2004 5.4 engine pinging

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Feb 3, 2009 | 12:20 PM

RUSTANG67

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2004 5.4 engine pinging

Engine has started pinging at light load. When we first bought the truck (new) it had the same problem after about 10k miles. The dealer installed special spark plugs (?) and that took care of the problem until recently (77k miles).

Is anyone familiar with the spark plug change? Or is this a reprogramming issue?

Feb 4, 2009 | 09:50 AM

jsoko

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From: Cherokee Co. GA.

I would have thought it would have been an octane & timing issue. Do you know what type of SPECIAL plugs the dealer used?

Feb 4, 2009 | 11:29 AM

slc10844

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From: Baltimore

Try cleaning the mass air flow sensor.

Feb 4, 2009 | 02:34 PM

Jim Allen

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Joined: Dec 2006

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From: On a farm.

Are you running a programmer, or any other mods like an intake system? No check engine lite? If so, find out what that code is and follow the clues. It might be as simple as a load of wee-water gas. Try the easy things first.. fill up with a good name brand Top Tier gas, see what happens.

Feb 4, 2009 | 03:08 PM

motown

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From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by slc10844

Try cleaning the mass air flow sensor.

I second, with trying to clean the throttle body. If you are running a oiled air filter ( K & N ) and have recently cleaned and oiled it, this can cause the throttle body to become oil covered and cause pinging.

Feb 6, 2009 | 08:10 AM

RUSTANG67

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The truck's completely stock. No mods. (it's my wife's truck and she won't let me near it!)

I assume the mass airflow sensor's in the intake. How do you clean it? Compressed air? should it be removed from the truck to clean?

All good suggestions...

I might call the Ford dealer and see if they have record of the plugs used. Where would I find some sort of notification from Ford if this was a recall type deal?

Feb 6, 2009 | 09:07 AM

motown

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From: Michigan

All you have to do is take off the air Cleaner, its real easy to do. Get a couple of cans of Throttle body cleaner CRC, makes some. You do it with the Key off, or you could damage the stepper motor for the trottle. You open the butterfly and spray the inside of the intake and throttle body. Then start the vehicle after cleaning. It may not start easy, though.