2003 STX 4.2L Pinging
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 STX 4.2L Pinging
Hi, I'm new here and have been reading alot of the stuff here, but haven't found my answer.
I have a 2003 F-150 SuperCab STX with a 4.2L auto trans that pings alot. Pings worst on colder mornings. I've had it at the dealer twice, but it still pings. I don't noticed the pinging under heavy accelleration until I let off the gas and it's about to shift to the next gear. They have done the combustion chamber cleaning, Reloaded the computer, and replaced the PCV tube. It will ping no matter what octane I use. It pings under normal excelleration and when I am going up hills. The truck only has 21k on it and the exhaust tip is black.
Thanks
Terry
PS. I had a 2000 regular cab with the 4.2L 5 speed and never had this problem.
I have a 2003 F-150 SuperCab STX with a 4.2L auto trans that pings alot. Pings worst on colder mornings. I've had it at the dealer twice, but it still pings. I don't noticed the pinging under heavy accelleration until I let off the gas and it's about to shift to the next gear. They have done the combustion chamber cleaning, Reloaded the computer, and replaced the PCV tube. It will ping no matter what octane I use. It pings under normal excelleration and when I am going up hills. The truck only has 21k on it and the exhaust tip is black.
Thanks
Terry
PS. I had a 2000 regular cab with the 4.2L 5 speed and never had this problem.
Last edited by captmoto; Apr 16, 2004 at 05:48 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: North Bay, ON
You might want to try taking it to a different dealer. It sounds by the exhaust tip as if it is running rich, but rich doesn't cause ping. Perhaps a bad O2 sensor, but that should show up on diagnostics. Was me - I'd try another dealership.
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hey guys, I am new to the forum but I think i might be able to help you "captmoto". A couple of the guys I work with have had the same problem with their Fords', in these cases it was a result of fuel octane level. Try a bottle of injector cleaner, then burn Supreme fuel for a week, our fuel up here is 89 octane for regular and I think supreme is 92 octane. After 1 week burning supreme fuel your "ping" should be gone!! Good Luck.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Well, I am on half a tank of 93 octane and no pinging. No noticiable change in performance or gas mileage. I can't justifing running this higher octane fuel just to stop the pinging. There has to be something else. If the engine still pings when I go back to 87 octane, I think I might try colder spark plugs to pull more heat out of the cylinder. Oh, the dealer cleaned the injectors too. They also made sure the retard fuction was on. They have done everything the Ford hot line has told them.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Milwaukee1979F150
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
9
Oct 4, 2010 12:17 PM
rusty70f100
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
38
Apr 7, 2005 01:36 PM
