I took m 2004 F-150 in the mud hole this weekend and now after seeing what my engine looked like I washed the engine with the pressure washer at my complex. Low and behold less than half a mile down the road on my dry out run the engine dies. Now when I try and restart the engine it fires but quickly dies. I had it running for a short time after my tow home but I am still at a battle with this problem. Mind you I put a very large amount of water on this engine due to the amount of mud I saw. But it fired right up and drove about a quarter mile and then just died like I was out of gas. It has been hours and still the same result of the engine starting only for a second and then the quick off. I think I hear when I turn the truck on the noise where you hear your fuel pressure switch kick to pressurize the system wih a click but rather I hear three clicks????? I am at such a loss here. Please help.

 

Welcome to forum! You are in a special elite group whose first post comes soon after a good engine cleaning. I'd say a disproportionate number of new members come to us because of this issue. Hopefully you only shorted out most of your coil packs. However, being that it won't start at all you may have caused some damage to another important electronic element under the hood. Do you have access to a code reader? Pull the codes and see what you get. You might get lucky and it's only some COP or the issue might dry up.

Never use a pressure washer on these engines. Welcome again, I hope you find the forum useful!

 

I guess some people learn the hard way I am hoping it will dry upbefore I go ito the dealer.

 

No worries, you're in good company with this issue. See if you can get some codes off your PCM before going to the dealer. I'm afraid if you go in there without having a little info from the computer your dealer might insist your whole electrical system needs to be replaced...not cheap.

 

I know in GM cars ou can use a paperclip and get flash codes. Can you do this with a Ford? This is my first one I grew up with GM?

 

I'm only familiar with two methods: use the travel computer/Message Center (if equipped) to list codes. I think if you hold down the "reset" button and turn the key to "on" it should take you to a special menu that will display the codes as you scroll through the options. The other is to use a scan tool. Most large auto parts stores have them and if you can get your car to one they will pull the codes for free.

 

After cleaning the engine my truck now runs on 7 cylinders and when I press the gas pedal I get no love. what the heck?

 

The cluster method will only show cluster related codes.

 

navymeck81,

You could still have water shorting out the coil and/or plug. Take an air compressor and blow out all the plug holes, plug boots, and the coils.

If this doesn't help you can also take it to an Auto parts store and get codes read to help in troubleshooting the problem.

 

This is common practice on OBD-I ECCIV based vehicles. In trucks, that's 1987-1995 (and some 1996) models. Only way I know with your truck is an OBD-II reader.

 

what does the paperclip do?

 

The paperclip trick works only on OBDI vehicles. I'll wager the GM he tried on was older than 1996.

 

On OBD-I, and I think some generations of EEC, vehicles you could take a paper clip and short out two terminals on the diagnostic port which would cause the check engine light to flash the codes. Something like flash flash pause flash flash flash for 23. I used to do it on my 93 Bronco.

 

I thought about washing my 5.4 motor this weekend, but never got around to it. After reading this, I'm a happy camper. But what to do to clean a dusty/dirty engine? maybe one of these steam/detailer guys?

 

I've had good luck with simple green and a LOW PRESSURE mist to wash off the degreaser. Don't allow water to puddle on the engine and try to stay away from fuse boxes, computers and anything else with wires coming out of it.