we just bought this truck (97 F150).
it has a really bad miss and will even back fire at times.
We have no idea where to start.
what could cause this problem?
we had the computer scanned and it said heated 02 sencor.
but we where told this was because the battery cable was corroded.
we cleaned them but still have the same problem.
if anyone can give us a push in the right direction or knows what to do to fix this please let us know.(we installed new plug wires also)still got the problem.

 

Hey Mustang, give us some details about the truck. Engine, trans, miles, actual codes retrieved, and the last spark plug change.

 

It has the 4.6 engine.automatic
and 146000 miles on it.
I lost my paper with the actual codes
we changed wires but not plugs

 

If you still have the code, then it's an O2 sensor. I don't think a corroded battery terminal would cause an O2 sensor code, but with electrical gremlins you never know. At any rate, if they are original then by all means replace them...I'd start there since you did get a code.

I'd add an exhaust backpressure check to the list, though a clogged cat should throw a code as well (not always, mine were clogged but never threw a code). I'd only do this if the above didn't work. Any exhaust shop can do this in like 10 minutes and it's cheap or free.