No offense meant to anyone!! I really wish we could keep this topic to the original problem. That was a rough idle at a STOP -- in gear or out -- but only at stop/idle. Lord where has 36racin gone -- He stated this thread and -- he said -- last post -- his was fixed -- I need to talk to him in the worst way -- I even went so far as to call what was I figured his dealer in Gonzales La. (All Star Ford/Mercury!! They are a large dealer -- and the service mgr. said he could not positivly identify this person -- the svc. mgr. was the best and most courteous ) without more info. Where the heck has he gone -- I need to talk to him to give some credibility to my problem -- and it's probable solution. he said the replacement EGR valve fixed his problem-- I guess he got so delerioiusly happy with his fix -- he went crazy--- -- If anyone knows of his whereabouts -- please let me know-- and him know I am trying to contact him!!-- thanks all !!

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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

 

Mark:

Didnt 36racin say somewhere he occasionally travels a lot and doesnt have computer access?? Maybe he is on one of his trips to who knows where...

--karl

 

Hello everyone. Glad to find this website. Sorry to hear everyone is having the same problem that I have had, but glad to hear I'm not the only one. I have a '97 F-150 4.6 automatic with over 105k miles. (I'm in sales and drive alot). At about 6500 miles I started experiencing the same problems. Rough idle, in gear or out, very sporatic. Took mine in twice to have it checked, no rough idle when tech checks it. I have learned to live with the problem, as mine is not as bad as some of yours. Doesn't happen very often. It is almost time for a new truck, in a couple of months, and I would love to have another Ford, I have driven alot of miles with no problems aside from the occasional rough idle, but knowing this is a widespread problem is of great concern to me. Thanks for all the great input and ideas for fixes on this problem. Best of luck to everyone.

P.S.
Has anyone heard of Ford putting a small diesel in the F-150 soon, possibly a Isuzu engine?

 

I had a '97 F150 XLT SC and after running it a while then coming to a stop, I would get a rought idle, even going down to 300rpm, I would have to put it in neutral and rev it up to keep going. I have a '99 now, just got the engine replaced for piston slap, I think, and going about 65mph and pressing the gas hard, just before it downshifts, and the whole truck vibrated severely. When I let off the gas it stopped. When I ran into stopped traffic, it had a rough idle to it. When I started to accelerate from a stop, it would hesitate, like skipping, then it would be okay at higher rpm in 2nd gear. This morning they replaced the coil and 4th spark plug and everything is working fine, as of this afternoon.

Hope this helps someone. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Richie
rb@mindspring.com

 

Well everyone,
As I told Mark, I too have the imfamous rough idle. In gear or out stopped at a light. Noticed bumps in the idle at 4000m and got the rough idle around 4500-5000 have 8600 and it still does it. Got the truck reprogrammed and my milage bites .... hard! I get 10 highway and 6 city (roughly). I believe my problem isn't as bad as some....well not yet anyway. I wonder if those who got the 4 cyl plug and coil fixed were on older trucks or newer like my 2000. Hard to believe a 2000 would have the leaking problem on to the 4 cyl though. Thanks for all the info CRASH. We need it I will have to reread these pages because I forget the abbreviations (EGR valve MPR?? etc). Oh well got to do my homework. Crash where can I get error codes for my truck and can this help me trying to diagnose the idle using the trip read out (previous post: While pressing the trip button in, start engine and codes will appear, after the word "TEST" then gauge and so on).
Thanking you in advance,
Truckowner

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Truckowner
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F150 2000 ext.cab 4X4 5.4L

[This message has been edited by truckowner (edited 12-19-2000).]

 

NOTHING LIKE BEING MISSED BY MY FRIENDS HERE. I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY AND NOT SPENDING ALOT OF TIME ON THE PUTER. MY TRUCK IS STILL DOING OK AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW I AM TRYING TO SEE IF ITS GONNA HELP WITH MY GAS MILEAGE. LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS GETTING INFORMED ON THE ROUGH IDLE PROBLEM AND WE ARE ALL GETTING THE SAME RESPONSES FROM THE DEALERS (CHARACERISTIC OF THE ENGINE) WHICH IS A CROCK OF ****. WE ALL PAID OVER $20,000 FOR OUR TRUCKS AND WE EXPECT THEM TO RUN GOOD AND NOT LIKE TRASH. WE ARE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME REASON. AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELP WITH ONE OF MY PROBLEMS. I WILL ALWAYS BE ON THESE MESSAGE BOARDS TRYING TO HELP ANYONE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. ( IF I CAN )

 

Armed withy Crash's smarts, 36racin's experience, and my presistance -- I am determined to get EGR changed before the processor is changed out.(as previously stated, Ford said the processor is the last thing they will change for this problem, if this does not fix it -- then I am out of luck -- with 20K and 20months of warranty left) If the EGR fix does no good -- then change the processor-- That EGR change has got to cost them less!! Thats the plan -- I hope The area rep goes along with it-- If not-- I WILL CALL HIS SUPERVISOR! -- and his supervisor -- and his supervisor.............maybe a stop to the Mo. St Atty. General's office(He is actually a neighbor of mine -- lives a few doors away -- on the same street).

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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

 

Well, I finally take my truck in tomorrow morning to have the rough idle looked at. I have taken the advice to take my truck to a different dealer. The first dealer that I went to told me that it was typical of the 4.6 V8 to idle like that b/c of the hp under the hood. As 36racin said, that is a crock of ****. Yesterday, it snowed here in Atlanta and I thought the truck was going to vibrate me out of the seat b/c of the cold weather causing the engine to run rough.

I have been told by the master service tech at Wade Ford in Smyrna, GA - that the possible problem is the air bypass valve. Has anyone else had a problem with the abv??
This guy has not seen my truck yet, I have only talked with him on the phone.

I will keep ya'll updated as to whether or not they fix my truck. I love my Ford truck, but this is damn annoying.

 

I was wondering if someone would check the fuel code that gets displayed when you press in the trip button while you start the engine. The word "test" displays then you get a gauge sweep. After the sweep, you just keep pressing the trip button and the codes will display one after another. About the sixth display the word "fuel" displays and there is a number displayed to the right. My number fluxuates between 182 to 185. I need you guys to test and see what your truck is reading. My gas milage is really bad since a dealer reprogram of my engine and I am wondering if this might help me determine if the reprogram is the problem. The reason the dealer reprogrammed my engine was because I have the rough idle and he said a tsb was circulated that "might" help the idle. He admitted it was a shot in the dark. I believe that shot just hit my gas tank. That would explain the reason I keep filling it.
Any help would be of assistance.

 

If thats the same as the IAC (idle air control sensor) -- Both 36racin and myself had those changed -- to no avail -- DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! But we had new trucks with less than 20K and had the problems with the idle since the trucks were brand new!!

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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

 

Mark:

How about this: since you had the recorder on your truck ONCE why not keep running it and have them read it and see what pops up??? who knows, maybe after running it enough it will show up something they can use. Or have them set it to record different parameters?? After all it isnt their time they are wasting...and it isnt taking up much time in their shop for this. It's gotta record something at some point. just a thought

--karl

 

Mark: Ive noticed the dlr diagonsis for these problems has centered around the on-board computer and sensors. Why not get away from this (for a while, anyway) and do some good old-fashioned auto mechanics??

I mean, take it to a shop with a good mechanic, someone who has been around the block, someone sharp--I am sure you know of someone like that, or a buddy who has tools and experience--let them know what is happening, what the dlr (hasnt) found, and them them go at it for an afternoon and do some good old-fashioned sleuthing?? I am almost willing to bet the answer is right under their noses they just gotta get their faces from out of the computer and into the engine bay.

Even if it costs you $100 bucks or so it would be worth it, I think. Just to get another opinion. and another set of eyes working on it.

One thing I noticed when reading the posts on this--yours and 36racin has bad idle and poor mileage, while his buddies rig runs good and gets good mileage. Seems there is a strong correlation there...

--karl

 

Karl, Thats a good suggestion--I may suggest it to them (not sure of their abilities on deciphering the results). I am trying now to get them to change/check the EGR system-- since this is what fixed 36racin's truck. Also I have left a message for the area rep to call me. I want him to explain to me directy how they can do this "one shot attempt at repair" then no more.I am not about to give in and agree with this.The next question/demand will be to ask for his supervisor's phone number (his name Jim Dietz) (sp?)(St. Louis Mo area) -anyone know him? Especially keeping in mind the fact that I have 20K and 20 months of warranty left.
Some have suggested here that I replace this part or that component -- WHAT IS MY WARRANTY FOR AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SPEND THE TIME/MONEY
ON THESE ATTEMPTS!! THAT IS THERE JOB !!

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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

 

Karl,
In theory I agree with you -- except -- do you know how many nice toys $100.00 will buy for my Grandchildren!!! I did not work for the last 30 years to buy a truck for 25K+ to call the bluff of a company I spent 4 years as a veteran of the USAF flying combat missions over Nothern Laos to defend!!.. This is simple here -- ALL THEY HAVE TO DO is fix my TRUCK--Get off of their high horse and do some old fashioned real trouble shooting -- These puppies who are denying my service were babies when 55,000 of my cohorts were dying in SE asia for them -- GOD FORBID IF THESE TURKEYS HAD DO TO THE SAME FOR THEIR COUNTRY !!!!-- OUR COUNTRY WOULD BE SOL!!

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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

 

Karl,
SORRY--I will try to be more diplomatic now. 36racin and I are in direct contact-- He is the "classic southern gentleman" -- I will keep everyone informed -- Call me a tight a## if you want -- except they (FORD) should fix my truck!! AMEN

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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