I notice a lot of dealership bashing [which may be deserved]. One thing I can recommend that may help greatly when u take your truck in for concerns RIDE WITH THE TECHNICIAN and show him the problem. There is a communication problem between the service advisor, the bookers, the computer [with work orders], the dispatcher and finally the tech. Most the time the concern on the RO is nothing like what the customer is complaining about. I have a lot of customers who wont even ride with me... they just say "its obvious", but I may feel a different problem or it may not act up. This happens a lot and Ford Motor Company will not pay us past .5 hr if we cant verify the concern. Us techs are as mad at Ford as u are. We want to fix your vehicle...so if it is a wierd or intermittnet problem...RIDE WITH THE TECHNICIAN!, there is no magic machine that tells us how to fix the vehicle.
We still need to interpret voltages and pressures and follow pinpointtests. WE are even taught not to follow the service manuals, we use them as guides to repair vehicles. Mark on your rough idle, maybe give me your VIN # and I can help u out...
DAVE

 

I have a question for ya! I had a coil pack go bad a few days ago and the PCM did not trigger the check engine light. I know the bulb is good. The dealer tech said that It was strange that the check engine light did nothing but that the system is fine. I feel they gave me the run a round on this. If I give you my VIN# can you help?

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1998 F150 Triton 5.4L (4x2)
K&N Air Filter
Pioneer 4100 W/remote
2\10" Rockford Fosgate Punch He. RFP4310
CatBack system with Magnaflow system 3" Pipe
3" Performance Acc. Body lift, with lift lips
Xenon HID Super Whites 9007's
Front Clear Corners
Sonnax Line pressure modulator kit model#AX4N

 

what exactly went wrong with the coil pack? did u notice a misfire? the pcm wont always pick up the misfire and set a DTC. The pcm picks up misfire codes by measuring crankshaft rotation at either the cam or front crank pulley. Sometimes if the opposing cylinder misfires also, the DTC wil not set. A failed coil pack wont set a check engine light other wise most of the time. Also, a misfire has to occur twice during an OBD2 drive cycle to set a light. Did they repair your truck under warranty? If it runs fine now I doubt they gave you the run around. Does your Check Engine light come on when you crank the engine to start? This will tell u if the bulb is good. I have never seen a check engine light bulb burn out, it is rare. Let me know what your symptom was when u took your truck in for repair.
Dave

 

Superdave666,
Yes my area rep and the techs have drove my truck, They know it is rough and can't or won't fix it. Not my dealer mind you (they are great ) -- Ford Motor Co. is the staller here.
I assume I am the "Mark" you are speaking of.
Not sure who you are or what your credentials are -- but here goes anyway-- here is my VIN--1FTRX18L8XNC35069

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99 F-150 XLT 4X4, SC, SB, AT, 5.4, Single CD
3.55LS, Tow pkg, Rhino Liner, Sportsman topper,
Westin black double step bars, Custom gold pinstripe, Bright Red/Gold,
Honeycomb grille painted to match truck, Gold front valance and rear bumper covers (both from Eddie Bauer
Expys)

 

The coil pack completly failed. I was only running on 7. Yes the check engine light does turn on when I turn the ignition key. I acctually drove the truck twice that day like that, about 30 miles

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1998 F150 Triton 5.4L (4x2)
K&N Air Filter
Pioneer 4100 W/remote
2\10" Rockford Fosgate Punch He. RFP4310
CatBack system with Magnaflow system 3" Pipe
3" Performance Acc. Body lift, with lift lips
Xenon HID Super Whites 9007's
Front Clear Corners
Sonnax Line pressure modulator kit model#AX4N

 

Ok Mark, thanks, I will do a little research and see what I can come up with, I dont know if I can help u more than your Ford rep can. Some reps are good and some have a little to be desired. I will get back to ya.
Dave

 

SUPER,
LIKE MARK, I TOO HAVE HAD THE TECHS RIDE IN MY TRUCK SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. BUT THEY STILL NOT GETTING THE THING FIXED. HE ACTUALLY TOLD ME THAT IF THE COMPUTER DIDNT CODE ANYTHING THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CHANGE ANYTHING. (FORD RULE NOT A DEALER RULE) BUT I THINK THE EGR REPLACEMENT WAS A TRY FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE HAD TWO TECHS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND TWO DIFFERERT SERVICE MANAGERS IN MY TRUCK. BUT NOTHING YET. THANKS FOR YOUR SUGGESTION AND CONCERNS.

 

That is absolutely not true about the "FOrd RULE", you do not need a code to fix a problem, actually most driveability problems do not set a code. I dont know why those techs aretelling u that. I have never heard that before. It is a little upsetting to know that some dealerships out there are telling the customers that. DId the 2 techs and two service managers feel the problem? If so and it still isnt resolved, request a Ford Zone rep to ride with you. I hope you both fix your concerns. Some vehicles are had to pinpoint the cause of the concern, expecially intermittent problems. Make sure the dealer is contacting "hotline" and documenting your concerns also. Kepp me updated .
Mark I researched your truck a little... I cant find any ssm's or tsb's for failed coil packs. Does your truck of coil on plug or a coil pack with wires? I see you have had a lot of warranty repairs..PCM, IAC motor, Engine mount, Coil pack..some ac concerns...how is it running right now? .
I hope I can help you... there actually is a lot of good dealerships out there....Ford is trying to improve them but there sort of is a shortage of qualified technicians out there, if you find a good one...stick with him and request that tech when ever u can... good luck
Dave

 

SuperDave - you have it right -- they have tried with all those parts. The last was the entire computer -- which I felt would not fix it -- call it an educated hunch -- but I was right! If Ford is not telling these dealers, they can't do anything else -- then who do you suppose is responsible for this "false dialogue"? I really trust the two dealers - especially where I purchased the truck. -California Ford -- California Mo. The other dealer who also were super courteous is Mike Kehoe Ford -Jefferson City Mo. The area rep who has ridden with me early last Winter is Mr. Deitz (Dietz?)(sorry I can't recall his first name ) If you have the kind of pull you sound like you have -- give him a call about my truck. Thanks for your interest. While waiting in a drive thru tonight (wife didn't feel like cooking) - started in on another rough as heck session. I just hope that the problem does not go into hiding like it did last summer!
That itself is a big clue, I feel, The problem is ambient air temperature related !

------------------
99 F-150 XLT 4X4, SC, SB, AT, 5.4, Single CD
3.55LS, Tow pkg, Rhino Liner, Sportsman topper,
Westin black double step bars, Custom gold pinstripe, Bright Red/Gold,
Honeycomb grille painted to match truck, Gold front valance and rear bumper covers (both from Eddie Bauer
Expys)

 

Mark, I dont really have pull in your area.. I would need your truck in our dealership but its out here in CA. It almost sounds like an injector hanging open intermittently, is there any black smoke out the exhuast during your rough idle period? does it only do it at idle? could be an egr problem to....sounds like a tough one, lotsa possibilities. These are the kind of vehicles we work on at school [but backs etc.] I will keep looking on hotline for any ssm's on that problem. Sounds real frustrating for u.. that is a lot of money to spend to have these sort of headaches. If a knowledgeable tech could monitor PID data while the vehicle was acting up, he or she should be able to nail the problem... the hard part is being hooked up while its acting up..... I am very curious to what your problem is.
Dave