I have an '01 Lightning that seems to have a hard time starting at times. When it turns over it will make a sputtering sound and the truck almost dies, then maybe 2 seconds later it will roar back to life. Every so often is will sputter out and I have to turn it over again to get it to start. It seems to happen only when the truck hasnt been started in a few hours.

My best guesses were a ****ty battery, or a bad starter (both are the originals that came with the truck). I asked someone more mechanically gifted than myself and they said it could be the electronic chip? that controls the idle. He said that it wasn't uncommon for the F150s to need that piece replaced.

I tried to test his theory by giving it some gas when it sputtered and it did help.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is this guy talking out his ***? Any Ideas?

Tony

 

Tony
Either it turns over good, or it doesnt turn over good, checking for a dead Batt is easy. If it's turning over well and not wanting to stay started (and or stalling), what you want to look at / clean / change is the IAC

Back in 02 I had a prob with mine stalling and not wanting to stay running, I cleaned it and all was fine....

Old old pictures....

First thing you got to do, is take it off


Then clean with .... I used Alcohol, let it soak.
Then I used cue tips and Alcohol until it was spotless inside.



Put it back together and BAM your done, only takes minutes to do....

 

Thanks for the tip, i'll give it a try and let you guys know.