Lacking Power

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Mar 31, 2005 | 10:31 AM

mooner

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Junior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 52

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From: Beaumont Canada

Lacking Power

Hi all,

I have a 1996 E350 with a 7.5 engine E3OD automatic.
Lately after my son has been driving for about 1/2 hour the truck seems to loose all power and max speed is about 60 KPH (40 MPH). It is almost like limp mode. He stoppped and checked tranny and it was down a bit (1/2 litre), after topping it up the truck worked fine for a couple weeks. Last week same thing happened again only this time tranny needed whole litre and was again fine. Then on Monday it did it again and tranny is full (in fact a bit over). He brought the truck home (limpoed it in)) said that the check engine light had come on as well and that it seemed to feel like it was running on only half the cylinders and that he stopped and put it in park and tried to rev the engine but it didn't rev up only seemed to be starving. I went out and it fired right up, no eng light and lots of power. I drove it around for about 20 minutes with no problems. I replaced the fuel pump last fall and new plugs etc in Dec. I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this before, I hate intermitent problems, perhaps a sensor going or bad ground that works loose and then is good again.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks

Mar 31, 2005 | 06:07 PM

andym

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 19,402

Likes: 38

From: Bonita Springs FL

When the check engine light is on, it usually stores the code even after it goes off. Try pulling the codes and see if it tells you what's going on. You also may have a flaky MLPS. Search here & the tranny forum for more info on that.

Apr 8, 2005 | 10:49 AM

mooner

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Junior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 52

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From: Beaumont Canada

Still Gutless

Well I changed the exhaust (muffler was shot) went to 3" from cross pipe all the way using a 3" in/out muffler. The CAT had been removed prior to my getting vehicle two years ago so didn't bother with that. The truck worked great for the past 3-400 miles then the thing started acting up again. Lost all power and it started to backfire slightly. The check engine light would come on for a bit then go out for several miles then on again. This continued till we limped home at 30 MPH top speed. I was thinking perhaps the O2 sensor could be bad but then why is it an intermitent problem. Also is there a way to get codes without purchasing a reader ($250 cdn). I know on my old Dodge(sorry for swearing) that if you cycled the key you got the codes from eng light flashing.
I checked wiring to spout connector etc and found all good. Any other ideas, this is starting to gropw tiresome as I need truck (18 ft cube van) for work and must be reliable.
Thanks

Apr 8, 2005 | 01:59 PM

95 F150

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2000

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Have you changed the fuel filter?, for sure pull the codes from the ECU and find out where you stand.

Apr 8, 2005 | 02:40 PM

mooner

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 52

Likes: 0

From: Beaumont Canada

Yup, new filter and pump 4 months ago. I was looking for any other ideas prior to spending a couple hundrde on a code reader.

Apr 8, 2005 | 04:03 PM

tex94F250

Posting Guru

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 1,467

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From: N. Gwinnett Co. Georgia

Go to fordfuelinjection.com and learn how to read codes at no cost, well a paper clip. Post the codes and we'll see what we can come up with. The next item to check is the fuel pressure regulator at the schraeder valve on the fuel rail. You should have between 38 to 45 psig.