HELP!!!

I have a 2002 F150 with the FX4 package, and 5.4L engine (4000 miles on it). About a minute or so after startup when the engine is cold, the engine would idle up and down between 600 and 1000 rpms. The wierd thing is that this doesn't happen all the time. It goes away when I put it into gear or when I rev it up a few times. This problem tends to occur the most when the outside temperature is around 40-55 F. However, it happened around 72 F also.

Two trips to the dealer and all I got was the idle air control valve changed. I called them back up and they say to keep a log of the times because they can't find the problem. No "check engine light" or codes or anything.

What do you all think?

 

did the same thing on a few starts when it had around 1500 miles on it. Remembering I'd bought gas at a cheap 'mom and pop' store, I ran that tank of gas out and put in some Chevron stuff in it and it seemed to cure the problem...basically it's not happened since.

It's worth a shot.

 

Not sure I believe this, but a dealer told a friend of mine with a 2001 version of what you have that oil with too high a viscosity will do that. I run 5W30 mobil 1 in my 99 EB 5.4, have not had that problem. Insterestingly after my friends F150 was serviced the surging problem disappeared.

 

The gas I'm using is Shell 87 Octane. I guess I can try to switch to another brand to try such as Ammoco and Chevron. The oil I'm using is 5w-20 from the dealer. Thanks for the replies though. Lately the weather has been hot and it hasn't done it since.

 

Brought my truck into the dealer today at 7:30 am to have the idleling problem looked at again (3rd time). Called them back at 5 pm and they said they couldn't find a problem with it at all. They said that I can take it home or leave it overnight to have it looked at in the morning. I told them to keep it overnight and let them start it up the next morning. This is really P**ssing me off. Brand new truck and they can't seem to find the solution to the problem. Do anyone else have a solution to this? Can anyone tell me if there is a lemon law on this?

 

Fx402


I had the same problem with my 2001 supercrew with 5.4.
Mine would happen when I would start rolling in a very low speed in a parking lot or something. The engine was warm and the rpm would go between 800 and 1500 none stop until I floored it. Among other start up and idle problems I had 4 trips to the service center and I got tired of it.
I have filed a lemon claim with ford. The final coment from the Ford enginner was that "rough idle, extended crank, smoking when starting and idle variation is normal for F-150's.
Normal my !!!!!!!
Keep your paperwork in order. That's your life saver.
I wouldn't keep the beast if I was you. Don't let too much time in between service visits. keep taking it back. 4 times is all you have too.

 

I have been told by them not to use anything over 87 ocatine.
Also I have used the ford recomended oil, and I have tried the chevron, union76, shell and texaco.
It is not the gas or the oil.
They have a bad engine and they know it.

 

It's more likely a component or sensor that is bad. There are many individual components that would cause driveability problems...I suspect that your dealer is not wanting to take the time necessary to troubleshoot the problem. You might want to have another repairman check it out. There are shops which specialize in fuel delivery sysytems along with shops that do expert work on electrical and emissions. They might be able to help out.

Is the truck showing any codes? If so, that would be a place to start.

 

There are no codes what so ever.
The truck had only 12000 miles when it started the problem
I don't think I should take it to a special shop. Galpin is one of the bigest dealers, they should be able to take care of it. However, when they brought a specialist (FOrd Engineer) just to look at my vhiecle that tells me it is not just the dealer who doesn't care it is FORD. When the specialist tells me it is all normal operation I just wanted to choke him right there and there.

 

Update:
The truck is still in the shop. I've called the service dept today around 4pm to check on it and all they said was that they are still working on it. I think they just don't know what the hell they are doing and just yanking me around. I'm going to call them back Saturday to make sure that they are REALLY working on it. I don't think its the gas b/c I've tried 87 and 89 and it still does the same thing. Anyone know the number to the FORD customer service? I'm going to file a complaint with FORD. One more trip to the dealer and its lemon law time.

The steam just keep getting hotter and hotter!

 

FX402,

I have an 02 5.4L Supercrew that had the same problem. The truck would not idle and I also had problems starting. On the 1st trip to the dealer, they said the IAC was bad. This did not fix the problem. Then they told me it was bad gas. That also was not the problem. Then they said I had a bad fuel pump. No luck staill. Then they replaced the EGR and it seemed better for a few days. In my case, they also had no codes to work with. Finally, the check engine light came on and I brought it back for a 4th time. Finally they did a compression test and it turned out the #3 and #6 cyllinders only had 55 lbs. They tore it apart and found that the vale seats and guides on the intake valves had cracks in them. They replaced the engine and so far so good(1000 miles). Oh, I almost forgot, mine also acted up when it was about 50 degrees.

MJS

 

I read a few comments on this , all this last week I thought ,I just got some bad gas ,it acts just like that! , rough idle and por exceleration , but if you put your foot in it ! runs great! but light exceleration is terrible! , anyway the truck is still undeer factory war. so took it in , and told the surging and missing , turns out is was bad coil and coil wire , and I think a few of us on F150 on line have had the same problem , worth taking it in I would say , maybe the dealers need to be pointed the way or in the right direction.! those computers don't always know everything!!! , Skully

 

Just got the truck back today (Monday 3/18). The dealer fixed the noisy passenger window and they still could not find the problem with the idle. They said that they couldn't duplicate the problem for the duration that the truck was there-4 days. The service rep said that they re-programmed some sort of module on the computer and did some adjustments with the fule rail. They hope that this will fix the problem.

So, I went to get the truck around 9pm and when the driver pulled it up, it started ideling up and down like usual. I asked the driver to find the service rep and I followed the driver to get the service rep. When I returned, the truck was ideling normal again. This service rep (different from the one who usually handles my case) said that the 5.4 engine always have a problem with idle when its cold. He said that it was the idle air control valve protocol acting up. Its the nature of the beast. I don't know if I believe this or not. However, I'm getting tired of my truck being in the shop all the time. Anyone else with better method to this solution? By the way, the truck runs great any other time-only when cold starts it idles funny sometimes.

 

Started the truck in the morning and let it idle for about 2 min. The engine started to hop up and down between 600-900 RPM as before. Funny thing with this is that after about another minute or two of hopping, it went back to normal. I called the service rep and he said that he couldn't do no more for me until FORD Co sends some sort of fix. However, he said that the computer is now taking control of the idle process since it goes back to normal. I gonna try to take it to another dealer to see what they say. This is my first ford and I'm starting to regret buying it.

 

I think I see a similar phenomenon with my 2002 Lariat FX4, 5.4L. But, it appears to be independent of outside temp. Here's the phenom. As my truck is warming up, it appears as if the computer gets "confused" when the idle hits around 800 or so (or just below that). At that point, if I'm in neutral or park, the rpm will "bounce" between about 700 and 900. You can hear it in the engine, and see it on the cabin tach. If I lightly rev the engine it might stop temporarily, but then it will start again. If I drive off for a block or so, then put it back in neutral, it's fine (as if perhaps the additional warm-up time has gotten it past the "sticking point"). It has never misbehaved while in gear. It's got 3K miles, always used the same gas (Mobil 87 octane), and had the oil changed 1X at the dealership at around 1350 miles. Maybe I should be more concerned than I am, but I don't consider it a major problem (yet), and will ask the dealer to take a look at it next time I'm in for an oil change. OTOH, for a truck that lists for what this one does..........well, never mind.

Fx402, I'd be very interested to hear if and when your concern is resolved. I'll post if I learn anything when I bring mine in.

ernie