I,ve got a 1997 f150, 4.6L V8, supercab, long bed. I have resently started to have problems with my truck not running normal. one minute good the next, it shouldnt be running at all. I will try and get all the poticulars out of the way and any help,(knowledgable help) would be greatly appreciated.

I had my truck for about two years and changed out the plugs due to pre ignition ping, trying to fix that problem. when I pulled the old plugs out they didnt look like the new ones I had bought. come to find out, someone before I had installed 4.2L V6 plug in my 4.8L V8. I know that this should have been one of the first things to look at after buying the truck. changing plugs took place aboout 8 months ago. Now it started off with my truck running like crap after a big rain storm. hadnt driven it for a few days befor that time. hadnt driven in the rain at the time. anyway when I took off the engine was slugish and sounded like it was missing but not back firing out the exhaust. Check engine light was on and flashing at times then solid, then back to flashing untill it stayed on for good. I took it into a garage my Marine buddy works and manages. they found that #2 plug was loose and the they recieved a code that pointed them towards the EGR valve. I went to the parts house and got the new EGR and installed it not knowing that I should clean out the ports also. (dont know exactly what ports to clean out and how far they go in or where they go) this didnt fix my CEL at all. It did get reset but came back on after a while of driving(three days). then out of the blue everything was fine and no more problems. CEL was still on though. Now Im back to the Poorly sounding rumble from a miss fire or whatever the hells going on. I went back to the parts house and bought a code reader to help me piont towards the problem areas in the power train(engine). When I follow the instructions exactly, my code reader is telling my that it is not hooked up to the truck and that there isnt any power to the PCM. Checked all PCM Fuses as instucted and all were good. CEL went off but returned to haunt me once again after about 1 day of driving.
please post any ideas to the problem. first the code reader to the truck or no power to the PCM connector so I an find my codes and fix them.and please No comments about how ignorent I am or my inability to fix something without anyones help. this should all go without say because I am here asking for help.

thank you all thomas.

 

xray- no one will dump on you for asking questions. thats what your here for. i may not be much help, but i see that you installed "different" plugs, but dont say which ones. the modular engines like Motocraft plugs. sometimes other plugs have troubles, even tho the vendor says they are a match. the next thin is it happened after a long rain and set. maybe it is humidity related and effecting the plug wires? after you drive and it warms up and humidity goes away, it runs better? the last thing is the code reader is not really magic. i would take the reader back to the dealer and ask them to test it in the store. normally your plug on the truck is o.k. maybe a pin is bent or not getting good connection to show power to the reader. in the end , the reader gives you a generic code and you still need to do some study. the reader does not give a precise straaight answer.... wish i could be more help. if you get a code, that might help.

 

The plugs I nstalled were the right ones made by motorcraft. made damn sure of the before installing then when I found the V6 plugs alredy in my truck. Im thinking that it could also be a moisture problem. only thing for that would be to change wires. expensive but worth it in the end. the truck doenst actually run better when it gets warmed up. it runs crappier at times. remember , When this type of things happens I havent driven it in the rain or splashed through puddles. now for the code reader, I know that it isnt going to plug into the truck, do some hocus pocus on it and everything is fixed but it can send me in a direction I can research and pursue. I suppose i need to check to see if my Connector is working properly and as you suggested, get the reader checked also.
Do you by chance now exactly which ports im support to clean when changing out my EGR valve.I dont know if i need to go into the lower intake or just through the throddle body.
thank you very much for all your help and your reply. sorry about the people dumping on me thing, just read a few post and saw it happening. just needed answer and not some shade tree garage jockie busting my beachballs.
thank you so much once again and look forward to talking to you again steve.

 

If I am not mistaken, the diagnostic port is powered by the same fuse that supplies the cigarette lighter. Your owners manual will detail where to find this fuse. In my truck, it is fuse #3, a 20A fuse and is located in the fuse panel up under the dash on the driver's side.
This thread is good reading for how to find and clean the EGR ports. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...light=egrports

Good luck!

 

KingRanch,
Thank you verymuch for your post. I have checked all the fuses in the fuse box under the drivers side dask, the EEC fuse box, main fuse box under the hood. all are fine and in good working order( none burned out). I suppose I will need to pull them all out and test each one as one might be bad but not look like it has been burned.

Thank you for the link on how to clean the EGR ports, I look forward to hearing from you again.

Thank you once again.
Thomas

 

Does the cigarette lighter on your truck work? If it does, then I would look for pin problems in the diagnostics port. If it doesn't work, then replace the fuse. If you don't have a owners manual, then download one here and click on owners manuals on the left hand side menu. https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/maintenance.asp


After looking up the owners manual for your truck, the On-board diagnostic (OBD II) data link connector has its very own 5A fuse, #12 in your fuse panel.

 

KingRanchMan, steve(ill),

thank you both very much for the information. I finally got into the upper intake area and cleaned out the EGR ports. holy crap. CEL is out and hasnt come back on since. bought new plugs and wires.(not installed yet) and i am thinking of changing out the ignition sysyem.any suggessions for this one.

 

I am curious as to what your plugs look like. The end of the plugs when you pull them tell you how that cylinder is firing. If you find one that is carboned or wet you can pretty well figure its the source of your problem. ( cylinder) then is a matter of finding the culprit. I bought a simple $6 tool at Harbor freight. Item #36258 In line ignition spark checker. It hooks in between the plug wire & spark plug. Has a small light in it & will allow the plug to fire even if it is inline. You watch the light to see if the cylinder is getting constant & stable fire. You plug it into each wire at each spark plug & observe the flash as you accelerate slightly. If you find a plug that does not Flash consistently examine the wire to it. Does it have any burnt spots? If it is dark out you may see a flash come off of the wire & arc to the engine or other metal parts connected to it.

If All you plugs are not consitent you may have a faulty control module or other ignition problems.