I've owned this truck since June of 04, and I need to take it back to the shop for the 4th time in the last 3 months. The truck was running fine friday night, I took it through an automatic car wash, then it started acting funny. The truck now physically shakes when I'm driving it, the engine sounds fine, although it seems to hesistate now when I step on the acclerater. The service engine light came on again after driving it for 5 miles after the car wash.

I've probably put 2 grand into this thing to keep it running smoothly and I'm tired of putting cash into it only to turn around and put more cash into it. When the truck is running fine I love it, however it seems I'm having to take it to the shop at least once every 6 weeks.

Right now these are the trucks/cars I'm thinking about getting

F250 with diesel
Ranger with 4.0
Dodge 2500 with diesel
Honda Accord coupe

I'll probably end up with another full size truck as I have a 2500 pound trailer and a ranger would have trouble pulling it.

 

Sounds like a wet spark plug coil to me. Guys have had problems with the spark plug coils every now and again, have you checked to see if they are securly pushed onto the plugs? What else have they been doing to "fix" your truck at this point?

LT Dan

 

The 4.0 Rangers are great. My '94 has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. I was looking for a Ranger when I found this F150 last October.

And the 4.0 Ranger has the 8.8 rear end just like most of the F150's.

 

Mine just turned 100,000 and I haven't had a minutes trouble. Sounds like you have a dead coil.

 

Thanks for the suggestions on what to check

I was having a really crappy day that day, and the truck acting up was the icing on the cake. Anyway I don't know what was wrong with it, had to have been water in something; cause I drove the truck over 130 miles today and the problem has gone away and the "serivce engine soon" light is no longer on.

I do want to get a bigger truck one day, but I will be keeping this truck for a couple more years.

 

I'm not trying to get you upset again but you will have a repeat of this again if there is any problems with the boot seals in the plug wells, coil paks etc,so expect it.
Next time there is high humidity or the truck acts up again, look at all the plug locations in the dark. It just may be very informitive.
Good luck.

 

You should probably pull all the coils, and blow out the plug wells with air, then put some dielectric grease on the coil boots prior to reinstalation... That should seal out any water issues...

 

thanks, I'll have to do that when I can get some free time.

 

sounds to me like the truck is fine. Its the dealer that cant fix it thats the POS.