Tried to post this once already but didnt see it,,, so again

98 4.2 F150 Regular cab flareside,, 132,300 miles, runs great except sometimes when turning and clutch in,, engine dies. The engine starts right up with a clutch pop or key start but very annoying. Have any of you ever heard of this kind of thing happening? I have an unknown (to me) code on the computer and the check engine comes on sometimes,, usually about when the tank is half full. Thought maybe it was the fuel filter,, or maybe fuel pump.

Any suggestions.
Doug

 

Well, if it were me, as soon as the check engine light returns, i'd run over to Auto Zone and have them diagnose it for free. At least you'd know what that problem was anyway. Heck, if you have a motor problem and it's throwing a code, that's half your problem solved already. The hard part is fixing a problem that exists when it's NOT throwing a code, that bites.

Tom

Oh, by the way, welcome to FTE. Hope you stick around a bit, we have alot of fun here. Just don't listen to anything that True4.2 (joe) says

 

Haha, Joe is a stud

 

I think "Studmuffin" would be the proper phrase

Mac, have you had that code read yet?

Tom

 

Haven't had the code checked yet,, and there isn't an Auto Zone in Rapid City. I just got back from a 2400 mile trip in the truck and it drove fine. The light only came on when I was forced to put 87 crappy octane, overpriced ($2.15 gl) no power havin, puke green gas in my baby. It did die on me a couple of times, same senario, ie clutch in, start turn, engine die. I also found out that my truck has a governer that limits the speed to 97 mph. Light stayed on most of trip after crappy gas.

 

hmmmm, low octane fuel caused problems. When was the last time you had your injectors and cylinder walls cleaned by forced injection? Are you getting any pinging under heavy loads with the 87 octane? You've got alot of miles on that thing, maybe in need of a sea foam injection. Seems to work for alot of trucks on this site. cleans all the carbon buildup on your injectors, intakes, piston heads and cylinder walls, intake and exhaust valves and ports and also your cats as well. for 4.77, and 15 minutes you might want to try it.

Tom

 

I use 87 in my truck all of the time. Never had any problems. Ran 93 for 3 tanks in a row on a road trip with lots of highway driving, didn't notice any change in anything. I do however run a bottle of injector cleaner once a month though.

I have had cars stall on me when I turn sharp. I thought it was the power steering pump

 

My brother thinks it may be the pwr steering unit with low fluid and pulls on the engine harder than normal

I'll try the seafoam thing when I get a chance and see if the rough idle that has developed (after running hard) ceases.

Thanks for the assistance.

 

I was thinking and did some research...I came up with a solution...





.....voltage regulator?

 

Joe,

I'm inclined to think it could be those darn grasshoppers again. Damn them!!

Dirt, if it only stalls when turning, couldn't you just try turning the steering wheel from stop to stop while sitting still in gear and in neutral. Since your pressing in the clutch and then turning the wheel, i can't imagine that would put too much strain on the motor since it should idle up to 800 rpm after disengaging the clutch, enless your not idling at that rpm or unless you're experiencing an extremely rough idle.

Tom

 

I have never had it happen on my f150, But with the wheels fully cranked in my ranger there was a noticeable strain put on the engine, but didn't stall it. The only other car that it actually stalled was my friends cavalier.

 

Haven't tried to reproduce the effect sitting still,,, and yes, usually there is low rough idle when it happens,,, I bought some sea foam today and will try it tomorrow and see what happens,, hopefully the sea foam will help with the low idle. It usually only idles rough after it has been running hard for awhile.

I'll let yall know how the sea foam works out.

Voltage regulator eh? That could be the "undocumented code" that the generic diag computer found on my trucks computer.

 

Mac,

The 'voltage regulator' is kind of an old inside joke guess you had to been there.

Actually, moreso than sea foam, i personally found that the expensive Valvoline fuel system cleaner added to 10 gallons of fuel works better than the sea foam. It's about 11 bucks for a bottle of it. But the sea foam is fun because it makes all those smoke clouds.

Tom