[EDIT] For anyone who had this come up on Google and is looking for a solution. This problem was fixed by replacing VCT soleniod(s).
After driving and slowing down, the engine cab get stuck in an advanced timing causing the motor to chug, lug out and sometimes die. The 5.4 can also have this issue.
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I have a 2010 Ford F-150 with the 4.6, got it from a buddy of mine who was ready to ditch the ol’ boat anchor and get something new.
Rather miraculously he gifted it to me for free! Whether it was from good intent, malice, or him seeing a way to freedom, I am now the owner of a stubborn truck that has been the bane of my existence since I got it.
It was a utlity truck for what I think was an electric company and was purchased from a “reputable” auction for the low low price of $3500. After he got the truck, he saw it had 250k miles on it, and the A/C didn’t work hardly at all. He took it to his friendly neighborhood mechanic who took the dash apart in an attempt to help fix the A/C and discovered it had been in a flood. In just taking the dash apart he removed an entire 5 gallon bucket with of dried mud and dirt from the vents and behind the dash.
Now with working A/C, the truck started to have a few other issues a few months later.
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Loud clattering on start up. (Really bad in the mornings with a cold start and a little bad during warm starts.)
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After the engine was warm, it would loose power going down the road.
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With a warm engine, it idled really rough and will almost die. It did die at least twice. But if you rev the motor for a few seconds it will go away and idle smooth. Sometimes endlessly, and sometimes only for a few seconds and then idle rough again.
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Poor fuel mileage, fluctuates from 12mpg to 14mpg.
His mechanic went and replaced the plugs, coils, wires and put it all back together. Problem still persisted. He then gave the truck to me and bailed out of the situation.
The entire time he had it, it never threw a code. Never once. But it won’t pass an emissions test saying it has bad catalytic converters.
Now is where I start to mess with it. It finally popped a check engine light when going down the road and experiencing power loss like usual. It flashed then remained on. It’s still on and flashes every time I loose power.
It said that the cam shaft position sensors where bad. So I replaced them.
Drive smooth for about 5 minutes and started to whole problem over again. Said “scratch that” and did some research, found that a lot of people seem to have had this issue and it was a faulty alternator. Seemed kinda funny, but what the hell. I went for it. Replaced the alternator and ran like a dream! More power than ever before! No rough idling, power loss or stuttering. Even got up to 17.8mpg.
I felt like I had finally won, the truck had submitted to my superior will and intellect. Or so I had thought…
One day later, ALL the problems return and it’s all there again.
I know the clatter on start up is the timing chain tensioner. It’s shot from the number of miles and use and is letting the chain smack the timing case. But I know the timing isn’t off. It will idle endlessly for ours perfectly smooth till you go drive and get it hot. Might happen a lot, might not happen at all on some trips. It’s currently up to 280k miles.
So what’s next?
Plugs, coils, camshaft positions sensors, and alternator have been replaced. Every code keeps saying “missfire” on multiple cylinders and camshaft sensor codes again and again no matter what’s replaced. Am I missing something? Could the catalytic converters be messing this up somehow? Faulty O2 sensors that aren’t throwing a code?
Please someone help, before I end up in debt trying to prove to this truck that I am it’s master.
-Helpless or hopeless in Texas