Hi members, for those who have read my past post replies and topic, I was a new owner of a 2001 4.6 with the rough idle. You can only blame so much on the mechanics, but this is a problem that the engineers don't even have a resolution for. How do you expect the mechanics to know??? Just trying to say, don't badger them to death, their only doing what their inform of doing. I was a badger myself, but persistance will eventually get results. As you know, I had the same problem w my new truck as soon as I pulled out of the dealer's lot. Brought it back 3 times, no results. took the next step, spoke to the sales manager, explained to him my dissatisfaction. He said to me, go out and pick out another truck. So with 5oo miles, the truck was returned and I picked out a similiar truck, even swap.. Unbelieveable! He made it a point and said, Ford do care... I was very please with this results, at times I was very angry and disappointed w/a truck u paid so much money for and to have a rough motor. So to all you members out there,dealers ahve the option to take the truck back if they choose too. But u can't wait too long. They tell you let the motor brake in first, BS, once you have it, it will not go away, until the engineers find a solution..Good luck members!

 

Mark in MO:

Your truck has worse problems when the air temps are cold, right??

I has the dlr changed the mass airflow sensor and/or the MAPP sensor yet??? Maybe there is a vacuum leak somewhere, in the lines going to those sensors. Has anyone suggested cleaning the wire in the MAFF? Just thinking and throwing some possible solutions out there.

--karl

 

DonW
Thanks for creating the F-150 Problem Page. Hopefully, enough owners will reply.
The "could not duplicate" is a common thread. They have to really DRIVE the vehicle enough to get it to re-create. Otherwise it just appears to be a ghost in the machine.
Last night it was shake, rattlin' & rollin' for what seemed to be an eternity and this morning during my 13 mile commute to work, NOTHING!
A Ford Field Rep is coming out tommorow to evaluate my truck at the servicing dealer. Chances are it could go either way depending on the temperament of the beast.
Toughest part is keeping my cool throughout this because I DSB'd a Mustang 5 years ago and it's like an old wound being re-opened.
I can only hope that tommorow will reveal something but I ain't bettin' the house on it.

 

36racin
I hate to burst your bubble but Ford is denying they have this problem. I have taken this problem far beyond the norm. I set up a dial indicator to measure the cab movement to prove my truck idles worse then others and the ford rep said this test is crude and inconclusive.I told him I did not have a million dollars to invest in a meter to measure interior vibration. Yes it was primitive but it did prove my truck had characteristics no other truck has. That is when he told me they would no longer service my truck for this rough idle.

 

For all those interested...
Just got the beast back from the dealer. Ford FSE (Field Service Engineer?) gave it a "100%-no-problem-here-OK"! Great! Except it still idles rough even while the service tech sat in the drivers seat explaining to me that "this is a very powerful engine and this is the result when you have all this power!" I was SO relieved to hear and to finally understand this.
After the detailed analysis and enlightenment, I've decided that I'm going to call up my best friends, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy AND Santa Claus and share this divine revelation about my oh so powerful truck.
On second thought...there's a bottle of Mezcal at home that needs a SERIOUS argument tonight and I'm just the MF looking for that fight right about now.
It ain't over, sports fans.

 

Hum, I would have asked him if that is true then how come it comes and goes, and why do the 4.6 motors do it, and why do some do it and others don't.

Join the list of owners that I am building.

home.pacbell.net/donw35/f150



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Don W
97 F150 4X4 XLT, ORP, Tow Package,
CD-Changer, K&N, B&M shift improver,
PIAA fog lights, Weld Rims 17", 265 70LT AT/S, Flowmaster 40 series 3" cat back.
f1504x4.hompeage.com

 

FINALLY AFTER A YEAR AND 17,000 MILES MY TRUCK IS RUNNING SMOOTH A BABIES A##. PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP AFTER IT SPENT ANOTHER WEEK THERE AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE ROUGH IDLE I WAS EXPERIENCING IS GONE. THE WEEK BEFORE THEY CHANGED THE AIR BYPASS VALVE ASSEMBLY AND IT MADE THE TRUCK RUN WORSE. SO I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THIS TIME THEY CHANGED THE EGR VALVE. SO FAR SO GOOD. I WILL BE KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED. AND WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW THE OUT COME. THANKS FOR BEING SUCH GOOD FRIENDS.

 

maybe ford dlrs should hire peter pan or Al Gore's laywers or the florida supreme court or karnak the magnificent to divine the answers!!!!

You know, I had problems like this with one of my jeeps, and my wife's old buick park avenue....turns out I had bad fuel pumps, not enough gas getting to the motor, lean running condition esp under load. Anyone check the fuel pump pressure??

36, sure hope the egr valve does the trick.

--karl

 

36R..., just read your last post.. How much have you been able to try it out after the fix? I read somewhere else about a vacuum leak around the EGR valve causing the problem-- but nothing about the valve itself-- or at least thats the way I read it.
I had just told my dealer about this on Friday. I have been a little reluctant to put out untried theories about the idle problem, because of all the dead-end fixes we have tried. Could this EGR problem affect the MPG as well? As you know, my mileage has not been that great either.

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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

 

 

Just got logged on, Much Kudos to Yippee02,
Although it's just an intial test, I had the same problem as Yippee02, I had my 98 ford f-150 parked for about 2 weeks and got in it one day to take a 15 mile drive and it started to act like I had got a tank of bad gas, changed out the gas and the filters but no luck. Came here read through the board and figured yippee's problem was same as mine so I tried it, and so far it worked. I will add though that I found the reason why the passenger side rear coil is the problem. It's because the heater hose is right above it with a spiral hose clamp on it, which means it will eventually leak antifreeze right on top of the coil. Thanks Yippee02, and I hope it helps someone else.

 

36racin,
I noticed you're from gonzales, I work in St. James, just glad to have some other owners out there willing to share info. Been doing mechanics for some 20 years (self taught after being ripped off by a dealer and a name brand shop) so I'm more than willing to share any experience I know to help ALL vehicle owners out....
Take Care....and so far I'm cruising too, without a problem.
Later!!!!

 

WELL ITS BEEN ABOUT 4 DAYS SINCE I PICKED UP MY TRUCK FROM THE SHOP AND I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT MY PROBLEM HASNT RETURNED YET. I DO HAVE A SLIGHT ROUGHNESS BUT I ACCOUNT THAT TO THE COMPUTER TRYING TO LEAN THE MOTOR FOR FUEL ECONOMY. I CAN LIVE WITH THIS. CHANGING THE EGR VALVE SHOULD EFFECT MY FUEL MILAGE. I KNOW I DOES ON OLDER MODEL CARS THAT HAVE THEM. SO I AM KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED. WE HAVE ALL TRIED TO HELP EVERYONE OUT HERE AND I AM GLAD I MAY HAVE FIXED MY TRUCK. NOW I HOPE WE CAN ALL YOUR TRUCKS FIXED. THANKS

 

I also have the rough idle problem with my 2000 F-150. It usually occurs more often during cold weather as other owners have described in previous posts. I have been told by one Ford dealer that it is a characteristic of the engine (4.6 V8). I disagree. Now that I have read posts from other owners that have the exact same problem I know that the rough idle is not normal.

I only have 11,500 miles on my truck and it runs like it has 100,000. I have even had my truck stall on me after getting off of the interstate here in Atlanta. I am concerned that this many F-150's have this problem and that Ford appears to know about it however, has not come forward to address the problem.

In addition, when I am coasting at roughly 40 mph, my truck shudders as if the back end is going to bounce off of the ground. Does anyone else have this problem? I have talked with other F-150 owners, and have been told that it might be the torque-converter.

As I know that other people have had the exact same problem with their F-150's, I would like to ask if they could share the possible remedies that their Ford dealer performed to fix these problems.

Hopefully, one day, we can all get our F-150's fixed for once and all.

 

I just got a call from my dealer on my rough idle problem. The area rep has told the dealer thast they will change out the whole processor (truck's computer) to try and solve my rough idle problem. This sounds great till you hear the rest! They further stated that if this does not fix my problem they WILL NOT TRY TO FIX IT AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I can't believe this-- ONE STIRIKE AND I AM OUT. In essence they say since their diagnostic system can't detect the problem don't have a problem, and they won't try and find it! I have driven both a new and a used 5.4 at the dealers -- and neither of these trucks did this rough idle thing.
My next two calls are to ford on their hotline and to the Missouri State Attorney Generals Office
What I believe should be done is to change out any sensors having to do with the ambient/running temperatures of the engine, and if no sensor fixes it -- then change out the processor.
IT SEEMS TO ME FORD IS "THROWING OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER!!

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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