Kidd,
See my reply to 36racin, that shudder a 40 is exactly what mine did with 37,000 miles.
Look on top of the passenger side coil pack, if it looks as though its wet or damp, I'd all but guarantee it's the problem. You see the heater hose on my truck was pre-assembled and the hose clamp is directly above the coil, thus it leaked a small amount of antifreeze on the coil and shorted it. I changed it out and it's running like a champ now. Also check out yippie's post.
Hope you get it fixed.

 

Markmizzou,
I was told the same thing last month, that Ford will no longer service my truck for rough idle. The problem now is that when I read of possible fixes for this I would like my dealer to try them, but they will not touch my truck. I was told straight up. YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.THIS IS A CHARICTORISTIC OF THE ALMIGHTY TRITON. I now take my truck in for every little vibration noise, drip,loose part and anything else I can find wrong. I to have test driven new and used 5.4's and have not found one that idles as rough as mine yet nothing shows up in the diagnostics. That just tells me that the diagnostic tests are not programmed to find this particular problem.

 

I wonder how any Ford dealer could tell you they will no longer look at a problem ever again!! That alone makes me very upset.

I am a loyal Ford Truck owner and have never owned anything else. However, with all the problems that I am having with my F-150 and the attitudes that I am running into, I am considering jumping ship to one of the other guys out there.

As I stated, my truck only has 11,500 miles on it and I have already had both rear leaf springs replaced b/c of a horrible popping in the rear end from the mounting bushing not fitting correctly. Now I have a very rough idle and a shudder at 40 MPH. I hate to say it, but I am starting to hate my F-150. I waited a very long time before I was able to purchase the truck of my dreams, however, slowly but surely it is turning into my worst nightmare.

I know that other people have the same problem, have any of you jumped to another brand of full size truck, and if so, have you experienced any major problems with those brands??

Thanks.

 

Juss.... and RJ, The dealer did not say they wouldn't help me -- The Ford Area rep said that he Would not have Ford pay the dealer for any more warranty work on this problem past the processor replacement.So they have tied the hands of my dealer -- I have the highest of praise for my dealer.
Also -- the coil thing -- we have tried that !!
Also this roughness is at a standstill condition only -- in or out of gear-- The truck is fine when it is movin down the road
Like I said earlier -- I hope beyond all things that the processor will fix my problem--but if not then what?
I feel they should change out any sensors or components that have anything to do with "temperature" before changing out the whole computer.

------------------
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

 

Mine is just like mentioned above. Just started very abruptly Tuesday evening. Can't tell a thing while it is going. But very rouch idle (even dies sometimes) when stopped. I know it is not normal. Never had it before. Idle jumps around several hundred rpm. Going to let the dealer have a try. maybe there is a computer code...


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97 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab

 

I would like to say that I am finally glad (so to speak) that all the problems I am having with my F150 that there are hundreds of others people having the same problems.
I would like to respond to kiddF150, and some of the same problems as everyone else.I bought my truck in Aug of 1998, and a few months after I bought it, I was traveling down the interstate and as I got off the exit ramp it just died and would not crank for a few mins. I went to the dealer and they couldn't find anything. Well its only happened one other time, although its not very fun sitting in the middle of traffic and that happening! Also, I am not experiencing any rough idle, but I am the bouncing like crazy while I am going at 60mph or higher, and my truck is skipping out like its not getting gas. I took it to the dealer and they said they "reprogrammed" my computer. Well it didn't help. Now I am also experiencing a grinding noise when I go into reverse. I have a 5 speed. They said they adjusted my clutch and that the grinding was normal. Well guess what, still not fixed! Ford had my truck for a week and a half and a very good friend of mine let me borrow her 2000 Chevy Silverado. I have been a committed Ford driver, and my whole family is all Chevy except me, but I tell you what, I am just this close to jumping ship also. I mean if Ford is getting these trucks in for the same reasons, why isn't something being done? Or am I overreacting. Hey I am a woman and I can do that! Ha! Oh well. But these message boards have been great and I am learning alot of different things on here! I am glad I found this website!

My truck: 1998 XL Reg cab, short bed, V6, 4.2, 5 speed, Navy blue on top, grey on bottom, chrome wheels and bumpers.

Add ons: Steel Horse billet grille and bumper insert, Westin chrome nerf step bars, chrome tip on exhaust, Bugflector II, Ventvisors

 

Hey Markmizzou,
Didn't mean to upset you guy, as a matter of fact I don't even remember responding to your message as I also realized your problem was not the same as mine. I thought I responded to yippee and Kiddf150. Sorry if I didn't get it right, Just trying to help.
Later!

 

Juss... hey -- no offense taken-I think this site and all the friends here are great!!!!
I am sort of an old fart -- but been in computers and electronics all my life. I am so impressed with the sharing and openess with this site -- I can't believe it !! I just think my truck is great -- and all I want is for Ford is to fix my "pesky little problem" Is that too much to ask for a truck that I spent $30,000 on. I
don't want a new truck -- I don't want a new engine -- I don't want to persue the Missouri Lemon law -- Damit -- Just fix the simple little problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the preaching!

[This message has been edited by Markmizzou (edited 12-15-2000).]

 

I live about an hour from you in a KC suburb. The O2 sensors are cheap to replace. If it were me, I would change the 02 sensors myself out of pocket. If it fixes the problem, take the bill to your dealer and they are obligated to reimburse you. I had to do that with some of the warranty work on a junker Silverado I had. They kept saying it was "normal" characteristic of the truck. When I fixed the problem via other means, they reimbursed me for the cost. Of course it took BBB arbitration, but they did reimburse me.

Fix the 02 sensors yourself. They are only about $25 a piece at Autozone. Then if that doesn't fix it, go for the new computer module through Ford. They can't refuse helping you for warranty work no matter what they have done to resolve the problem. A problem is a problem is a problem. If it isn't fixed, they are obligated to make it right...period. That is bull. Any reputable Attorney would chew that up and spit it back at them. I know. Been there, done that.

 

Just got a call from my dealer. Bad PCV valve. Will see if the replacement cures all. Interesting article (I have to learn about things - can't help it) that exactly matches my symptoms.

http://www.misterfixit.com/pcvvalve.htm


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97 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab

 

Gang,

I thought my dealer had the rough idle/miss problem solved, but the problem has re-surfaced as of the first start this morning. My symptons:

With engine cold, truck in park, it idles with an ever so slight bump in the idle. It almost imperceptable unless you are in the driver's seat, radio and blower off. It'll run along normal, and then there would be a little bump in the idle not even noticable on the tach. Again this is happening when the engine is still in it's cold high idle, around 2000 rpm. I thought to myself here we go again.

I take off, truck acts like a bucking bronco with shuddering and hesitating whenever I step on the gas. This continued until truck was in the "normal" temperature range. After that I could not duplicate the problem. No codes are generated. This is real weird for a vehicle that generates a code if the gas cap is loose. Why can't the computer pick up something like this?

Now I'm pissed, after having spent nearly $800 at my dealer for this problem....fixes tried; fuel filter, plugs, plug wires, manifold cleaning, O2 senser. The problem is not fixed.

What is the consensus of the group here? Should I tell my dealer the next fix is on them. Is this too much to ask? I'm tired of throwing good money after bad. Let them try pay for one of these fixes that don't seem to work.

It has to be something associated with the cold weather. This summer it ran fine, but since its been hovering around 20F, my problems have reappeared. I don't know enough about todays engines to even guess at the problem.

I have a 97 4.6 liter with about 48,000 miles.

 

Derek/Crash, you certainly sound like you know what you are talking about. What is your background?
I had the flight recorder on my truck -- punched the little red button four different times when the truck was sitting and doing it's rough Idle-- I took the truck and the recorder back to the dealer -- The mechanic plugged it in to their other machine - and in the space of about 3-5 minutes (I stood there and watched)-- he declared - there was no problem with my truck !! From what you seem to be saying -- Did he not spend enough time anylyzing the data from my truck? If you tell me you are a Ford tech -- I think maybe your ideas -- will carry a lot of clout with the dealer and their area rep-- Who has said the only thing they are going to do further on my problem -- is to change out the processor-- if that don't do it, I am basically "S out of Luck" -- even though I have about 20 more months and 20K of warranty left!!

 

Derek,

Thanks for the primer on engine electronics, I now feel I can talk intelligiently with my dealer on this problem.

 

Haven't checked in for a while however here's the latest.
Spoke with Ford Customer Assistance several times and their best suggestion was to take it in to ANOTHER dealer. Made no sense to me. If one couldn't fix it, why would another be able to?
This morning the beast started idling bad and I pulled into the first available Ford dealer, left the engine running and the service advisor got in and she verified the problem AND documented it on the repair order as well. She also confided that she has a 2000 F-150 5.4 and her's does the same thing! Nothing new to me 'cause I became aware through this website that there were others with the same problem. The only repair attempt she's done is to swap out the fuel pump. It was only done a couple of days ago so she really hasn't been able to figure out if it's done any actual good.
We discussed this problem further and what I go out of the conversation is that though the problem exists in these engines, Ford engineering hasn't figured out a way to correct it. Dealers are clueless without the input of the engineers back in Detroit.
I suppose that the problem would have to drive up some pretty high occurrence numbers for Ford to come close to addressing this nagging problem.
The truck otherwise runs fine. No error codes so it's not regarded or assumed as a safety or performance issue. It to me is an issue of aesthics & moreover VALUE. If I chose to sell this truck in the future and a prospective buyer were to test drive it and the rough idle occurred, what do I tell the buyer? "Characteristic of the engine"? I DO NOT think I would have an interested buyer after that explanation.
If this is indeed a characteristic of the engine, why isn't it disclosed at the time of sale and why didn't it occur during the first five months of my ownership?
One more confirmed repair order (need 4) and I'm submitting an application to the Dispute Settlement Board.
I'm giving them all I can give in terms of time, money, and effort. It's time to get real.

Black F-150 4x4 Sport 5.4
Step bars & bedliner

 

Update to my problem:
Dropped my truck off at the dealer today for rough idle/shuddering under acceleration. He now knows my voice on the phone, pretty scary. After spending ~$800 to solve the problem, all charges from here on out are being picked up by the dealer. I honestly think my dealer feels pretty bad about this situation. I told him to keep it all week and he gave me a loaner vehicle. I thought that was pretty cool of him. Certainly makes me want to go back.

Derek, I agree that common sense goes a long way and I understand that the computer can't tell us everything, but I wonder how much the techs rely on the computer to tell them what is wrong with the vehicle instead of doing good old fashioned diagnostic work. I printed out your thread from earlier (with names deleted) showed it to the service manager and he was very impressed with the analysis. Anyway, thanks for the help.

Mark