I have a 95 f150 ext cab flare side 5.0 drive train has about 80k since rebuild. A week ago or so I drove my truck down to the store and on the way home my rpm's spiked at 6 or 7k at 45 50 mph. I let off the fuel it all went back to normal. the next morning my wife decided she wanted to take the truck to work. about 12 miles from home the rpm's began to spike up and down then spitting and sputtering finally it cut off on her. On my way to go get her a few people stopped to try and help but they couldn't get it to start in fact all they did do was kill my battery but hey at least there are still people willing to try to help. My son and I just towed it home with his truck and we let it sit for a day or two. when we went out all we did was jump it off and it started with no problems at all ran fine at idle and while I gave gas as well as when I drove from my shop to the part of the property we park on. Everyday we went out to crank the truck and it was fine. Finally last night I told my son to test it out by using it to take back some movies to redbox. He got 2 miles from the house and the rpm spiking and the spitting and sputtering started all over again. the only time we get any check engine lights in right when it about to stall if we save it from stalling it goes out I tried one of those pay an expert sites he said it was the brain but the more i read about people having this issue i seen where they replaced the brain, fuel pumps, sensors, fuel filter, ignition modules, coils and none of this fixed any of their problems. I'm trying to find someone who has experienced this and has successfully fixed it before i go rebuilding the whole truck just to find out it was one specific little thing causing the issue. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT

 

I'd say somethings wrong in the idle or fuel delivery.

Try a fuel filter change since they're like twenty bucks?

 

There is no way the idle shot to 7000 RPMs, you must not have a tachometer. The older Fords used a brain box, certainly not your '95. Hopefully your mechanic meant computer, otherwise find a new mechanic. You're going to have to check codes, you don't need a mechanic for that. Check the fuel pressure too.

 

Sean when it shot up that high it wasn't at idle I was driving about 45 50 mph, yes I do have a tach. the pay to ask a pro website guy didn't call it a brain he called it a PCM or a EEC-IV. I was told how to use a jumper wire to check codes if you don't have a code reader and then given a web site to translate it all I just need to get my body to cooperate on the same day as the weather as i am disabled. my wife tries to help but she really has no concept and my oldest son thinks on a level of wrench, bolt, turn. thats it no concept of what where or why we're doing any particular thing. KevFord I'll do the fuel filter to although i don't think thats the problem it's cheap insurance. if you guys can think of anything else or find another similar situation please let me know and i'll keep posting as i'm able to move forward.

 

check the IAC and TPS, neither caused a code or CEL but were both bad. the IAC is easy to check...just unplug it and the truck should quit.

the tps not as easy to test, I just replaced mine (about an hour and $30 in parts) and the surges and lags and RPM bursts have completely stopped. Back to the great truck it was.

 

The tachometer doesn't go to 7000.

 

My 95 did almost the exact thing out of the blue. It didnt die but was hard to start. ECT sensor. I think mine stuck at a low temp because it would run fine till warm up. Cheap part but its integral to the fuel system.

Edit. My rpm never spiked but depending how the part is going bad it can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

 

What is the ECT sensor? Where is that located at?

 

Engine coolant temp sensor. On the intake near the thermostat

 

I see! Is there not 2 temp sensors in our trucks though?