This is driving me crazy

'04 SCrew Lariat with 5.4, original owner

Everything was fine until last saturday, I filled up with gas at the same place I usually do. Got 5 miles down the road and the truck started acting funny, then died. I steered it down a side street and got it started up pretty quick. Went to my destination then on the way home it died again at a red light, eventually got it started and pulled into a Walgreens across the street....got 2 bottles of heet and put in the truck.

Truck got me home but the whole time it would be running along and its almost like the motor quits for a second or doesnt get fuel....shakes the whole truck when it "hickups"

Sunday try to take it to a buddies house to diagnose, its bucking, kicking and dying and harder to start....took forever to get there. Had codes P0191, P0174, P1233

Monday / Tuesday dealt with it and added 3 bottles of fuel additive to it....seemed to help but still having the problem. Last night did a fuel pressure test on it, 40 psi as soon as the key turns on and 90 psi when turning the key to start. After the test, it ran perfect...no problems. Because I havent grown up, and to test it I put it sideways down a country road on snow and kept it steady at about 2k, tires spinning, engine purring, big smile. did this for about 1/4 mile or so (continuous...I'm good!)

Today I drove it on the interstate about 30 miles, no problem purred along. Drove it from that location and back with no problems, all is well. On the way back home on the interstate, it started its same fun and games again. Died on a 2 lane highway, sat on the side of the road for about 15 minutes before it would start again...got it home bucking and kicking.


Tonight replace fuel filter, fuel came out brown....19k since filter change (truck has 122k on it). Pulled it outside and the check engine light is on again. Same codes.

Drove it home, bucking and kicking.

any ideas?

 

!!!!!!!!

With it idling, whats the pressure with and without the vacuum connected to the FPR?

If you have brown fuel, you may want to drop and flush the fuel tank.

 

how do you check it with it idling? there is no schrader valve on the fuel rail, we checked it with by disconnecting the feed line and was able to hook onto it with adapters.

also where did Ford put the relay? there is no mention of anything for the fuel pump in the owners manual for relays or even fuses.

I think you are right on the tank, but dont think that is causing the problem. however, I might end up dropping the tank just to clean it out but that will have to be next weekend after I have ran the full tank of fuel out of it. I changed the plugs at 103K (big fun) and the fuel filter at the same time, when I did the fuel came out brown then too.