I have a 2001 F-150 Supercrew, 5.4L Triton. I am a novice a truck repairs but would like to fix this problem on my own. The situation is this: While driving, particularly uphill, i notice a sputter. I would best think this might be a plug issue or fuel filter problem? What is the best way to diagnose this problem? Where can i find step by step procedures to replace the plugs or filter? Any other ideas?

 

Sounds like a engine miss. Probably electrical. Mostly noticible after your transmissions locks all the way out in Overdrive. (thats my guess)


If that is the case, I'd get Autozone to read the codes off the engine it will tell you which cylinder. When i had this, my engine light did not come on.

could be a bad plug, bad wires or bad coil. Or as it was in my case, just a loose plug wire.

kw

 

Hi levcar and welcome to FTE

I think it's probably a miss like Ken said too.
For some tips on replacing your plugs take a look at https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104027
If you do a search here you'll find lots of info on replacing your fuel filter. You'll need a special tool to do it but it's quite cheap and a fairly easy job...usually
The torque convertor can also cause a shudder as it locks and unlocks. Usually it's noticeable under a moderate load, going up a hill. A transmission flush will usually cure it.

 

Just my 2 cents - If this were me (and I do do all my own autmotive repair) and I had no idea where the problem was, I would start by doing the normal tune up stuff especially if the truck was about due for one. The very first items I would try replacing would have to be the aircleaner, the plug wires and the fuel filter.
Also, try adding some fuel injector cleaner to a tank of gas.
P.S. Try a K&N air filter. They are life time filters and have much better flow then stock replacements.

 

levcar:
How many miles are on your truck? My guess is leaning towards a faulty COP or plug wire, whichever you have on your engine. Let us know what you discover.

-hooD

 

I have 65k on it - it has been getting worse the past few days. gonna try a gas treatment for water and i have a new fuel filter to try also - I think i can start there and move to the plugs and cOp's next. Sound reasonable?

 

I think the life of the plugs and wires are supposed to be 100k aren't they (I don't remember for sure). I went 120 before I changed mine the first time.

If it were me, I would take it in to Autozone and have the codes read before I did the plugs and wires. (also read about the problems with other brands of plugs and wires before you buy anything other than motorcraft).

My fuel filter was nearly plugged. I couldn't even hardly blow through it, still it did not cause a sputter. It just didn't have the power it had before. I went through about what you are doing, and it turned out to be a plug wire loose. (You might want to push those down on all the plugs just to see.)

I would still change the fuel filter but I would not go into it thinking it was going to fix the problem. Water in the gas ? I wouldn't think so since it is just doing it under load. The reason you are feeling it climbing a hill more is because (assuming it is an automatic) once you transmission locks out (i.e. the clutch in the torque converter kicks in). Your drive is straight through from the engine to the wheels. When that happens, any miss is going to be easily felt. Whereas if the torque converter is not locked out, the torque converter will buffer the miss and it will be hard to feel.

The other thing mine did was it idled rough.

Mine was the worse between 45 and 55 when it was in OD and I put a gradual load on it, before it downshifted. Once it downshifted I could never feel it.

kw

 

How many miles on the old fuel filter? If you don't know, replacement would be my first task. No plug wires on the 5.4, btw.

 

Original filter - bought one to replace it with. My first idea was bad gas is that i had no problems - on a friday morning i filled the tank and by friday night near home i started having the problems. Could be coincidence. My symptoms are very much the same - 45-55 and more noticeable when in OD. I want to try and run this tank through and refill with the new filter before i go any further. I have no code light coming on at this point so i dont know if they can still get a reading with out one. Wil lthe current condition cause any other problems by me driving the vehicle?

 

I did not have an engine light either. Apparently you can have quite a bit of missing without getting an engine light. However when Ford hooked up the computer it showed a miss on Cylinder 1.

I did exactly what you did, changed the fuel filter first. (I suggest you read all the articles on changing fuel filters, it can be fun, especially the part about the bent fingers). I got lots of new HP I had forgotten about, but still had the miss.

I was stuck in the mindset I had a transmission problem because I had it into Ford with a check Engine light (o2 sensor) when it started. They test drove with me and said it felt like a transmission problem first and swore the engine was running perfectly. I took it to the other dealer in town and he said ignition almost immedietly after feeling it do it.

I've got a complaint into the first dealer now as the problem started when I had it in the shop(as if they caused it) and then they tried to convince me it was a transmission. I don't like the implications of that, I'm waiting to see how they respond.