[boatingncst8fan]

I'm putting my truck (29K miles) in the shop for a full week starting 7/8. (I hope that's all it takes to fix everything wrong with it!) I was able to explain the various problems I am having with my truck to the inexperienced service writer at the counter, but the newest problem with this truck is perplexing and I wanted to see if anyone has experienced this.

Sometimes the truck feels like it has NO POWER at take off...and not just turbo-lag. I almost got in an accident yesterday because I pulled out and the engine never wound up until I was out of the turn and straightened up in the road. Luckily at that time, all the hamsters started running and I was able to get on down the road without getting rear-ended by the oncoming car. When I got to the next stop less than a mile down the road, the truck acted like it wanted to cut off, surged a few times, the whole truck shook and was generally running like crap. From that point on, I had a constant surging anywhere between 35 and 60 MPH when the truck was not under any load. I ran my errand and never turned the engine off before going to the dealer to ask them to check it out. Since it was close to quitting time, they did not have a diesel mechanic they could pull off their current work to ride with me for 5 minutes so I added this to my "TO DO" list hoping it will show up when they drive it next week. BTW, The surging has been intermittent for the last 2,500 miles and only noticeable below 65 MPH.

Any ideas as to what this may be?

 

[noa1794]

The following is some educated guess work from me. Here are the usual suspects.

1.) EBP (exhaust back pressure sensor). These go bad on 2003-2004s very frequently and there is a newly designed sensor Ford installs depending on your VIN. There is a TSB out on this I believe.


2.) Bad EBP electrical connection. There is a TSB out on this I believe.

3.) Bad EGR valve. This is located 2 inches in front and 2 inches to the passenger side of the oil filter. It looks like the top off a can of right guard and has a plug in the top of it. To test it, unplug it. The worst that can happen is that your "check engine" light might come on. Then go run it and see if the problem goes away. If it does, you probably have a bad EGR valve. Keep it unplugged until you get to your dealer, it will not hurt anything. This is very common for 2003-2004s. This is a half-hour fix.

4.) Bad or sticking turbo blades. This is a one day install. It means a new turbo.

5.) Bad turbo solenoid.

Have fun. Good luck!

 

[boatingncst8fan]

Thanks for the reply DirtyDan...now I can at least tell the service department "I've heard...." causes this problem.

 

[CalWaterboy]

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes the truck feels like it has NO POWER at take off...and not just turbo-lag. I almost got in an accident yesterday because I pulled out and the engine never wound up until I was out of the turn and straightened up in the road. Luckily at that time, all the hamsters started running and I was able to get on down the road without getting rear-ended by the oncoming car. When I got to the next stop less than a mile down the road, the truck acted like it wanted to cut off, surged a few times, the whole truck shook and was generally running like crap. From that point on, I had a constant surging anywhere between 35 and 60 MPH when the truck was not under any load.

[/ QUOTE ]

Believe it or don't, try changing oil & filter.

 

[boatingncst8fan]

Less than 3000 miles on current oil & filter change...mostly highway driving.

 

[rustyed]

I have an '04 that is doing the exact same thing. I removed and cleaned the EGR the other day and id did not cure the problem. Prior to that I took it in for service and they reflashed the truck, not the cure. I'm thinking that it is the EBP from reading other posts. I also have a list of hings that need to be done, hope to take it in next week also. Go to the site below and read all of the bulletins, I am going to take this list in with problems highlite and tell them to fix them all. There are several issues that could have been done to mine that weren't the last time I took it in. Hope the site helps,

www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/60bulletin.htm

 

[boatingncst8fan]

Rustyed, Thanks for the link. There are several Bulletins that address some of the same problems I'm having.