Hi i just bought a 03 Ford excursion limited with the 6.8 v10 from a local ford dealer here in sauk centre minnesota. the truck ran great on the test drive didnt notice any hesitation but i brought it home and drove around maybe 60 miles and noticed when i get to a stop sign and start to accelerate it hesitates when accelerating from a dead stop but goes away when cruising at 50 mph... I have hooked up my friends scan tool and it did not read any codes. The suv currently has 150k miles on it and was owned by a 78 year old man that i know and was never a problem for him well driving it... He told me the plugs have not been changed in a while and does not know if the dealer changed the plugs... It did not come with a warranty i have called the dealership and there basically telling me its my problem because i bought it as is no warranty. So now im stuck worrying what could possibly be wrong.... i have cleaned the MAF, K&N filter and tested the coils and there all fine right now. so what im wondering could it possibly be the spark plugs that a mis firing ? i plan on doing plugs later in the week over thanksgiving break.

 

I had that same issue and no codes. Took it in for plugs and $1100 later it was a bad fuel injector. They did a fuel system clean, plugs, coils, filter and what finally fixed it was a injector. Mine runs like a champ now.

 

Plugs, check boots and if not could be your IAC... Don't loose sleep the v10's are very reliable and cheap to repair.

 

a buddy of mine which dont know if he was blowing smoke up my *** but he said having a mis can screw up my engine is that correct.. you think doing plugs first would be a good start to checking it again and can a dealer technically refuse to check out a truck that was just sold less than 24 hours ago ? i was just asking them to diagnose it which wouldnt take them to much i guess

 

also i forgot to add is that i looked at the injectors and they look brand new with new fuel rails... they are orange and gray fuel injectors that are in there right now and look really new... i just dont understand why it didnt do it on test drive but started a few miles after i brought it home

 

If you bought it "as is" there is no warranty otherwise we have real strict used auto law's in mn http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/cars/mncarlaws/mncarlaws_2.asp

 

yes it was bought as is no warranty but when i drove it for the first time it ran like a champ pulled smooth without any troubles... when i left the dealership after paperwork it ran great but when i started it for the 3rd time at home and accelerated from a dead stop it sputtered a little not alot but it is noticible when accelerating... I thought they would atleast have a mechanic take a look at the truck and just diagnose the problem but they basically gave me the middle finger on even asking them just to diagnose the problem so i could fix it... It wasnt like i was asking them to tare apart the whole truck and fix it just asking for a better diagnostic test so i know exactly what to look for and im not just putting in parts that are not need which kind of sucks

 

sounds like a case for lemon law to me

 

Do you think i need to take it that far or just kind of jump on the dealership about it and give them a hard time... do you think im being to lenient with the dealership you think i should ask them to fix the problem with the truck instead of just a diagnostic of what is wrong

 

would a bad spark plug cause the motor to sputter accelerating from a stop. i thought about doing a set of plugs on it tomorrow afternoon after i get out of work but dont want to just start feeding it money if it isnt the problem.. i thought a misfire would always cause a code but has not caused any codes yet and the check engine light does work on this truck. im just stumped with this and i love the excursion just frustrated with the problem already 2 days later and of course work all week so cant make it to the dealership... also the truck currently has a 1/4 tank of gas in it which ive read elsewhere that people have had problems with that as well

 

As is means as is... however the dealership catches hell from FMC when they do shady underhanded stuff or things that make Ford look bad. My suggestion to you is call the regional office and let them know

 

well can someone let me know if spark plugs are a good start and what are the best spark plugs for these motors

 

That is a good start, since you mentioned that PO said it needed plugs. Only use motorCraft.

 

living large would that cause it to sputter that bad as well and how long of a job is it to do in the driveway

 

Mine would do that. Come to find out it was the #5 COP. You know it is the hardest one to get to. Passenger side all the way back. You need an extension and a knuckle. Easier to put the plug socket, extension and knuckle in first then attach your ratchet.
Me, I climb up a ladder and sit in the engine bay and do them all one at a time goes quick.
Yes 1 bad plug can make it run like that. How did you test your COPs?
10 plugs, boots, springs and some dielectric grease makes a world of difference.