Hello. While surfing the net looking for some trouble shooting guides to help diagnose an issue, I came across this website. After reading several postings I decided to join. My name is Keith and have a 2002 F150 4x4. Just this morning, the engine started idling bad and would stumble during acceleration. It's got 61k miles and my original thoughts were bad gas or maybe the typical tune up stuff. However, after reading a few different postings regarding missing or hesitating, I'm now concerned that it could be a compression issue. The stumbling was so bad infact, that the entire truck started shuttering (3 different times).

Any ideas?

 

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On new trucks my first suspicion is a pollution control valve or solenoid. I've been told that the idle air contol motor is a high failure item, and the egr valve and position sensor combo too. Both of these are most apparent at idle.

 

I have 49,000 miles on my 02 F150 5.4 and my fuel pump died just like that. One minute it worked the next time i started the truck it was dead.

Two days prior to the fuel pump dying, the engine was ideling very rough when sitting at a red light. It cleared up and no check engine light came on. So i didn't think anything of it until it died 2 days later.

Things to consider:
your fuel pump, fuel filter, or look for a vacuum leak. Good luck, check back with your progress.

 

First thing I would do is to check your spark plugs. I don't know if you know this, but our model F150 came form the factory with spark plug ejectors. I had one work itself lose causing a misfire and symptoms as you describe. Especially noticeable on acceleration.

Good luck,

AJ

 

I appreciate everyones input, I'll look into more during the thanksgiving holidays.

thanks again

 

Mine does the same thing. What the hell is a spark plug ejector and where is it?

 

i had this same issue and no codes were thrown. after about 3 days it through a code for the number 1 cyclinder misfire. turned out to be spark plugs. an hour later i changed them and its been awsome ever since.

 

I'm sorry, excuse my poor joke. If you read up about our model F150, its a common problem to have the spark plugs back themselves out. Hence the "spark plug ejector."

Check your plugs, its a pain, but its gotta be done. If you find that one is loose, tighten it back up and squirt a thin bead of silicone around it. This will help prevent the same issue again, as well as prevent water from getting into the engine. When my plug got loose it was during those two weeks of crazy rain a couple months ago and water managed to get into my number 1 spark plug chamber and foul up the engine. It turns out that water doesn't compress very well. Thank god for my warrantee. The silicone bead trick was recommended to me by the dealer who had seen 2 similar issues within that same week on our same engine.

The silicone isn't necessary but I had him do all the plugs anyway as I did not want my built Ford tough F150 put out of commission by a large puddle again.

AJ

 

I would suggest antisieze instead of silicone. You pugs won't sieze, especially in aluminum heads, the antisieze will seal any small leaks, and it's conductive if I remember right.

 

Antisieze on the threads for sure. Silicone around the outside of the plugs to seal them in. Sorry for not clarifying.

 

Should the silicone go on the boot or the plug?

 

I hope you guys are talking about silicone grease (dielectric grease) and not silicone sealer as in RTV. If you use RTV on your plug boots you'll never get them off again without major work.

 

I would check the plugs. You can have a missfire on these trucks and it wont set a code as long as the pcm can maintain emission parameters by pulling back on fuel. I've had it happen many times, most times I have to do a power balance test to find out which plug is missing.

 

Hello everyone!!! My first post.
I have a 97 F-150 with 126,000 miles on it. The only problem I have had with this truck was the universal joint had to be replaced until now. I was in Cape Hatteras in October when a tropical storm breezed through. Well as most will know, some of the island was flooded. I went through the water trying to wash the sand out of the bottom of my truck when the "check egine" light came on and started blinking and skipping. I had someone check the code and it said, "#1 cylinder lean". Sometimes it runs good and smooth but mostly runs rough. I replaced the spark plugs and i'm about to replace the wires. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks
Randy
Dry Fork, Va
rmobr549@hotmail.com