okay after reading all the threads consider this....mileage?...one said running autolites plugs?..cheap..cheap=problems...go to motorcraft plugs applicable to your truck(double Plats)....consider your wires..I have 88k on my 97 and I just put on my third set of wires...the second set were accels and only made it 40k+..I had the same problems,perfect idle but when going down the road it felt as if the tranny was slipping and the truck would jerk intermittily...I didnt even suspect the plugs or wires but when I changed them there were arcing marks on the wires and the plugs (2 of them) had almost rusted away and they were'nt even close to the #3 or 4 plugs!!!...tip; when doing the wires don't even think you can do it one at a time..the secret is changing them as one..pull all the boots,pull straight up on the looms that are attached to the cover bolts..take note of the wire positions on the coils..at the top of the alternator there are 2 looms connected to brackets above the alternator,leave them in place..take all the wires out together on the looms and set them down on a flat surface and lay your new wires out by length..now replace one at a time keeping the assembly together clipping the wires to the looms as close to original as possible..when your done the new wires should look as close to the old as possible on the looms....also label your wire by number as your doing this..the factory wires have numbers on them the replacments don't ..then just reinstall them as they were before...I used Motorcraft replacment wires WR5934...fit exact...watch your tourge on the plugs(105 to 120 Inch Pounds)..and you'll notice an improvment over all..good luck

 

Tex,

I know there is debate about the motorcraft vs the autolite, but from what I have read they are the same plug. But I also ran +4's for a long time (60,000 or more) and had no problems. I have the coil packs-coil over plug so there are no plug wires.

MX,

I think I found the problem for now. I went through the truck pulling the injector wires. I found the culprit. The #2 cylinder wasn't firing. I pulled the plug and the coil, replaced both. It started up fine, idled fine, and drove fine.

I have my fingers crossed that everything is right now. Could have just been one of those things that after 100,000 the coil pack went bad. 100,000 miles on a $30 part isn't too bad considering I'm not the easiest person on a vehicle. (I like the dunes and snow!)

D

 

Doug,

Are you going to the Dunes in April?
April 11-13 to be exact. Check out;
http://www.fordtruckworld.com/forums....asp?id=140834
or
http://www.fordtruckworld.com/forums....asp?id=103569

JMC

 

JMC,

I think I am planning on going out the first weekend the dunes are open. I will probably be just a support vehicle if I take it. A friend of mine has a sweet s-10 blazer with about 9" of lift, a 4 person buggy with a quad 4, and several sweet quads. I usually tow a trailer with the buggy and the quads to the campsite and then haul gas up into the dunes. My first two trips we really pounded my truck, since then I've taken it easier on it. I still go out and have fun with it, but I don't launch it off of test hill. (Did that before, scared the sh*t out of me!)

I'll let you know if that is the weekend I we go. I remember from last year there were 2 or 3 sweet superduty diesels that rocked!

Doug

 

Doug,

We tried going the first weekend once, a few years ago, and did not like the line ups so we wait a week or so.

JMC

 

I was thinking first weekend, but I thought the first weekend was the first weekend of April, but it looks like the DNR site says the opening weekend is next weekend. Hmm... I have to call Derek...

 

Doug,

The Dunes open on Tuesday April 1st. So their first weekend open will be the weekend of April 5th.

JMC

 

Good news Doug have fun inthe dunes

 

Mx,

Thanks for the help and I will certainly try at the dunes!