Ok, heres the story. Just got back from off-roading. I took my truck through a real big muddy-water hole and got the truck covered in mud (including the engine compartment) Afterwards, my engine's idle would fluctuate up and down and not even out. I live several miles away from the off-road place, and after driving home the engine idles fine, unless i hit the gas..it then goes way down and up for a sec then levels out again. I checked the power distribution box (i have a 5.4 by the way) and it was wet and muddy. I took out every fuse and cleaned and dried them. Still no steady idle. A small amount of black smoke also is coming out of the exhaust (it really came out when i hit the gas to get on the freeway). ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! WHAT DO I DO NEXT??? Sorry about the long post..

-Alan

 

also i might want to add that when it shifts in gear it clunks more than normal. I dont like the sound of that at all....

 

I would check all your sensors and connections for water/mud inside. Also, don't forget the ABS sensor and probably want to check the O2 sensor. Good luck

 

Hi Whiteblaze

I once did the same thing..my only fix was... I put a sign on truck.."Flood Sale-Cheap"

Seriously...your truck was running ok before..but not ok after going thru water...

Water induced problems...probably...did any water/mud get sucked up into air intake? Wet air filter...MAF sensor etc?

Also...check where the wiring goes into PCM from firewall..did water get into harness plug to PCM (computer)? Of course..there are alot of other connections involved.

Maybe all will be ok once things get dry?

Just guessing.. Good luck...OT

 

As far as water goes on the intake im good...i have a k&n fipk at it is of course dirty, but not too bad. I although have not checked the firewall/computer area. I pray to God that there isnt water on the inside. The radiator is pretty clean too. Water induction problems...Been there before (hydrolock), but at least my engine is running! Im putting my hopes on it just being a matter of "drying up" and not anything too major. If it is.....God help me, i cant afford a new engine.

--Alan

 

i think what old timer is saying - look at your maf is it dirty?

 

just checked the maf....dirty as sh**. gonna clean it and just about everything else that could resemble a sensor or metal contact....

 

I'd like to say that after spending about 9 hours of cleaning my engine, replacing my FIPK with my stock intake(the K&N is really dirty, gonna take another day to clean it too...) that my truck is up and running smooth. An oil change is in call for tommorow, and hopefully everything will continue to be a-okay. I'd also like to mention that im staying away from the off-road scene for a while. It like to killed me knowing that I could have potentially (and possibly still) ruined my engine/truck. I love this thing WAY too much to screw it up as bad as I could have. Makes me appreciate the fact I have this great truck to begin with

-Alan

P.S. Thanks for the help guys!

 

I am very glad to hear everything is okay. I just wanted to make sure you don't get too carried away. I realize that your situation kind of sucked and you need to take a 4x4 break, but don't abuse your 4x4. It needs to go out and play from time to time. This means, that at some point, you need to take her back out for some exercise. Realize that you have a truck. Either use it to haul a ton of stuff, or use it for offroading. Don't use it as a car. That's just sad I have a 1995 F150 that was all shiny when I bought it. It's been through a lot, damage wise, but I bought it to play with and I'll be damned if I'll let anything stop me from playing with it. And no, I cannot afford to just fix things. I'm putting myself through college. But that's where a little passion and ingenuity comes in. Now I need to head back outside and get to work. I have to cut out a couple sections of rear panel (A section on both sides) with a recipricating saw and then bolt on some angle iron. It will look a lot better than the big dents. I was taking a break after taking a sledge to the front bumper mounts. It's a lot more level now than it was