'04 Surging/Bucking @ constant speed

[dadof5]

I have an '04 with just under 10k. Bought new in Oct. When traveling @ steady speeds, (unloaded/not towing) between 45-55, the truck starts surging or bucking. I don't see any variation in RPM's, so I'm thinking it's in the driveline. I just had the truck in for the trans. recall and told them about it prior to the work. They said they reprogrammed some module [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img], but the problem still persists. I was wondering if anyone else has encountered a similar situation and what was done, if anything, to correct it? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

'04 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab, Long Bed

[bmf350]

My 03 does it too. But it didn't used to. Even the techs seem to be stumped.

[BigOne]

My '03 does it as well. No fix available according to the techs. I contacted FoMoCo Canada and wanted a replacement if they could not fix it, as well as the other ongoing issues I have. Their reply is "there is no problem, your truck is working correctly as no codes are registered". Good luck. Let us know if you find a fix.

[POS]

Bucking and surging and spitting out black smoke - like a hiccup?

[OMCUSNR]

This might be a long shot, but... how much oil do you have in it? Some of the surging problems is a result of oil foaming due to an overfull condition. Many of the oil lube places put bak in 15qts, not realizing that the the HPOP hold onto a quart during drain.

If you're at the top of the dipstick ON LEVEL GROUND, drain a quart, or so to get it right in the middle of the bulb, & try it like that.

Good luck!

[dadof5]

I had the oil changed @ the dealership where I bought it from @ 6700 miles. What is the HPOP? Does that need to be drained when changing oil or is that not possible?

[LSP]

I have a 03 that surges between 2200 - 2500 rpm. It has 8,000 miles on it and it been back 7 times, They tell me that Ford engineers and others have been out serveral times and still not fixed.I have flied for a "Lemon Law" case. Ford has had the truck for over 36 days.They tell me today it needs a new turbo. What ever---.One more thing to add i received NO SUPPORT from the dealer.I have been a die hard Ford guy Owned and raced Fords all my life.This is crazy.

LP

[zeroo]

My truck also does this once in a while, and even died a couple of times on take off in the morning after warm up.My fix for the problem is to yank and pull on the wire harness.Hopefully the rumored engine recall is for this.

[jetski86]

A light surge? Ebp sensor. A hard surge with sputter turbo sticking but that will be on accel not cruise. Are you in high gear at that time? Is it lugged down? for all of you people that do not get the trucks fixed. Every truck can be fixed if it has a problem.Try another dealer if one is close. Also talk to the manager and ask if there is another tech that can look at it. We have 5 guys at our dealer that repair these. I only see them if the customer is upset or it becomes a problem child. The other guys will
throw parts at it and guess or blow it off. Try a different service advisor but tell him that you are not happy with the tech that has been looking at it. Normal proceedure is to keep giving it back to the first tech who touched it.

[crimtide]

dadof5,

If you are getting the surge and stall condition regularly then go to the dealer and ask them to loan you the shops VDR ( Vehicle Data Recorder ). It is a little black box that they hook up to the diagnostic port under the dash. It keeps trace of 50 seconds worth of real time data from all the sensors in your truck. When you have a surge or stall happen, you press the red button on the VDR and it takes a snap shot of 30 seconds before you pressed the button and 20 seconds after you press the button. The will allow the tech working on your truck to see what is causing the problems that you are having.

Chances are that you have a bad ICP ( Injector Control Pressure ) sensor or a slow to respond EBP ( Exhaust Back Pressure ) sensor. I had the same problems with my truck, I went round and round with the shop, taking it back every other week for about three months. Finally after uploading the VDR captures to the hotline and having a field service tech come out and take a look at it, they narrowed the problem down to a flaky ICP and slow EBP ..

If the shop is not willing to let you ride around with the VDR, tell them that you would like to document the dangerous stalling and surging condition that your truck exhibits, and that the shop refused to let you barrow a diagnostic tool that would help pin point the problem. My shop didn’t want to let it out of the shop, without a little pressure.

crimtide

[toshiba]

More than likely the EBP sensor,EGR and wire harness need to be replaced. Mines going in for that this weekend, I have the same issues. And I`m driving 230 miles to a tech that knows his stuff unlike the one`s around where I live. Most/Some Ford techs know about this problem and are replacing these items. There is a bulletin out on this problem, its been out for several months. Also check the blue hose that comes off the turbo for intercooler tube. There is NO bracing for the tube and it will flex 3-4". Which with a combo of flexing and the last tech that touched my truck at a dealership where I live, overtighten the clamp which crushed the hose. I had a nice 2" rip on the underside of the hose at the clamp which resulted in lost boost and the EGR going whackey.

[nickwagner]

i pulled this little bit of info off of this website... http://www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/60bulletin.htm


i aready posted a this info but here it is again

2003-05 Various Running Problems, Check Engine Light; New EBP Sensor:
Trucks built before 1-17-05 that exhibit buck/jerk, hesitation, lack of power, stalling, stumble, black smoke, surging, rolling idle, changes in engine sound at idle or when driving at a steady speed, or with the trouble codes P2263 or P0299, may have an exhaust backpressure sensor signal that is incorrect or erratic. A revised EBP sensor is available if this is found to be the case. Part number 4C3Z-9J460-A. Broadcast Message 3815.
Normal EBP signal reading should reflect atmospheric pressure with the key on/ engine off. Typically, this is 14.7 PSI/0.88-0.9 volts at sea level, decreasing one PSI/0.10 volt for every 2000 feet of elevation. It should be within 0.5 PSI of BARO and MAP sensor pressure signals.

[DRhodes]

[ QUOTE ]
This might be a long shot, but... how much oil do you have in it? Some of the surging problems is a result of oil foaming due to an overfull condition. Many of the oil lube places put bak in 15qts, not realizing that the the HPOP hold onto a quart during drain.

If you're at the top of the dipstick ON LEVEL GROUND, drain a quart, or so to get it right in the middle of the bulb, & try it like that.

Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

Alright I really got to ask because if what you say is true it may solve a lot of problems.
I too have had the surging/bucking and stalling problems. The problem appeared about 1000 miles after my first oil change. The truck just died after about a 180 mile drive. I stopped at a rest stop and left the truck idling while I used the bathroom. Got back in started to head out and it died. No codes and no other problems the rest of the weekend. About 2 weeks later I was heading to Montana and felt a slight buck and surge about 30 minutes into the trip. Thought it was my imagination. Pulled into a motel in Vegas and it starts surging and stalling really bad while idling through the parking lot. Let it sit for about 20 minutes and poof problem gone, until I reached Barstow on my way home. The only time I had problems was at idle speed and only after the engine was well warmed up. Dealer replaced wiring harness (Could not duplicate problem)also did oil change after Montana trip. Only drove it for 2 weeks and took it back for trans recall. The day after I got it back strange knock and headed back to the dealer. While en-route the surging/bucking and stalling began again. Now I have a new engine due to knocking and the Tech believes this will also take care of the surging/stalling issue, because of all new components.
I did notice the oil level appeared to be at the top of the plastic on the dipstick after the oil changes, which is higher than it was before. It would be interesting to see if this was the cause.
FYI, my truck had about 6,000 miles on it when it started and now has 10,600. New engine has about 100 miles on it.

[OMCUSNR]

The tech may be right & the new engine may very well be ok. There is a tendancy to overfill these with oil though, and with the crank in the pan, frothing can occur. Both dealers & quick lubes will fill it to "spec" w/out thinking.

The manual is pretty specific about checking oil on a level surface. Most "level" concrete is actually poured with a 1 or 2% fall to help keep water from puddeling, so I assume a garage floor or gas station pad is "level" enough. The other thing they talk about is letting it sit for 20 mins, to let it drain back down, but the HPOP still has the 1 qt reserve.

If you have oil at the top of the bulb, where the wire joins it, I'd drop a quart (fumoto valve is real help there), and check the level again. Keep an eye on it for a few weeks (couple of times a week). If the level starts to rise again you're probablly getting fuel into the oil & I'd take it back to the dealer & have them compression test the injectors. Next oil change, DIY, and put back in 13.5 qts, check it & then top if necessary.

Also, oil additives have been discussed here now & then, and its generally accepted that they are NOT a good idea with these engines. They tend to induce more foam.

Over full oil is not the only thing that causes surging, but it is one thing to check.

[DRhodes]

I think we need to post a poll or something and ask people with the stalling/surging issue to carefully check their oil level. I checked the oil in my truck today and found the level to be about midway between Min and Max, which was well below the level it was when I had the problems on the other motor.