Help I recently inherited a 95 Ford F-150 5.0 V8 with an automatic with about 85,000 miles on it when my grandfather passed away recently. Since then I have been struggling to get it to run right. The check engine light will come on and go off randomly while driving the truck around town and on the highway and does not seem to come on during any specific type of driving. The list of problems with the truck..
Idles rough normally stays around 600-650 at times it will jump up to around a 1000rpm and then fall to about 500 and almost stall.
When driving the truck it does not seem to have any power in the lower rpm range say below 2500rpm no matter how much gas you give it just bogs out pretty much. Then at random moments it will just kick and all of a sudden run fine. It also seems like if you floor it for a few seconds after it runs normal the truck will continue to run like it should for a few minutes and then start bogging down again.. I can see the plunger inside the egr valve go up and down as I rev the motor so I know it is moving so I am lost on what to try next. I also get a popping sound from under the hood when the vehicle is in its bogged down state not sure what it is though.

Codes I am getting
33 is EGR valve opening not detected
172 is oxygen sensor indicates system always lean

Things I have changed so far.
Air Filter
Spark Plugs
Spark plug wires
Distributor cap
Rotor
2 different fuel injector cleaner additives for the gas.
Fuel Filter none of it has helped so now I am clueless on what to do.

 

i'd recommend replacing the egr and O2 sensor. i had a problem on my truck where it bogged down and made the popping noise every time i splash a deep puddle, when it rains, or when mudding. took a spray bottle of water on a dry day and sprayed each sensor while engine running and traced it to the connections on the O2 sensor, apparently the connector rubbed up against the hot header tube and melted it allowing any water/moisture in. when wet it ran like crap, once dried out it runs like a beast... hope my info helps!

btw, i hate emissions controlled BS!!! one drop of water wreaks havoc on the whole system lol

 

I have been having a similar problem with the idle on my truck, and it's throwing the same codes. I've been advised by others on this site to replace the PCV valve, EVP sensor, and to check the TPS. I haven't gotten to it yet myself (grad school eats time for breakfast) but that may be a good place to start for the idle problem.

 

Alright I changed the EVP and left the battery unhooked for 15 minutes to clear the computer and it did not help at all I pulled the codes again and here is a link cause I can not figure them out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaG6e-qZFVY
What should i try next to get rid of the hesitation?

 

I did the same thing with mine yesturday and it also had no effect. It appears that we are fighting the same problem. Went to the parts store to get a new EGR valve but they were out, and so we wait.

 

Alright well I have now replaced the EGR Valve, The Solenoid and the, postion switch on top of the EGR valve and it still will not run right same codes as before. I tried spraying some carb cleaner around to check for vacuum leaks and could nto get a change in idle... So i am stumped need help I am about to lose my hair. Well you let me know if you figure yours out lost at sea and I will do the same

 

I've already lost my hair, but I'll keep you posted all the same. Haha.

I was told to replace the PCV, I'll give that a shot and let you know how it goes.

 

I see... well let me know cause I just ran my diagnostic check and it is saying that it passed and no codes come up only problem is I am still getting a check engine light.

 

have someone put an actual scanner on it, and do the koeo and koer tests. i know the system says its passing but the code may be intermittent and some scanners can look at the sensors and you can see whats not doing its job.

 

The sheer ignorance of the statement is commical.

 

Agreed. You need to know what codes are throwing the light before you try to fix anything. Otherwise you will most likely be throwing parts at the wrong problem.

 

I created a thread ("wandering idle problem") about a month ago with details about my truck's problem, which is similar to the one on this thread. I've done the suggestions (except the TPS) that were mentioned on the other thread but have not had any changes in the problem. Here are my codes:

Code 31 - EGR circut out of range
Code 32 - EGR signal low
Code 41 - EGO not switching, lean exhaust bank 1

I replaced the PCV but it did not affect the problem. I am thinking about getting an EGR eliminator kit from http://rjminjectiontech.com/?p=9 and see how that works.

 

Alright I took the truck to the shop they replaced the 02 sensor and the IAC problems fixed truck runs like a champ drive it around get about 300 miles on it and the hesitation is back I am guessing the 02 went bad again what could cause this to happen so fast?

 

Take it back to the shop that diagnosed it and ask them. You've already paid them to fix it, now make them actually DO it.

 

I replaced the IAC and it didn't do a thing, but I did not do anything with the O2 sensor. You were getting code 172 but I am not, but one of my codes does say lean exhaust so maybe the O2 is worth checking out.