Bought my 99 L with 22k miles and it had the leaking intercooler.

I am 250 miles from the nearest SVT Dealer (Denver). I have two mountain passes to go over (Vail and Loveland) both are 10,000 ft.
Durring that time I disconnected the pump and plugged the intercooler lines. The truck ran flawless without the intercooler in the cold winter weather. I made two trips to Denver trying to get warranty help etc. from the dealer I bought it from.

Let me end that nightmare by saying I will never have Burt Ford work on my cars or buy another one from them!

Ok, so much for the history. I replaced the intercooler myself and hooked up the pump. It works great. I went back to Denver to visit my grandkids and noticed when pulling the passess it now seems to lack power. It acts like it is missing. Like the fuel ratio isn't right. Similar to high altitude issues with a carburater. I was thinking about unplugging my pump on the way home to see if it would do it again. I decided not to because it was snowing and messy. It did the same thing when I got on the uphill side of the passes.

Why would the colder air make it run bad? I heard no detonation.
When I got to a rest area and popped the hood the resavoir was churning away just like it should.

Everyone was telling me how I needed to replace that intercooler so it would run better. I can't feel any difference in performance and it runs worse at high altitude.

Sorry for such a long post but just trying to throw in some history.
Can't find a post with similar symptoms?

I have no regrets of having it back to factory specs. I know this summer and when hauling I will need the intercooler.

Any ideas on what is going on or solutions?
Anyone have similar experience with high altitude?
Truck was origanaly bought and driven in Denver.
Doesn't the computer automatically adjust for altitude?
Greg

 

You don't "need" to bring it to an SVT dealer. You can bring it to a LM or Ford dealer. Although it is nice to have an experienced mechanic, but if they are a good mechanic it won't matter.
As to your problem that is a good one...have you checked for any codes? The comp should adjust for altitude.
BTW - I here Grand Junction is growing like mad. Is that true? It's been a few years (6) since I've been through.

 

I'm sure you unplugged the battery and reset the computer when you put all that in...So that isn't the problem..

Try this.. Next time it does that, pull off the road and turn the truck off, restart, and see if it does it again..

If that doesn't do it, then it sounds like something mechanical possibley..

 

Thanks for the reply's and ideas.

Can I check for codes myself? Dumb question I know. There are not problem lights on the dash and I tried that pushing in on the odometer reset while you start. I guess it doesn't work on the 99.

I took it to a Ford dealer here in Junction. They said they couldn't to a warranty repair on a SVT vehicle because they weren't a authorized dealer... So I contacted the dealer I bought it from and calmly stated my case as having been sold a used vehicle with warranty correctable problem. ( they are the ones that put it back in service as I contacted the original owner and he told me he was aware of it and unplugged the pump rather than keep filling it with fluid). The dealer was real understanding at first and so I brought it back for them to look at.

I waited 3 hours while they looked at it. Then they said there wasn't a problem and hooked up the pump and filled it up with fluid. I asked them if they test drove it and let it warm up and or did a presure test. They got the tech and he told me to my face that he did all that and that they had heard of the problem but didn't have hardly any. He said it was a unpleasant job and would take a couple of days to do.

On my way home I stopped at Glennwood canyon and popped the hood. The resevoir was bone dry and when I took off the cap it had manifold vacum sucking on the palm of my hand. I unplugged the pump. It was to late to take it back before closing. So I went on home and called on Monday. They said gee whiz can you bring it back so we can look at it I said everytime you look at it I am putting 500 miles on the baby why couldn't you do a better job while I had it there and explained that it was leaking???? I asked if they could get the warranty extended or help out with replacement? They said I would have to at least pay some.

I figured screw it and ordered it myself for $750 and put it in myself in 3 hrs.

I did of course have the battery disconnected durring that time. It seems to run great here in Grand Jct. at 4,800 feet. Just noticed it straining or like timing is off or fuel. Just doesn't pull as well as it did with the intercooler dry. Next time it does that I will look for a place to pull off and just unplug it.

I have only lived here for 2 years and I noticed the traffic is increasing but it is still paradise compared to the way it has gotten in Denver. I had to get a dirt bike DR Z400 E . I think between here and the Utah area I could ride every weekend for 10 years and not find all the great single track trails. The weather is great and the fishing on the Grand Mesa is 45 minutes from my door. Probably 30 now that I have the L

I have done a few things to the truck and have come to love it more than any vehicle I have owned. Comfort, power, handling, quietness, looks are not to be compared.

I bet if I were the original owner the dealer would have treated me better but now that I have wrenched on it a bit I feel even better about things.

Sure like this forum and knowing there is help and friendly fellow owners to talk to about stuff.

Anyway, If anyone else has suggestions keep um coming.
Greg

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...itude+colorado

I did a search for you. Scroll down to the last post by Superchips Dist. for info.

Dan

 

Thanks lightningrod
Interesting thread. Sounds like there is fun at 5,000ft.

I know in the days before EFI we always ran about 4 or 5 degrees advance for the altitude. I think that is one of the reasons 92 and 93 aren't available at the pump around here.

Lot's of talk on that thread of knock sensors. I thought that our knock sensors were bypassed on the supercharged L's because of the blower noise? I know they were covering other trucks in that post.
THX

 

It only misfires under load, at high altitude?

I would definitley do what Lightning Struck93 said. Reset the computer. Also, sometimes under load, a problem with the EGR valve may cause it to misfire. Make sure you got all that put back together properly.

Does the truck appear to be running rich? Are you running a chip? Sometimes, a rich mixture will cause a misfire, especially as you cut down the intake temps. The fuel doesn't vaporize very well. Generally, this is not a big problem with fuel injected vehicles.

And finally, you might have a problem with your barometric pressure sensor. As you get higher in altitude, the pressure drops. If the sensor isn't reading properly, it won't lean out the mixture to compensate.

Check for plugged catalytic converters.