the spark plug change. It is not missing near as bad and I feel a little more power haha. But I have read that I need to get the motorcraft 515 spark plugs. I didnt expect them to be around 100 for 8. Sheesh.

So do I warm the motor before yanking the old plugs out? I saw some one said they did this but it didnt make sense to me. Any other tips?

 

Who told you to use Seafoam? You should use Techron in the gas.

Seems that the best results are with a warm, NOT hot, motor. Crack them all loose 1/8 turn and put some carb cleaner in the wells and let it sit for an hour or so. Make sure you have, or have access to, a Lisle extractor tool.

SP515's are $9.39 each plus shipping at rockauto.com.

 

I thought I read to use seafoam some where..is that not correct?

 

Seafoam is not recommended. Techron is, as is Gumout with Regane.

 

Ok thanks. I will get some techron and put in my next tank. Why is seafoam not recommended? I appologize for not knowing, I am just going off of everything I read. Which is mostly opinions I know.