My Exp. hiccups (jerks) when going faster. I don't want to take it to the shop - I would like to fix it myself. Does anyone know what it could be???

 

How many miles? Is the check engine light on?

 

There are 119,000 miles and no the check engine light is not on. Is my truck going to break down on me?

 

Have you changed the plugs, wires, fuel filter etc. recently? Any chance you got bad gas? How about water in the gas? Does it do it at low speed? At idle? Are you able to check things like coils and fuel pressure?

 

This problem occurs anytime I am going up hill - slow or fast. I have to let off the gas pedal for it to calm down.
I was going to change the fuel filter today, however, I didn't know that I needed a special tool to do that on a 99 Exp. The filter is located just above the cross member and the book (I just bought) said I need a disconnect tool. The book (haynes) kinda stinks because the majority of it is words and if you don't know too much about a vehicle then words don't mean much. I need pictures.
I am not mechanically inclinde, so my knowledge on check certain things is very limited. I called the auto part store and they told me that there are no wires, but coils. They said the spark plugs go directly to the coil and no wire is in between. I know it's not my gas because this problem has presisted for a good period of time now. I am going to change my plugs within the next day or so, however, the fuel filter - I don't know when I can replace that. To be honest, this will be the first time I have ever changed a fuel filter.
I went to an auto store today and they ran a test for me and pluged their computer up to mine and it said that it passed with no faulty codes.
Do you think it could be my fuel injection??? Or not.
After I change my plugs I will post a reply on this topic so you can see if it helped or not.
I really appreciate your response because I really want this problem to end...

Dave

 

Dave,

First, welcome to FTE! You will find a wealth of answers here.

Second, with 119,000 miles on the Expy, it's not going to break down on you...you just need to take care of the general tune up stuff.

It would be good to change the fuel filter. The removal tool can be purchased at most automotive part stores.

The plugs should be changed once you have passed 100,000 but don't take this job too lightly. It will take you at least 2 or more hours and take your time. Do a search of this site to find some good methods of changing your plugs....there are good ideas here.

The fuel injection should be just fine....if nothing else, just pour in a bottle of fuel injector cleaner with about every 3rd tank. After a couple of bottles, the injectors should be fine.

If your Expy has the 5.4 in it, the jerking or hiccuping you are experiencing may be one of the COP (coil-on-plugs) going bad. This can also happen if the engine/coils get wet. As the coils age, the bottems of the can crack and allow moisture to cause a short circuit to the block. Unfortunately, until it is bad enough to throw a code, you won't know which one is bad. These can be purchased at Autozone for about $45 each.

Just keep an eye on it and wait for the Check Engine light.

Good luck with the Expy and once again "Welcome"

Tim

 

Tim,

Thank you for the extensive reply. I will try to find some threads on changing spark plugs. It took me about 2 months of having my interior lights on and the truck saying door ajar until I found a thread that said spray some WD-40 in the doors and they will stop. I was going insane before hand. But to my surprise it stopped with the help of this forum.

I am going to buy spark plugs today. However, if the COP's are $45 dollars each I might wait and save. When the check engine light comes on will it tell which COP is out? Or will it just say a code that a COP is out?

Thank you for the advice and I will change all of the things you mentioned.

Dave

 

Dave,

Here's a link to the best spark plug change instructions: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=104027

As for the code, it will give you a misfire code and should tell you a cylinder number.

Good luck on the plugs!

Tim

 

Mine has also done the missfire at times under load but never enough to turn on the check engine light. Have driven around 30,000 miles with the ocasional misfire, just waiting for it to get worse before i dig in and try to find it.

 

Mine is at the point where I need to change them. I looked at my engine for about 20 minutes and said "well, I wonder what Scott (a friend) is doing" meaing forget this and have someone who might know what their doing help.

I just browsed at a topic that Tim (dakota_viking) just sent me and it looks very informative. I am going to print it out and use it as a guide line when I do change my plugs. Because everybody knows that the repair books only tell you so much.

This is going to bite since we have a heat wave of only 15 degrees outside....

Dave