my friend has a 98 f250 light duty with the 5.4 and lately it will start running really poorly when under load. spark plugs and wires have been changed so its not that. chekc engine light is on, we figure its either one of the coil packs or an oxygen sensor. took it to the dealership and a mechanic test drove it and told us it was a bad coil pack. my question, how could he go about checking which coil pack it is? im guessing that if we pull the code it will tell us which cylinder is having the mis-fire, but the dealer is charging him lots of $$$ just to pull the code and he'd rather not pay them. any other way to find out (other than to go one by one and replace the coil packs until we find the bad one). thanks for any help.

 

Auto Zone pulls codes for free

 

Sorry, I just checked the yellow pages and didn't see any Auto Zones in Miami.

 

This will not exactly answer your question, but maybe solve your problem. You did not mention the mileage. Ford coil packs do degrade with use. If your truck has 40,000+ miles on it, save yourself the hassle and replace the coil packs -- both of them. Additionally, save yourself some more hassle and replace Ford coil packs with Accel or MSD coil packs. Then you will not have this problem again. There may be other brands that work, but I know that these will. Since you said that plugs and wires have already been done, then you should be set.

If O2 sensors have not been changed in the last 30,000+ miles then they can be treated as a maintenance item. Change them out -- the upstream ones (the ones closest to the engine). Bosch makes a good replacement sensor. Very simple to change when engine is cold. Disconnect the battery first.

 

If you do not have a pep boys or autozone near you, the only other way I can figure it to buy the code scanner.

Sorry but any other place would want to do the whole thing.

It is about 200.00 for an Actron scanner, and can be used on any ODB II compliant scanner ( JAN-96 and later makes ),

Worth the investment if you ask me, but I'm not you...opinions are like a$$holes. Everyone has one, and they all stink

 

Question for Peddler1000,

It sounds like you have experience changing the 02 sensors???

I looked at the location of these on my 2001 5.4 and I can't figure out how you get the upstream passenger side sensor out. Not much room for fat hands and I don't have any 5 year old kids around! Do you go in from the top or bottom? The other 3 are easily accessable.

Thanks!

 

teh truck has 80,000 miles with stock coil packs and o2 sensor. there is an auto zone about 30 minutes north from me, i think we might call them up and see if theyll pull the code for us.

 

Area 52

I don't know about those big horse 5.4's. I have changed out O2 sensors (upstream) on my 4.6. On my 4.6 they were accessable from the bottom of my COLD engine. I would assume you would have to get your 5.4 from the bottom also...... Guess I forgot that long and fairly skinny hands and arms don't come standard to all F-150 owners. I would speculate that if worse came to worse, you would have to remove the front tire and then the wheel well -- like you would have to do if trying to remove exhaust manifolds and install headers.

 

Thanks Peddler...

I will investigate the wheel well access option to accommodate my Popeye arms!

 

Auto Zone has a very good tool loan program (not for the scanner) you buy the tool and get your money back when it is returned. I had a bad sensor and used their tool which made it very easy. Designed especially for O2 sensors. Good luck.

 

Hey Area52!

I just did my passengers side 02 sensor a few months ago. It takes longer to get to it than it does to change. I ended up pulling the wheel and the wheel well liner to get to it. It was no fun at all with my fender flares to deal with also. It was easy, just time consuming.,,,,98

Picking up the bumper cover on Tuesday, I'll call you and see when we can get together and fit it. If you're still up for it, that is?