Cold Weather Engine Surge

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Jan 14, 2003 | 08:41 AM

Brian P

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Cold Weather Engine Surge

I've got a 93 F150 4x4 with a 302 and 160,000+ miles. A couple of nights ago when I started the truck to go to work the engine fired right up but it immediately started running rough and surging. For lack of another vehicle at the time I drove it to work. The temperature was a little under 20 degrees. At high speeds the problem was barely noticeable except for a slight lack of power. When I got to work 15 miles later it was still surging. In the parking lot I turned off the engine and let it sit for about a minute and restarted. The problem seemed to have fixed itself. That next morning, leaving work, everything was fine and so was the next night going back to work. But now the following morning leaving work I had the same problem. The only difference was that it seemed to have fixed itself while I was driving home. When I got off at my exit the engine was running smoothly.(Well, as smoothly as a 302 can run anyway). The temperatures were a little cooler than normal both times the problem occurred. I'm adding some dry gas today. Could it be ice in the fuel? Coolant temp sensor? (if there is one) What else should I look for?

Thanks
Brian

Jan 14, 2003 | 09:09 PM

steve83

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From: Memphis, TN

Cold Weather Engine Surge

Pull the codes - they'll tell you what to look for, or at least eliminate a few things.
http://www.broncodata.com/tech/codes.htm

Jan 15, 2003 | 07:07 AM

Brian P

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Cold Weather Engine Surge

Would the computer have stored any codes even though the engine light has never come on?

Jan 15, 2003 | 07:42 AM

billman

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From: IOWA

Cold Weather Engine Surge

Maybe your battery did not have enough "juice" to help the truck remember the idle settings and needed to relearn them. How are your clock/radio settings? Just a thought.

Jan 15, 2003 | 07:59 AM

Brian P

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Cold Weather Engine Surge

The clock and radio station presets are all fine. The battery turns the engine over with no problem. The engine takes less than a second to start even during these problem periods. The posts on the battery are very clean. I do those twice a year or more. Thanks for the reply.

Jan 16, 2003 | 05:55 PM

Chas1234

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From: Quaker Hill ,CT U.S.A.

Cold Weather Engine Surge

My '89 4.9 did the same thing the other night . the truck started up and ran kinda ruff and i also noticed that it smelled like raw gas comming out the tail pipe ...I had no check engine light so I shut the truck off and let it sit 30 seconds or so and restarted it . It restated and ran fine it was also 19 degs outside ... i guess that the EEC had a "brain fart" as I havent had this problem before
I would try cleaning the IAC and see it that helps
Jon
'75 F100 4X4 5.9
'89 F150 4X4 4.9

Jan 16, 2003 | 10:15 PM

Brian P

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Cold Weather Engine Surge

I was thinking about the IAC also. I've got a spare in the garage off of my 89 E150 302 (I hope it's swappable). I'm soaking it (only the valve section) in a water soluble cleaning solution right now. If the temp ever gets enough above 20 degrees (Michigan) I'll go out there and do it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Brian