I have been lurking here for years and have learned much, now I am stumped. My 1997 F150 2wd 5.4l is giving me problems and i "think" it is the transmission. Under a load, usually in OD when you try to accelerate the trans seems to kick out. I do not notice any RPM increase but it feels pretty violent and you have to come off of the throttle. Taking it out of OD seems to fix the problem. Milage is 150K and I last changed the fluid and filter @ 100K. Any suggestions or am I looking at a tranny rebuild. Any chance this could be spark related?

Thanks in advance.

Tennfan.

 

It's probably an engine miss. How long since the last tune up?

 

I had the same idea, I bought new plugs yesterday. I has been about 60k since the last time I changed them. Thanks for the response. I feels like a miss but the last time I had a spark problem it was more than one mis at a time. This one will just hit about once or twice and not consistantly miss.

Tennfan

 

You really need a trans service as well.

 

Tenfan,
I'm having a similar problema at about 80,000 although I don't think it's ignition related. I'm taking my 02 crew to the dealer this Thurs. to have them look at the trans. I'll let you know what they come up with. Any luck on the tune up?

Sincerely,
Lare8

 

Lare8,
I did find one coil boot bad. I think I have 2 problems, the truck now runs better but still has a shudder/miss in OD, I am still digging. Let me know what they say. Mine is not setting codes yet. Trans service this weekend.

Tennfan

 

well not to throw you under the bus but i had that similar problem (but only once) and my planetary exploded... don't know if that was the exception or the rule. we have 158000 on our 2000 expy.. in the shop now getting new tranny

 

I hate when people do not update what the final fix was so here goes. It was the number 8 coli pack bad. Misfiring but not bad enough to set the CEL. I also cleaned the upper intake and throttle body. Dealer wanted around $450.00 for the coil and cleaning. Cost me $48 for the COP and around $10 for cleaning supplies. Truck is back to her old self and the throttle response is much better after the cleaning. Thanks to all for this forum.
Tennfan1

 

Glad you got it fixed.

 

Ten,
Glad you found the problem, I'm still working on my issue, dealer responds no codes on the tranny, following a full service, my prob still exists. When I find it i'll post.

 

I have a very similar issue. How did you isolate the number 8 coil as being bad with no codes showing up?

 

Bodine,
Unfortunately I ended up taking it to the dealer for eval. Paid the $75. If you can find someone that has a code reader that will read "pending codes" it may show up there. #8 and #4 are the 2 worst ones for going bad. Heat related. Also, I stuck a meter on the bad coil and it read the same as a new one cold, suspect that once under a load and hot that it was failing.

Tennfan

 

My "cough" is also under a load or long incline, usually 1200-1400 rpm's in overdrive. It tends to be worse when engine is cold. Once out of that rpm range, it runs fine. I was told that if it is a coil pack, it would get bad enough to finally show a code. After about 6 months of this, still no change. Thank you for your input. You guys on this site are invaluable. I've saved mucho dinero on other issues solved by you fellas. - Bodine

 

DID I read You right............48.00 For the coil......

WOW that's a great price....Concerding...


Thanks For the post... having same problems with mine

 

From Autozone. Not motorcraft but it does not seem that they last any longer than the others.

Tennfan