My truck is an 04 new body style with the 5.4 and 115k miles on it. It has a tendency to stall when shifting from Reverse to drive. It also shudders and the RPMs dip slightly sometimes when slowing down or stopping but doesn't stall when doing this. I brought the truck to a local shop and they suggested that I take it to ford and have them look at the programming for the throttle body, I had already cleaned the throttle body and it was pretty clean.
The ford dealer said that it looked to them like a transmission problem and suggested we start tearing it apart. At this point I took the truck to a transmission shop because I had been having a problem with the linkage for several years with it being stiff and occasionally not locking into reverse where I would have to jiggle the shifter to get it into gear. The guy at the transmission shop took a look and said the stalling wasn't related to the transmission and that it shifted and drove "beautifully" except for the stalling and occasional shudder. He went ahead and replaced the transmission position sensor and shaft to fix the shifting problem. He did notice that the rpms go crazy when shifting into manual 2nd and that the computer was calling for more fuel when this happens.
There is an exhaust leak at the header which he thought might be giving the o2 sensors funny readings but he wasn't sure that was the cause of the problem.
I'm running an edge evolution, I haven't used any of the programs in about 10 years, but the code P1000 obd tests not complete doesn't seem to clear. I don't know if this is from the stalling or not. Most of the time I go from. Reverse to park to drive but occasionally I forget and it will still stall out on me.
Trying to get the truck fixed so that I can get it through inspection here in Mass, I've never had a problem with the manifold leak passing but it won't pass with the computer code. Any thoughts on what the problem is? Fix the manifold leak? Replace the o2 sensors, they're original, or something else. I know this was long winded.
Thanks

 

have you (or any of the others who looked at it) checked the level of the transmission fluid?

Many posts on this issue; maybe look through some of those of the transmission fluid is full.

 

yes first thing I did was change the fluid and filter. The transmission shop pulled the filter too when they replaced the shifter input shaft.

 

The P1000 code is a readiness code from clearing stored codes and will clear after 100 miles. My bet is the throttle body was cleaned with spray and the internals are now bad.

 

You can also try cleaning the mass airflow sensor with the proper cleaner.
You may also have VCT problems. Try disconnecting the 2 VCT solenoid connectors with engine off. Then start engine and see if the issue disappears. Of coarse with the connectors off you will see a check engine light On.

 

when was boots /plugs changed Thats a baseline to start with ,should be sp546 plugs. You may have other issues but nothing will work if proper plug job not done hospital clean .clean all cop contacts real good .Torqued in 25 to 28 foot pounds . New interval is 60k miles. You are lucky a lot of guys had trans changed out for plug problems . Kudos to that honest trans guy .
Did you clean tb on truck or off ,did you put a new gasket on it. Did you clean tb with special cleaner ,did you clean maf with maf cleaner. If there is a serious problem with tb its best to put a new one on ,I had to . After plug job we may want to see a vacuum test,homemade smoke machine off you tube .
Shudder on this truck commonly ignition related ,makes you think trans in trouble .

 

Hmm I'm trying to remember, does the 04 have an IAC valve

 

Plugs and boots were done by a ford dealer around 2012 and 80k miles. I took the tb off and cleaned it using tb cleaner and maf with maf cleaner. I didn't replace the gasket. What are guys having luck with for aftermarket TBs? Not sure if i should start there or replace the plugs first. i guess I could pull one and take a look

 

Disconnected the VCT solenoids and the problem went away. What are you guys running for replacement ones?

 

I'm sure you don't have an IAC , the pcm just opens butterfly a little. No egr either thats done with the timing phasors. IAC is idle air control that bypasses butterfly
Your o2 is definitely a problem with that exhaust leak Look at your short term and long term fuel trims .Is it going into closed loop. A exhaust leak changes what oxygen shows up at 02 , that radically changes fuel mixture ,plus it can seal and unseal due to heating of exhaust
You have just put it in default setting by unplugging vcts. Best to use oem vcts . First I would flush engine if you change vcts to get sludge and junk out of there.
But fixing manifold leak is key here. You can pressurize exhaust with tank vacuum on blow and soapy water . Or use a homemade smoke machine into exhaust pipe.
Besides ignition, 02's are the next big controller of the engine.

 

Don't just jump to the solenoids for replacement. It's not telling you the solenoids are necessarily the bad part. Do more research. This vid explains what other factors may be involved.

 

The problem reappeared this am with the vct solenoids still disconnected. Does this rule out a timing problem and point me back towards the exhaust leak, which had been there for quite a while before this problem showed up or are guys still thinking trottle body. The oil has been changed pretty much every 3k since the truck was new although the truck does sit for months at a time.

 

The problem with it sitting for months is rats and squirrels chewing on lines and wires . They build nests everywhere ,put green mouse bars in and around truck

 

I myself would check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge just to verify vct isn't the problem but it looks like it isn't if you still have the same problem.