Hi everyone, 
Sputtering when excelerating heavy
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Dartmouth Nova Scotia
I know what you are about to go through, I hope that you do not get the same treatment I did, could be this or could be that but you have to change that first to find out if it is that. Some advice that was given to me besides all the suggestioned I received here on this forum was to take it to a Ford Dealership, let them diagnos the problem, but take it to another for a second opinion. I know that some local shops here cannot access the computer to its full potential. That is what happened to me, I had a local shop pull up the code and then went to Ford got them to repair it, once they started there diagnostic, it was one thing after another. I was talking to the shop that has my truck now and they replaced the converter. I will get the truck back tomorrow, I will post the out come.But I know that Ford would not cover anything. They are quick to tell you what is wrong and how much the want to fix it. It is your choice after that, But man would I like to have the OBD machine they use.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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Taking it in tomorrow. Will keep all informed.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Dartmouth Nova Scotia
When the vehicle is shut off press in the trip odometer and then start the truck while holding it in once it start in you message center will say "test" let go of the button, it will then sweep the gauges, they will go from base all the way to the max and then back the it will go to normal. Once that has happened each time you press the button it will say "Bulb" and all your lights will come on. Each time you press it another function will appear, this is where I got P0301 Misfire code. I hope this makes sense and I can only speak for my situation, I received a lot of help and suggestions from other members that also helped me a lot.
But I am happy to say that they replaced my Catalytic Converter and the truck is working well.
Good Luck
But I am happy to say that they replaced my Catalytic Converter and the truck is working well.
Good Luck
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 52
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Well, took it to the dealer this morning and they said the computer was not showing any codes (of course not). They told me to bring it back Monday and leave it so that they can check the injectors when the engine is cold. Said they may need to keep it until Tuesday...possibly Wednesday 
. (I don't mind TOO much since the weather is suppose to be nice so I can at least ride the motorcycle to work) I asked if it could be the coil packs or the cat, and he said no. If it were them it would be showing a code. 
It's a 2005 with 37K miles on it so I'm out of the normal bumper to bumper warranty. If it IS the injectors, would/could that be covered under the Emmissions Defect Warranty because this sounds like it could get expensive!
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/p...1&zoom=100,0,0
. (I don't mind TOO much since the weather is suppose to be nice so I can at least ride the motorcycle to work) I asked if it could be the coil packs or the cat, and he said no. If it were them it would be showing a code. It's a 2005 with 37K miles on it so I'm out of the normal bumper to bumper warranty. If it IS the injectors, would/could that be covered under the Emmissions Defect Warranty because this sounds like it could get expensive!
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/p...1&zoom=100,0,0
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Dartmouth Nova Scotia
I know that they told me that in my situation the injectors were not covered through the emmissions. But I had my Truck out last night and took it out on the highway was doing about 70km and kicked her down and this is where it was spitting and sputtering, but she took off like a bat out Hell.
Last edited by LOFD; May 8, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Reason: left out a word grammar
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 28
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From: SE Texas
seriously consider the plugs
Had these same problems with my 2005 5.4. Blinking check engine light with misfire on hard acceleration, idled and ran just fine below 3,000 RPM. Dealer changed a plug, the a couple coils, problem never was really fixed and would return. Random misfire codes would pop up, and I changed the injectors and coils myself b/c the plugs were supposed to last 100,000 miles and my truck only had 70,XXX miles on it. I was trying to put off the plug change until later as I heard it was a PITA. Finally gave up and had a local mechanic change the plugs and belt for around $400.00 Yes, he had to soak, wait, turn plugs, soak, wait, turn plugs, and repeat for 3 days. They all came out, and I am here to testify that the truck runs like new again. Please don't think that it's not the plugs just because the truck doen't have 100,000 miles on it. I could have saved the money on coils and injectors, and alot of time and frustration. TRY THE PLUGS IF YOU'RE STUMPED WITH THE HIGH RPM STUMBLE!
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Well, I took the SCREW to another dealer this morning and they said that although it was not showing any error codes, they did check and found that some of the coils were mis-firing (can't remember which ones but it was like 3 or 4 of them). I told them to go ahead and swap out all the coils and change the plugs (as well as change the tranny fluid since its due anyway) as well. Not going to say how much this is gonna cost me because I'd get pissed if I actually see the number in print!! Basically I figured I might as well go ahead and swap them all out because there's no telling how much damage was done to the others that were compensating for the bad ones. Plus, the dealer did say if the CAT ended up melting due to the bad coils, that wouldn't be covered under the emmissions warranty. We'll see how it runs when all is said and done.
And to think before all this happened, I was about to put this money toward getting a scuff repaired. I guess that's the least of my worries now!!
And to think before all this happened, I was about to put this money toward getting a scuff repaired. I guess that's the least of my worries now!!
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 105
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Same issue here, P0305 error. Coil, plugs and injector changed. I still have the misfire under hard acceleration. I'm going to check back pressure tomorrow to see if the cats clogged up. hope so because I've been dealing with this for 2 months!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 960
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From: Spring Texas
I want to hear the end result but I had this after washing the engine. I pulled all of the coils and plugs out. Blew everything dry and used contact cleaner on everything that was taken out and the coil packs. I dried out everything. No more missing and it cost me nothing. Coil packs cannot go bad like that. However the cats do go bad but no due to misfire. Unless you are blowing by large amounts of fuel or oil that is and then your problem is much worse then missing.
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Joined: May 2009
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Well I used the vacuum guage method which did not indicate a clogged exhaust. I was pulling 23 in at idle, rev the motor several times and each time vacuum went down numerically and then back up to about 24-25, then back to 23 in. the needle was rock steady, no fluctuation.
WHat should I check now?
WHat should I check now?
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Dartmouth Nova Scotia
Ok, One day I was driving down one of our highways, I pulled out to pass another vehicle on my way to work and once I put it to the floor, that’s when the check engine light flashed and it started to spit and sputtering and not gaining any speed that a 5.4 should have. While at work I read up on the problem. Now I owned the truck for 6 months with out any problems. So I was concerned I read on how to access the codes by sweeping the gauges, which I did. I pulled an error code of 0301 "misfire cylinder 1 - 10" So I went to my local Ford dealership and told them what I had found for a code, so they replaced the coil and plug in the number 1 cylinder. Unfortunately this did not correct the problem; further diagnostic showed that the Catalytic converter was melted. So the converter should have been covered under the manufactures warranty, but they found a way to blame me i.e. "misfire". They said the melted converter was caused by a misfire and when I got a second opinion they said the converter caused the misfire. So I had to pay for the converter $1200. I argued and lost, but took it to a muffler shop and installed a generic converter and now the truck works perfect. Cross my fingers.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o><o
></o>Now driving the vehicle during every day conditions was not a problem, it would start no problem, it would sound good while idling, and driving with in the city it would work, it would even work on the highway no problem I could accelerate up to highway speeds giving it moderate throttle, but once I kicked it down that’s when she would spit and sputter. The mechanic at the dealership said I should have noticed it earlier, but I do not kick it down all the time and I don't drive with an OBD 2 machine hooked up to the vehicle so I had no way of telling what was going wrong. But the first sign of the spitting and sputtering is when I took it right to the dealership for repair which was right after work.<o
></o>Since I had the converter replaced the truck works great, Kick it down and she goes. The dealership said the misfire caused it and the second opinion said the converter caused the misfire.<o
></o>Hope this helps a little; it was a very frustrating time.<o
></o>I Love my truck!!<o
></o>Good luck. <o
></o>
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Joined: May 2009
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LOFD,
Did you ever get a converter code or something to point to that? I think I'm in the same boat. What stumps me is that the vacuum test I performed doesn't indicate a bad converter plus no codes for it. however, everything else has been replaced.
Did you replace the converters on both sides? Did you see or did they tell you how much blockage you had? I went to a muffler shop yesterday but they didn't kow how to do a back pressure test, they were expecting a code to tell them it was bad. LOL. The IRMC has been known to break blades off specifically causing P0305 error. The dealer replaced this item on my truck already, however it was a used part! So do I replace my cats without being able to fully diagnose the issue? I want my truck back to the way it was efore this horror story with the dealership.
Did you notice a decrease in fuel economy or over heating prior to replacing the cats? Increased rpm to go the same speed?
More to follow!
Thanks!
MJ
Did you ever get a converter code or something to point to that? I think I'm in the same boat. What stumps me is that the vacuum test I performed doesn't indicate a bad converter plus no codes for it. however, everything else has been replaced.
Did you replace the converters on both sides? Did you see or did they tell you how much blockage you had? I went to a muffler shop yesterday but they didn't kow how to do a back pressure test, they were expecting a code to tell them it was bad. LOL. The IRMC has been known to break blades off specifically causing P0305 error. The dealer replaced this item on my truck already, however it was a used part! So do I replace my cats without being able to fully diagnose the issue? I want my truck back to the way it was efore this horror story with the dealership.
Did you notice a decrease in fuel economy or over heating prior to replacing the cats? Increased rpm to go the same speed?
More to follow!
Thanks!
MJ
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 64
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From: Dartmouth Nova Scotia
DBLX,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
I did not have any error code for the converters, when the dealership hooked up their computer to the truck it did not show any errors. But what they did was hooked up the computer and one of the mechanics drove the truck and the other monitored the computer.It was at that point they seen the error.
It came up as a graph, one section for left bank and one for the right bank. The left bank was consistent on heavy acceleration, the right side was all over the place the way he explained it was the sensor before the converter said send this much fuel and the sensor after the converter signalled send more fuel. But it showed up only on the graph and during heavy acceleration, released the gas and it levelled out. That was the only way to tell or see an error.<o></o>
At the very end I found that I was going through a bit more fuel then before, but had no idle changes, no over heating, RPM stayed around 660 - 640.
I hope this helping you, I do not want to lead you I the wrong direction. I did replace the coil and plug from the P0301 error, that was when they did the computer stuff.
<o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o>I did not have any error code for the converters, when the dealership hooked up their computer to the truck it did not show any errors. But what they did was hooked up the computer and one of the mechanics drove the truck and the other monitored the computer.It was at that point they seen the error.
It came up as a graph, one section for left bank and one for the right bank. The left bank was consistent on heavy acceleration, the right side was all over the place the way he explained it was the sensor before the converter said send this much fuel and the sensor after the converter signalled send more fuel. But it showed up only on the graph and during heavy acceleration, released the gas and it levelled out. That was the only way to tell or see an error.<o
></o>At the very end I found that I was going through a bit more fuel then before, but had no idle changes, no over heating, RPM stayed around 660 - 640.
I hope this helping you, I do not want to lead you I the wrong direction. I did replace the coil and plug from the P0301 error, that was when they did the computer stuff.
<o
></o>