5.4L Hesitation/Surging Issues
 

Hi, new to this site and recently new F150 owner. I have a 2004 Super Crew with almost 81k miles. It's got the 5.4L Triton engine. I have a recurring problem with the engine and I've been back to the dealership three times now with no help from them. The problem I'm having is a long hesitation when accelerating from a dead stop. As I start to speed up the engine seems to bog down. I push the gas pedal down further and no response then all of a sudden it kicks in and takes off. It also happens while I'm driving along at a steady speed. The rpm's will jump around and the truck surges. The problem is intermittent and there's no check engine light so the dealership says they can't find anything wrong with it. What's more infuriating is that I took the tech that worked on it the past two times, for a test ride last night because it was doing it again and I was bringing it in for service. It did it with him in the truck. I went to pick up the truck today and they said they couldn't find anything wrong and that these are normal characteristics of Ford vehicles. I find this to be total BS! I owned a 2003 Explorer and while it had the 4.0L V6, I never had any problems like that in the 7 years I owned it. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues like this and what the solution was. Thanks in advance!

Look under your truck where the spare tire is...there's a module that is mounted to the frame of the truck...this is called the fule pump driver module (FPDM) this get severely corroded and will cause what you described

I have a 05 fx4 scab and have same issue with 92k mileage. Been trying to figure this out myself. Stealership is no help what so ever...

Thanks for the tip! I'll look into that. Hoping it works. I really like my truck so far except for this issue.

Did the dealership check the throttle body and mas out? My truck started that as well and for me throttle body was so bad I had to replace it and clean out the mas.

To be totally honest I don't think they did anything other than start the truck, see there's no check engine light, and called me to come pick it up. I'm gonna try a different dealership. I spoke with a co-worker about the issue and he has a 2003 (?) Dodge Ram and said he had similar issues with his truck. He said they upgraded the computer and it hasn't done it since. The first two times I brought it in they reflashed the comp. and it seemed to help. It's hard to tell because the symptoms are intermittent.

I'll second checking into changing the FPDM fuel pump drive modual. It's a relatively inexpensive procedure and there's a lot of information here and on Youtube about how to do it.

If the truck is new to you and has 81k miles on it you should check into whether the spark plugs have been changed or not. If they haven't, the sooner the better. Lots of information on this forum about that as well.

From experience I will tell you that aging plugs in the 5.4 create all kinds of weird issues and you have a much better chance of diagnosing the problem yourself with information from this forum than the dealership.

RTK - you are so right on the plugs and the dealerships not helping at all. Love my truck but will never get a 5.4L again with the plug design they have. Still trying to get #4 out after a day of soaking it. Last plug to change for all eight and plan to sell it before I need to do it again.

The plug issue is just something I've learned to live with. Change them every 50k miles and the 5.4 will go over 200k easy.

Change the Fuel Pump Module, change the spark plugs, change a couple exhaust manifold bolts that always break around 130k miles. Women, dogs, trucks...they all have their quirks. The sooner you can diagnose the problems and work around them the better.

Silly question, is the fuel pump driver module the same as a fuel pump? I tried to look up the FPDM on JC Whitney.com and can't find anything under that description.
Thanks

No they are not the same thing. The module is bolted to the bottom of the truck near the gas tank.

https://www.f150forum.com/f4/fuel-pu...-yours-152908/

Do a Google search for "corroded f150 fuel pump module"

Thanks, I did a little research after I posted that and found out what the part is. Seems like a relatively easy fix. I think, with the help from these posts, I've nailed it down to a faulty fpdm. It would make sense that these symptoms occur when it's wet out if the housing is corroded and water is causing a malfunction. Thanks everyone for your input!

If that doesn't fix it, clean the throttle body and Mass Air Flow sensor. Both are easy, half hour complete job. Search the forums, plenty of posts.

Forgot to add my two cents. So after cleaning maf and throttle I changed out my fuel pump driver module. I went with a doorman one part no 590-001 it is sealed and I did add a little extra rv silicone to the exterior seam on the housing. Truck has been running great. No stutters so far *knock on wood* i am also doing plugs this week since my truck almost 95k. I am adding a photo of the sensor I got and the parts that come with. Just for help and info. Hope this helps. I forgot to take a pic of my old fpdm but let's just say it was messed up lol

Finally ordered the part a couple days ago and it arrived yesterday. I attempted to install it today. The hardest part of the install was getting the lock thing out of the bumper which was frozen up. The old part was in such bad shape it was actually cracked from one side to the other. Haven't had those symptoms since I initially started this post, but from the state that the old part was in I can only imagine my truck will run better now. Thanks for all your help guys.

Your welcome...nice looking FPDM...believe it or not...I have seen worse.

Hello All,

I know this is a bit unrelated but I had a 97 F-150 with similar issues. In all honesty I had probably 4 different mechanics ride with me in the truck and all in all tried a bunch of different things to fix the problem (had a surge at roughly 1500 RPM and what seemed like a shudder at 55 MPH). The only other things I can recommend is 1) changing the spark plugs and 2) Even though it sounds dumb don't run cheap gas. I stopped buy gas from discount places and haven't really had any issues since. Also as a side note its worth the $12 to change your fuel filter on occasion

Read all the posts and as usual saved myself time and money, thanks guys FPDM was issue, truck runs like a top again even at 183, 000 miles

surging
 

Good Morning I am new on here but have been looking at this site for awhile, I have a 2008 F150 5.4 that I had changed the plugs, COP's, cleaned the mass sensor & throttle body about a yr and a half ago because it had a surge going on ran great till recently I of course got the cheap COP"s off the internet so I ordered all Motorcraft and had them install last weekend but still I get a slight surge while driving on the freeway then on occassion it will give a good surge I added Royal Purple to the fuel and recleaned the mass sensor but still the same I am at my wits end with this truck so any suggestions I have no codes or lights had to the dealership they had it for over a week and could not find anything ???

did you ever figure it out?

2002 ford f150 hesitation stall when cold
 

. I HAVE a 2002 ford f150. Mine does it also. It happens on cold days when I get in and go. It hesitate and stalls. It cranks right back up and runs great when warms up. It happens every cold day, till it warms up then its fine. I replace all little parts that could be the problem. Cleaned throttle body. And do not have a FPDM under the spare tire.. Mass air flow,, IAC. ALL the little things. Only thing left is fuel pump. It Nas no engine codes. Any help yall.