5.4L 3V Idle
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
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5.4L 3V Idle
Truck is 2004 Supercab with 18,400 miles, purchased new. When the truck is warm it has a rough idle that the dealer told me today is a characteristic of the 3V engine. Been to dealers 3 times and nothing shows up through the diagnostics. I'm skeptical of the the "characteristic" explanation and am starting to think of trading it for another manufactures truck. It runs down the road smooth but idles rough. Is this a characteristic? Any ideas on how to fix it? Been to 2 different dealers and still have the problem. Like the truck but a Dodge or Tundra are beginning to look better.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 202
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From: Florida
Sorry but it is a normal charasteric of these trucks-Try to make sure you have the most current Ford program and make sure you have the updated spark plugs PZT 1F F4-as well as have the dealer check for leaking injectors. The truck has varable cam timing as well as no egr system so idle quality may be reduced slightly to reduce emmissions. I'm a Ford tech and my 2005 does the same thing. feels like a miss at idle, trust me I have tried to fix it!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,264
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From: North Carolina
My 04 has 23000 on it and the idle is smooth as glass. A $40000 truck with a rough idle? I don't freaking think so! This is not normal and I don't care what Ford says. Some people are just brainwashed. Bring it to another dealer. Hell my 97 had 198000 on it and it idled smooth as glass!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 752
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From: Marple Township, PA
What's the build date? Early models had problems with very low idle that was cured by 1) PCM reflash or 2) throttle body r/r. Try it with the A/C on, the idle should speed up and run smooth...if so the idle's too low.
Did this problem just start happening? Some have had a bad injector...see if they can do a leak-down check.
The truck is still under warranty. It may take some persuading, but one of the dealers have to fess up and admit something's wrong. Mine is smooth, like a lot of the other guys are saying.
I'm not sure if the "search" feature is still down, but I do remember this problem was mentioned in this forum, and there is a fix. Might just have to dig waaaayyyy deep in the threads to find it. Also, do a search of TSB's.
Good luck!! It CAN be fixed!!
Did this problem just start happening? Some have had a bad injector...see if they can do a leak-down check.
The truck is still under warranty. It may take some persuading, but one of the dealers have to fess up and admit something's wrong. Mine is smooth, like a lot of the other guys are saying.
I'm not sure if the "search" feature is still down, but I do remember this problem was mentioned in this forum, and there is a fix. Might just have to dig waaaayyyy deep in the threads to find it. Also, do a search of TSB's.
Good luck!! It CAN be fixed!!
Last edited by DonsFx4; Mar 15, 2006 at 12:53 AM.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46
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From: Rosemount,MN
hey I think I have the right tsb for this but I have no idea how to insert it here or paste it. any ideas
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I have an 05 FX4 with the same problem. I have had it in 2 times, each time at a different dealer. The first time they said my #5 injector was leaking down and they replaced it and the sparkplug. Seemed to clear up for about a few days and the roughness was back. Recently i took it in again for a few rattles in the rear sliding window (as you all know anouther issue with these trucks) and they reflased it with the newest software, but it still idles rough, and the service manager said this is the nature for the 04-05 F-150s. Im not happy with it either, but if it is not hurting anything, so be it. Things could be worse. Let me know if smoke was blown up my a@%.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
I had this problem early on but it settled down at around 6k miles. Sometimes it idles a little rougher, mostly in warmer weather, but it performs fine otherwise. My issue is with the diesel-like noise at idle, which is likely a cam phaser. Too bad the dealer thinks I'm a moron and tells me it's normal. I plan on doing the rest of my service from here on out, so I won't be making any special trips to the dealer just for this issue.
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
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I have a 2006 Screw XLT my idle is not rough but high. Sometimes runs about 1000 rpm but usually 8-900. Sure does move with the brake off, you have to watch yourself relaese the brake in traffic and you could sure rear end another car. Also causes the truck to jump when you put it in gear. Taking it back to the dealer next week for that and the tank ride i am getting. Has anyine eklse had problems with a high idle?
New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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I purchased a 04 Scab f-150 FX4 5.4 about a month ago with 58000 miles. The idle seemed rough at times. It was a very imtermittent problem that didn't affect driveablity just the idle and when starting to accelerate from dead stop the truck seemed to hesitate occasionally. Only did this intermittently though but I could tell it wasn't right. After 2 trips to the dealer he discovered a bad coil pack. He had to run it on the diagnositc machine for 30 minutes to pick it up because it only missed 3 times in 30 minutes. Hope this helps you out.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2006
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Thanks guys for all your comments. I have spoken with the dealer since I have taken it in the second time and he reiterates that they know of the idle problem on the 04 and 05, and tells me that the ford engineers are working on a fix. He told me that not all of the trucks will accept the 06 program upgrade for some reason (which has helped some trucks in the past). Its one of those annoying things to have going on. Does not affect any other performance of the truck, just an annoying bump every now and then. Like I said before things could be worse. But the service manager has put me on a list that will notify me anytime there is a new reflash avaliable so that I can bring it in, even got him to put in writing that ford will take care of it after the 3yr/36000 mi. warranty.