I bought a 97 F-150 V-6, 5 speed with 30,000 mi. on it. After 5,897 miles of trouble free driving the engine started missing in any gear at any speed and the "Check Engine" lite would flash. I took it to the closest Ford dealer and they went through a series of different things. The first two times they would just reset the processor and send me on my way. Only to have the truck start it's crap 25 miles down the road! The 3rd time they replaced the ignition coil. (Said it was cracked) Again only to have it start bucking and jerking like a wild mule.
I took it to another dealer in the same metro area and they refused to look at it because it was now out of warrenty.
Sorry this so long!
The third and final Ford repair shop states there was a TSB 97-12-09 (?)
They replaced the plugs with FMC AGSF 34E E.

I got the truck home with no problems except it's running a little rough.

They are charging me $191.14 !!!

I am NO mechanic and I dont know the lingo. I rely on my truck to work in the construction field. I traded in My "86" F-150, 300, 6 with 3 speed on the column, 200,000 miles.

Thanks for listening to me!

 

Is the place that's charging you the $191 the same Ford dealership that you first went to with this problem??? If you can show the dealer that this is an ongoing problem and that it started before warrenty was out then it should be covered even afer warreny expires. Also, there are some post in here somewhere about things you can do to get that truck running better. First, I think I would try to resolve the warrenty issue with the dealer. Keep posting on how you're handeling this and what happens. Good luck

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

PKWRUD posted a tip a couple days ago about a problem that apparently mimics yours. The solution was to look at the cable housing which is fastened to the AC acumulator (silver canister wrapped in rubber in front of passenger seat engine compartment). Apparently, the cable and the AC (which is on more then just the 2 ac settings) interfere with each other, and the solve is to move those 2 cable housings away from the ac and fasten them elsewhere, I believe against the oil dipstick was suggested.

Search for that thread. anyone have the thread?

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David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
3.73, 4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTO,
139wb, Medium Red Tor.,
Rhino, K&N, BugGuard,
RainGuards, Superchip, Soft Tonneau
f150online sticker!!! GET ONE NOW!

 

cloaker:

Thanks for the tip..even though I have not had any problems at all...I went out and checked my 2000. Sure enough..the same set up. I used a couple of zip fasteners and secured them out of the way..just to be on the safe side.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II

 

Thanx for the info and advice.

I bought the truck at a KIA Dealership. That same day WE bought two other cars. (There's a point to this)

When the problem with my F150 started, I took it to the first Ford dealer that could squeeze me in that day!

The truck was still under factory warrenty! When they failed to solve the problem after the third attempt, the warrenty was over by 130 miles. No other Dealer would do the work under warrenty.

I took it back to the Kia dealer that I bought it and threatened them with a lemon law suit! ( I doubt that did much good!) But they did take the truck over to a different Ford shop and this where they changed the plugs.

The Kia dealer added on a 25% charge for driving it over and back. I stuck to my guns and refused to pay. I guese they got tired of me hanging around the showroom floor demanding to talk to the owner of the dealership!

They finally conceded and told me to take my truck and go home, as they now remember me as being the one who bought 3 vehicles the same day. They didnt want to lose a customer like that! HAAAAAAAAA! Rip offs!

The total charge for 6 plugs and a reset processor was $193.00. + the 25% charge the kia dealership through in. I didnt pay a dime!

Anyway, I have put 75 miles on it since the plug change and no problems as of yet, except it seems to run a little rough in idle.

I am really happy that I stumbled across this site! Thanks

 

The thread for the check engine lite, rough idle problem is under "FYI 5.4L f-150 owners" posted on 11-3, I think. I'm a new member, just trying to help out.

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00 supercab, 5.4,4x4, stay up too late on this site!

 

OOPS, FYI f-150 owners thread originally sent on 10-23.