I have a 1994 F150 with the 300 engine and the E40D transmission. I have had some trouble with starting the engine. It starts every time, but when it does it takes a good 3 to 4 seconds of cranking. Then once the engine starts it races! I don't have a tach, but it sure sounds like 3000 + RPMs to me. It finally settles down to a nice smooth idle after a few seconds and it actually runs well as long as the engine is cold.

Once up to operating temps I get some occasional bucking and pinging when accelerating quickly. It acts as though I have low octane in the tank but I have been using premium to try to get rid of this.

I know everyone says codes.....codes..... so I checked. The only codes I got are 637 and 654. Neither one of those codes sounds related to my starting and running issues. 637 says something about the TOT sensor being high or something. 654 says that my tranny was not in park when the test was run.

Any ideas here?

I've cleaned the throttle body, the idle control valve. No joy.

I didn't intend to take it to a mechanic. I am hoping the experts here can point me in the right direction.

Thanks,
Michael

 

well was it in park? check the vacuum lines. and bringing it to a mechanic is always the quickest way to find out whats wrong

 

It was indeed in park.

I forgot to mention that I replaced the vacuum lines. I even replaced the lines to the AC. That really made a difference! My AC was doing all sorts of strange stuff.

Thanks!