Engine Missing

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Jan 18, 2005 | 04:30 PM

bullofthewoods

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Engine Missing

Hello
I am new to this forum, but it seems like there is a lot of good info. I am having trouble with my engine missing. I own a 1988 F-150 w/ 302 4x4

The vehicle starts out very good. After about 20 miles on the road it starts to miss or buck when it has to work up a hill especially but in normal load range as well.

The problem only happens after I have been driving on the highway a ways or if I am doing a lot of driving in town it happens quicker.

The problem happened right after I changed the plugs and wires, but I am 100% confident nothing got switched around.

I changed out the rotor and cap which are original and didn't help. I had a mechanic tell me that it was losing oil pressure after it warmed up causing the miss, but my idiot light always reads "normal" I am going to try the fuel filter, after that I am out of ideas.

Thanks for any input you might have.

bullofthewoods

Jan 18, 2005 | 04:47 PM

customx

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From: eastern shore of md

Did you originally change the plugs and wires because of this problem or for preventative maintence? How many miles are on the engine? Now did use factory plugs, wires, cap/button? I no that this sounds crazy but I have numerous occasions on my honda, other peoples cars I worked on and etc where factory plugs wires cap etc were the only option. I remember my honda used to do that I put factory ignition stuff back in and the problem went away. When you changed out the cap and rotor button did you by any chance alter your timing? Although computer controlled you can still alter some of your timing.

Jan 19, 2005 | 12:08 PM

bullofthewoods

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Thanks for the input.

I originally changed the plugs and wires as part of PM. Then the problem started.

The cap and rotor replacement was part of trouble shooting, they were original as well but didn't fix the problem.

Everything I used was not factory. I was thinking of trying the fuel filter next since it looks original as well.

Jan 19, 2005 | 12:47 PM

Big Blue95

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Did you save the plugs and wires from when you changed them? If you did I would start by putting them back on and seeing if your problem goes away. It could be that one of your plugs or wires was bad. If you have just one old wire that you think is good you could try replacing each wire one at a time with that one to see if the miss stops. Did you buy some high quality plugs or were they like autolites or something like that. I have heard alot of stories of guys putting in Autolites and having their trucks run worse then before. I won't buy them.
Did you check the gap on the plugs before you put them in? I believe excessive gap on a plug can cause a miss but I am not sure. I would start there since the problem started after you changed the plugs and wires.
Good luck.

Jan 20, 2005 | 12:56 PM

bullofthewoods

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That is what my gut is telling me as well. The problem really only occurs after it goes 10-15 miles on the road, and at lower RPM. At higher RPM I don't notice it at all. Once it starts "bucking" though it really bogs down sometimes. I have to really stomp on the gas to get it to go without missing. As I was saying, that is my gut instinct about the spark plugs as well, they were Autolite, but I don't understand why they would seem to work at first and then give out. That is my next try I guess. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks

Jan 24, 2005 | 11:10 AM

Big Blue95

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Sorry I didn't get back to you, I didn't touch the computer all weekend. If you haven't already done it I would change them to Bosch Platinum plugs. I have used them in all 3 Ford trucks I have owned. I have never had a problem with them. My dad puts them in all his cars and he has never had a problem either. I also have heard that the Ford Motorcraft and the Accel brand plugs are good but I have never used them. I think if you do a search on spark plugs on this site you will get more info than you will ever need. Good luck.

Jan 24, 2005 | 03:18 PM

bullofthewoods

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I did in fact change the plugs to the Bosch Platinum tip over the weekend. In pulling the autolites, I noticed two of the plugs were cracked. Anyway, I put in the new plugs and she runs like a champ! Thanks for the info!