Ok so sometimes my 96 will start running like crap, for about 10 seconds.....and this almost always happens at idle. Only happened once or twice going down the road. It only occurs sporatically and it's not overly often, but it seems to be getting more often. It almost sounds like the engine instantaneously quits on about half the cylinders, and then comes back after a short while. It's not loping or anything organized, just like it's not hitting on all the cylinders. The check engine light comes on only while it's lugging, then quits as soon the engine stops acting up. Any idears? I'd rather not just throw parts at it, but if someone's got an educated guess I'd sure give it try.

 

Humm... check for burnt plugs on UVC?? could be one burnt or partially burnt that cutting out an injector every now and then... just my .02

-Robb

 

hummmm for some reason the letters HPOP are coming to mind.... no real reason behind it because i have 0 experience with an HPOP but the CEL and the loping makes me think it's that....

 

i am going with the uvc harnesses, they are easy to get out and easy to check

 

you have a wiring issue to the injectors. Check the connectors at the VC for burned plastic. Also test the UVC how I describe in this thread
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...=1#post5286089
Also check the main engine harness where it comes over the drivers side valve cover for rubbed though wires. If you can get the truck scanned that will tell you which cylinder(s) are having the issue.

 

why do i always pick the things that NEVER happen?? lol

 

ok so assuming this is my problem how difficult is changing the valve cover gaskets? And should I be doing glowplugs while im in there since this thing won't hardly start below 32*. I'm at 269k miles.

 

VC gaskets are easy. Just once you get the VC off unplug everything and replace. Test the GP's as stated in the thread as well. that will tell you if they need to be replace or could also have wiring problems to the GP's. Ohm meter testing will at least tell you if the VC's need to come off. BUT the intermittent problem could be an issue with testing

 

sorry for my lack of paying attention but are the injectors beneath the VCs too? if not, what are all the wires in the gasket for?

 

Yup you'll see the injectors when you remove the VC's, can't miss um. Wires are for injectors and GP's

-Robb

 

wow you guys are quick tonight lol....and that is crazy....that's why these motors look so clean under the hood LOL. Got a couple good places to start I will look tomorrow thanks guys.

 

When I had this problem and when I was checking the pins in the VC plug-ins, I could not tell that I had a burned pin. Maybe my 'old' eyes aren't that good but I had to use a magifine glass to see it. Sure enough, there it was!

 

and you just clean off the burned pin and forget about it or what?

 

I might even guess IDM? Usually they are good or bad but I have heard of them "acting up" on the way out.
I see you have a couple of trucks with 7.3's. You could take one out of the other and see if that fixes your problem.
The IDM is on the drivers side inner fender under the hood hinge. It drives the injectors.

 

If the pin is burned on the gasket you just replace the gasket. if its the engine wiring harness that is burned there are repair kits for that as well.