Hi, i'm new to this forum but from what i've read so far it seems there are alot of people on here who really know their stuff. So was wondering if anyone maybe able to give me some suggestions. I recently bought a 2001 Lightning and it has some issue that i've not pinpointed yet. the truck has 66K miles. when i get on it sometimes it shuts off. it runs good at any rpm, no missing or anything, but if i hammer the throttle sometimes it instantly shuts off the engine, no matter what speed/rpm i hit it at. its only sometimes though. and sometimes not even when i floor it, but sometimes if i go to get on it at like 3/4 open or so. its done it when i pull out from a stop, once at about a 30 punch, once while going down the on-ramp to the highway while trying to pick up speed, once when i went to pass someone. when i first noticed this, it also would sputter durin quick acceleration. I changed the fuel filter, cleaned the maf, cleaned air filter & intake, and that problem stopped. but the shutting-off continues. it seems to do it mostly when it downshifts, but not always--like i said, its done it before when i punched it from a dead stop--it went but as soon as it kicked into 2nd it shut off. ive also had a 2004 lightning that ive had since june of 2007 with 85K miles on it, and never really had any issue like this with it.....any ideas what maybe causing this? i'd really appreciate any help because its pretty embarrassing when i gotta pull off to the shoulder & restart my truck! thanks!

 

probably a loose ground to the ECM...

 

Well, if it happened at idle RPMs, it would probably be a dirty or worn IAC valve. Since it's happening above idle, I d/k though I suspected a clogged fuel filter but you changed that.

 

thanks for the suggestion...ECM seems fine as far as I can tell....the truck doesnt throw any codes either, not even once...so im stumped. if anyone has any more ideas i'd really appreciate them....and i do appreciate the responses i already got as well...thanks.

 

I would recommend you try LightningRodder.com as it is loaded with very knowledgeable owners, many who are Ford mechanics, who may have run into a similar problem.

 

Could be the famous fuel line to the pumps coming loose

 

That would be my guess too. ...or possibly the fuel line collapsing or sucking up junk in the tank.

 

thanks. i'll check that site out. & yea i was kinda thinkin lack of fuel myself....actually i parked the truck for about 4 days just last week. it was running smooth (at idle rmp & normal acceleration, etc) when i parked it.....this was like last week monday night. it didnt move til sat, wasnt even started. then i started it & the thing fired up & ran REALLY rough...almost like a lope....like missing real bad. this was while just sitting there idling....i know my 04 did the same thing after rinsing under the hood for a while til it dried out, so i let it sit & run for about a half hour, thinking maybe same thing. popped the hood & took a hook--everywhere under there that could possibly hold water was wet/had puddles/etc...it rained all week but the hood had been closed & truck had not been touched (how this much water got under the hood is beyond me).....so let it run for a while...then took it on road, ran so rough, all shuddering and bucking while accelerating...it was so bad that had to turn around & go back.....the only thing i could think of was water either in fuel somehow? (the tank was a little under 1/4 tank all week sitting there, maybe condensation inside the fuel tank???)....i figured at first maybe just moisture in ignition system but then again this should have dried out after running this long right? anyway, so took it to gas station, added fuel stabilizer & filled it up...havent messed with it again since yet....now i'm wondering is this problem related to this other problem or something completely different maybe?......idk, it baffles me since it ran smooth when i parked it monday, it hasnt even been touched, then sat it runs like crap as soon as i start it.....i guess im just in need of a little advice from some poep who know a little more than i do if possible...i'd hate to take it into a shop if its something rather simple, but then again dont want to waste alot of my time messing with it if its something else....any ideas? i'd really appreciate it. thanks so much...

 

If you had a lot of water under the hood, you probably shorted a coil pac or 2