Im in a terrible situation and can't figure out how to diagnose this problem. My truck is idling really low and dies if you don't give it some throttle. The idle is extremely rough and the problem persists even in acceleration. I checked the air cleaner and its clean and I have had this problem for a few days and thought maybe I'd gotten some bad gas but ran it low and filled up with super and ran a half tank through it and I'm sure its not a bad gas problem now. But the problem is worsening from just a rough idle to not wanting to idle at all now.

All fluid levels are okay. And I got an engine light (which went off) but no other lights are on.

SPECS:

2004 Ford F-150 with a 5.4 litre Triton 2 wheel drive with an automatic @ 112,000 miles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks for the reply. I took it to the Ford dealer in Secaucus New Jersey and they told me I needed spark plugs and charged me $976.00 to replace them (5 plugs broke). After they installed the plugs they realized that wasn't the problem. So They said they would do an electronic compression test. I had 0 pounds on one cylinder and 150 on another with 185 on the rest. So they said they wanted to pull the valve cover (both dead cylinders were on the same bank) so they pulled the valve cover to find a broken lash adjuster, the follower was just laying there and I had a bent valve. To sum it all up it was a $4,553.52 repair to get me back on the road because it ruined the head and I needed another. So I'll never buy another Ford product again.

 

From what I have been able to gather, Ford has some serious engine problems with the 5.4 Triton. I own one and would never buy another. I see Turnpike Ford strikes again!

 

Yep! You know Ford made some really sweet cars and trucks over the years. But they have really dropped the ball in the last 10 to 15. The 5.4 has made me afraid to trust Ford ever again. Its too hard to make a buck these days and more than ever before people need dependable vehicles.

 

Bought a 2004 F 150 5.4 triton in june and on labor day coming home from the holiday we heard a horrible noise from engine. thought it was the spark plugs. Spent 266.00 at repair shop and they still could not find out what was wrong. Drove home and took it into a mechanic and just found out the follower is not turning and the valve it sits on is bent. I am looking at either putting a rebuilt engine and with the cost coming to over 6000.00 or fixing it to get rid of it and spending over 2000.00. Will not buy a triton engine.

 

Don't rebuild the engine! Do a quick fix and get rid of it. Most likely what happened is the dowel on top of the head broke and that caused the follower to become inop. This made the valve stay open! Thats when it got whacked with the piston.

 

used enginesA few of my vehicles have had leaking transfer case parts and its a pain to find good rebuilt cores. Any one got any suggestions other than Craigslist?