Many 2004 F-150's with the 5.4L have rough idle
when AC is turned off.
The TSB procedure is to do nothing,
Ford is working on a fix.
Does the tuner solve this issue?

 

I would love to know what Mikes input is on this also as mine shakes ratles and rolls with AC off.....

 

Thats interesting, my 04 FX4 doesnt. Or maybe it does... I need to go take a drive around the 'hood.

 

Suncoast, hopefully Mike will share his thoughts with us on this subject. IMO, this is either a first or second order vibration which is being caused mechanically. One of these days when it aggravates me enough, I will seek out the NVH goodies to find out what this is. It would not suprise me to find out ultimatly that there was a balance shaft or the equivelant removed to reduce cost. Regardless, I doubt that the tuner will help UNLESS it raises or lowers the base idle enough to get around the vibration.

 

My trucks idle doesn’t seem to be affected with the A/C on, it stays at 650 rpm and is smooth

 

Hi everyone,

That’s really not new – idle shake is inherent in ALL 5.4’s and V10’s (which are just a 5.4 V8 with 2 more cylinders), it’s not limited just to the 2004’s. It’s just more noticeable in the newer trucks (say, the last 3 model years) thanks in no small part to the silly-low idle speeds being used – like just 560 rpm, for example. Personally, I don’t like an in-gear idle speed below 625 rpm in the 5.4’s, but it's not just an idle speed issue, nor would I just crank up idle speed for a "cure." To some extent, this idle shake appears on al the modular motors.

The standard Superchips tuners are not a “cure” for that, though many people have in fact posted that they have noticed improved idle quality even with the “standard” Superchips tuning.

Now in our *custom* tunes, there are a couple of things we do specifically to address that concern that generally result in a smoother idle in virtually all the modular motors – but I’d never make any iron-clad guarantee that we’re going to magically or completely “cure” all idle shake.

This section has literally hundreds upon hundreds of posts from other vehicle owners who have posted about the improved idle quality with our tuning, so there’s certainly plenty of track record there – just don’t expect an iron-clad guarantee to magically “cure” all idle shake, etc. We can usually make it better in our custom tunes, give us a call for any questions on this.

 

I'm glad you posted that Mike. I have cleaned my IAC, adjusted my TPS, cleaned my MAF, changed my fuel filter, and installed Denso plugs and I still have a slightly rough idle.

 

Hi Rio,

In the Lightnings (like yours) the idle quality issue is present, and there is usually an additional aggravating factor - that being, many Lightning owners use a colder-than-stock heat range of spark plug, usually due to using a pulley to raise boost levels.

For example, in the Lightning the stock heat range plug in the Denso Iridium would be the IT-16 - but with a +4 PSI pulley, the Denso IT-20 (1 heat range colder) would be appropriate, and that still gives pretty good idle quality. Now when you go as cold as the IT-22 (2 heat ranges colder than stock), as many L owners do with a +6 PSI pulley, then you will see some deterioration in idle quality, especially if it's a street-driven truck, - even with a hotter ignition system.

I am probably going to drop back to the IT-20's in my 2001 Lightning - I went down to the IT-22 when we ported the blower & a few other mods last time around, as I had planned to drag race it more frequently - but I haven't had the time to get to the track as much as I had hoped for, and I much prefer the idle quality and general part-throttle driveability of the IT-20 over the IT-22 on the street. Each additional heat range colder removes another 70-110 degrees from the combustion chamber, so you want to use the hottest plug that will still allow safe EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures). I run an EGT gauge on my Lightning, and highly recommend an EGT gauge for *ALL* forced-induction engines - not just diesels. This (EGT's) is something far too many gas-engine tuners completely ignore.

On the Lightnings (or any supercharged F-series), you need to change the fuel filter every 5K miles. Also, the Lightnings tend to fail the DPFE sensors (EGR flow) far more frequently - my first one lasted maybe 15K miles, for example, instead of the 50-100K miles they seem to last on the "regular" F-150's. You also need to make sure you aren't getting oil coming back up into the intake (pooling in the throttle body and in the convoluted rubber throttle body boot), as that is another common problem in Lightnings. You may well already know about all of this as a Lightning owner..............I don't know what mods you have on your Lightning, or what heat range of Denso plugs you are using, so these are just some general FYI tips.................

Good luck!

 

Wow, thanks for the in depth info.

I installed PCV valve mod kit that I bought on Ebay and that has stopped 85% of the oil but not all of it. I may try an oil seperator next. I installed the IT-20's because I may be going to a bigger pulley soon and I didn't want to go through the hellish nightmare of another plug change later. My idle problem would probably go away with the IT-16's. My idle isn't that bad, but it's just not what I expected from a V-8. My last truck was a Ranger 4.0 and it never idled smoothly either. I guess my wife's Honda has me spoiled because you can't even tell it's running.

I am going to get you to make me a custom 9100 tune soon so maybe that will do the trick.

 

OK, glad to hear you've done something to reduce the oil in the intake, and went with the IT-20 Denso's, that's fine.

The best idle quality I ever had in my Lightning (actually, the best idle quality I've ever seen on *any* Lightning) was with the IT-20's and either our Plasma Booster or MSD ignition setups. Dropping down to the IT-22's, while great for hard racing at the strip, really impacts idle quality noticeably, I feel. Of course, fuel quality has a significant role in idle quality, too.

Modern Honda's do have a good idle quality - the older Hondas didn't, but the newer ones do. By about 1999-2000, Honda had their auto trannies shifting smoothly and idle quality was generally excellent for some years before that. Of course, Honda also got nailed with one of the largest emissions-violation fines in automotive history some years back, too - they got caught doing things that helped power, driveability and MPG but didn't allow them to meet certain emissions requirements - and got nailed for it. Honda builds great cars these days, to be sure, they don't fall apart from rust like they used to, and they're making *excellent* engines - there's an awful lot our American automakers could improve on. But I'll probably never own one - I'm the guy American automakers love, as I keep buying American. I suppose if I had any sense, I'd have a Honda, a BMW & a Volvo sitting out in the driveway................. but I vastly prefer my 5000 lb., 11-second, turn-loving, quick-braking fear-inspiring American supercharged muscle truck.

Have fun & talk to you soon!