I need to get my truck reflashed due to a stalling problem. It is a 2004 f150 with the 5.4 and I'm running the superchips 1714 performance program. I also have an Airforce One intake on it. I've been running this combo without issue for a while. Recently my truck started stalling at stop signs. I would like to reflash it to the latest calibration to see if this helps, there is a TSB for a similar concern that says to reflash it. I would naturally set the truck back to stock before reflashing it. Will my 1714 still work on this new calibration? I'd hate to lose the ability to tune my truck. If it turns out to not work after, what do I need to do to get it to work again. I assume send it out?
Thanks for any insight.
Tater

 

Hi Tater,

I doubt the reflash is going to help, this is usually a sign of a failing throttle body in these newer ETC trucks - a number of throttle bodies have in fact failed on 2004 & up 5.4 3V F-150's, especially in the 2004's - and it gives that exact same symptom - so I would mention that to your dealership and have them do some checking with Ford on that. We've had a couple dozen customers with 2004 5.4 3V F-150's who have had that same problem, got the reflash, and it didn't work - the dealer finally replaced the throttle body and that took care of it.

See, if this was a calibration issue, it really should have been doing this from day one that you got the vehicle - the calibration doesn't just go bad. This is why I suspect the throttle body failing instead.

to answer your question, yes, usually the 1714 still works, it's just a matter of whether the 1714 has the code for the reflash or not. Worst case, it will tell you it needs an update, and Superchips will do that for your free of charge. So either way, you will not lose your tuning as long as you went back to stock before taking it into the dealership for the reflash.

But like I said - I would speak to the dealer about the throttle body replacement first, and why they think it would be a calibration issue when the truck has not always done this from the day it was built - that's an important question.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the reply Mike. I just thought I'd try a reflash first since I read TSB 04-21-14 and it seems to be describing the problem I'm having. I just didn't want to lose my tuning, especially since it works so good!
I work at the dealer myself as a master tech but I don't think we've seen any of these stalling issues yet. I don't usually work on anything except 6.0Ls so I'm not up on the problems with the gas engines. I will check into the throttle body thing first though, I guess I'll have to make a work order on it if it needs parts. Thanks again for your help.
Tater

 

Hi Tater,

Ahh, well then you've got all the resources you need to check into that, excellent!

Yeah, in our experience we have found that the reflash does not solve the problem - at least, as it has been experienced by those customers of ours who have reported those same types of symptoms, I should say.

In their cases, it was a failing throttle body. Not being a diagnostician, I couldn't tell you proper procedure for a mechanical diagnosis on the ETC throttle body, but since you're in a shop that should be easy to find in the service manuals, OASIS, etc. hopefully - I just haven't made time to look myself!

Good luck, and let us know what ends up taking care of this for you, I'd be interested to know.

 

Good info..Im having the same stalling issues. I guess a new throttle body is the fix.