My 2000 ford f250 is sputtering and idling rough?????? help
 

I just purchased a 2000 ford f250 with 94k miles on it. It has been running fine up until a large rainstorm we just had. Now the truck seems to sputter and idle really rough almost as if it wants to stall. I think it might just need a tune up but I want to know if anyone has had a similar problem??????? and have you solved it? Thanks

Welcome to FTE. We've seen almost every problem you can imagine, but in order to help you, we'll need more specific information. Can you give a better description of the sputtering and rough idle? Does it have issues through all rpm ranges? Does it feel like it's not firing on all cylinders? Does it only act up in the rain, or does it do it all the time now?

And of course, what motor do you have in the truck? Diesel vs. gas motors have different parts that might cause this.

I will go on a limb and guess you have either the 5.4 or the 6.8 gas engine. If you do, the common problem is a cop also called a coil on plug ignition coil. A very easy fix. Go to autozone and they have code readers and can read codes kept by the computer. You will not get a MIL or check engine light on a Sd. The code you need is the misfire counter. It will tell you the cylinder causing the problem. That is the cylinder you will replace the cop on. 1 wire plug to undo, 1 bolt to unscrew, and it pulls out. Put a little silicone dielectric grease on the end of the new cop, and install. Been there and done that a few times. Moisture kills cops, and the damp air makes weak cops fail.

Yea I have the 5.4l v8 gas engine, the sputtering it mild and then it can be stronger at times, then sometimes it doesn't feel like its doing it at all. The truck has been running fine for a week now but after the heavy rain it has been acting up. So you think that it is prob a bad coil? And that I should just have someone use the comp to diagnose it?

It is probably one or more bad COPs. Since you have 94k on it anyway, it is probably time for new plugs anyway.

If you get someone to plug in a code scanner, make sure it can read PENDING codes. Misfires will trigger pending codes, but to actually trigger a code and turn on the Check Engine Light the cylinder about has to be dead.

I had the same exact problem. Rain would make it miss-fire. Even a trip to the carwash would give me a bit of a miss-fire. I have a code reader that measures pending codes as well, and your miss-fire has to be BAD to throw a pending code. (at least in my case..).

I went to AutoZone and got a set of Accel cops for about 33 bucks each, a fresh set of Autolite double platinum plugs, and a crank position sensor. After the install I went right to the car wash, followed by 3 1/2" of rain the next day (of course..) and not one single miss-fire. about 300 bucks and some elbow grease = problem solved. Those back 2 cops/plugs are a b*tch to get out especially with a 4" lift. You don't have to pull the fuel rails but its tight! Don't forget the anit-seize on the plugs either.

Let us know how you make out!