Mechanic Help?

[missed mallards]

Here we go again.

03 F150 5.4L 62k

Problem, the damn thing is missing but want throw a code. Is there anyway possible for me to get it to through one? I can’t afford to let a mechanic guess at this point, so…

The first time it really caught my attention was Saturday. In hopes it wasn’t major I changed my fuel filter (awesome story btw) and it seemed to do the job until today. Left work and headed to the farm for various reasons. On the way home it just skipped a few times but it didn’t display a check engine light. It only happens between 40-61mph, and when I’ve been sitting letting it idle for a spell (few minutes). Just shudders and back to norm, but it shudders. Seems like a surge. Ya’ll got anything? At this point and time I’m open to anything. I’ve had the pleasure of walking to and from work for 4 months, don’t want to, and sure as he!! don’t look forward to that again.

Thanks, MM

[Denduke]

Might be a bad coil atop one of the spark plugs. Go to Autozone hook it up; it'll tell which cylinder. They are on left 1234 to the back and on the right 5678 front to back. Change the coil, $50. Careful not to break 'lil screw that holds it on. Or go to Ford place and let them find it/change it from their 'chine. Really shows up when motor is lugged on the man's laptop... I've had 2 go out on me. One climbing the hill in Yazoo city! The key is to find the right one....one time it was also the plug and the coil...little trickier especially on the back cylinders under the fuel lines... My $.02

[donia]

if fuel filter helped, could be h2o laden ethanol gas.

[GrizwalD]

if fuel filter helped, could be h2o laden ethanol gas.

although you may be joking but this ethanol they are putting in the gas wil screw a motor to he!! and back ....especially on atvs, lawnmowers, boats, etc.

[JDgator]

Good call on the spark plugs, Denduke. Sounds electrical at this point. One quick easy check is to make sure all your spark plugs are properly gapped and tightened. You'd be surprised what a loose sparkplug will do to performance.

Does it idle smoothly?

[slim jim]

Somebody with a good scan tool can figure out it out without a code. If it's missing all the time unplug your injector's 1 at a time to find the dead hole

[torch]

I bet its your torque convertor causing the shudder. If it was a miss the ck engine light would throw a code.

[regishay]

sounds like what was happening to my f 150, there is a sensor for the transmission that was causing me the same problems.

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

My f-150 did the same thing. Mid speed would give me a shudder, going up a hill would also cause it. Ended up being just what Denduke said. When one went another went and I just replaced them all. It is basically a minor overhaul is what the mechanic told me. Cost me about 400 dollars to have it done and has been fine since.

[Bill Collector]

[quote="missed mallards"]Here we go again.

03 F150 5.4L 62k

Problem, the damn thing is missing but want throw a code. Is there anyway possible for me to get it to through one? I can’t afford to let a mechanic guess at this point, so…


One time when I was a teenager, me, my dad and little sister were going down the road and the truck kinda sputtered. My dad says "The engine is missing". My sister, who is now a RN says, "Reckon where that thangs at, wasn't it there when we left home?". Sorry I couldn't be any help, but it brought back a memory.

[slim jim]

If you drive it long enough it will eventually give you a code, just because it's not giving you 1 now don't mean it's not a misfire.

[JDgator]

If you drive it long enough it will eventually give you a code, just because it's not giving you 1 now don't mean it's not a misfire.

Slim Jim is an auto mechanic. I'd trust his word.

[wilkat7]

Mine did the same thing. Open the hood with the engine running and see if you can hear air sucking. Mind had a hose that was busted right behind the EGR valve.

[hunterb4427]

sounds kinda like dirty injectors because of the type of miss you described. as far as a code the only thing it will give you is a generic engine miss code which could be a number of different things. might try some good injector cleaner.

[4dawgma]

you check the flux capacitor?