Rough Engine
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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Rough Engine
I'm just looking for some suggestions before I take my truck into a shop.
I have a 1995 Ford F-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since I bought it about five years ago, until this last Saturday. But before me, I know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure I haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when I put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but I've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel I saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else I can check before I stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before I get to any place decent, so I'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
I have a 1995 Ford F-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since I bought it about five years ago, until this last Saturday. But before me, I know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure I haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when I put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but I've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel I saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else I can check before I stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before I get to any place decent, so I'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 17
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I'm just looking for some suggestions before I take my truck into a shop.
I have a 1995 Ford F-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since I bought it about five years ago, until this last Saturday. But before me, I know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure I haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when I put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but I've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel I saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else I can check before I stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before I get to any place decent, so I'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
I have a 1995 Ford F-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since I bought it about five years ago, until this last Saturday. But before me, I know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure I haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when I put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but I've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel I saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else I can check before I stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before I get to any place decent, so I'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
Did you check the engine code. Even though the light went off a code should have been set. It could be anything from a bad map sensor, idle air control valve, or maf sensor. Reading the code would narrow it down.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 9
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From: west covina ca
i'm just looking for some suggestions before i take my truck into a shop.
I have a 1995 ford f-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since i bought it about five years ago, until this last saturday. But before me, i know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure i haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when i put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but i've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel i saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else i can check before i stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before i get to any place decent, so i'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
I have a 1995 ford f-150 with a 5.0. I have never used the truck for towing anything since i bought it about five years ago, until this last saturday. But before me, i know it was used for some heavy hauling.
I made sure i haven't overloaded the weight requirements, checked all my fluids and checked to make sure there's no cracks or old hoses. For the first two days, the truck ran pretty good. I haven't been pushing it, but we've been on level ground those day. Yesterday, we started to get into some mountains and hills. I stopped at a rest stop and noticed when i put it in park, there was some rough idling. It was idling at about 60 mostly, but it would shake back and forth between probably about 50 to 70, and you'd feel the engine shake from time to time. Nothing really violent. Somebody wouldn't notice it at all really, but i've been fussing over the truck to make sure nothing goes wrong.
I turned it off to head inside, checked everything over again before turning it back on. It had a really rough start, rougher shaking but it steadied out. Headed down the road and the check engine light came on, but it turned off in less then a minute. Checked everything again for the hell of it.
Now it idles rough, and it's rough when driving uphill and on level ground. Downhill, no problem, of course. I stopped for the night the next hotel i saw to let it rest. Started it up after a while and it wasn't idling rough anymore.
So, any suggestions on what it might be and is there anything else i can check before i stop by a shop. I have to travel a few more miles before i get to any place decent, so i'll be able to tell what happens this morning.
from what your saying sounds like your truck has alot of miles on it before you let a mech fortune tell i would do a tune up spark plugs spark plug wires ect... If it still seems rough then id spend the cash to have them hook it up to the computer it should have an error code if the check engine light came on (i think it should being a 95) . Here in california the ford dealers charge between 80 to 100 dollars to run thru the cpu. Good luck
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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I had some similar stuff going on with my 92. I went through all the easy stuff (plugs, wires, coil, cap, rotor) I think this takes care of most of the easy components and with a small selection of tools the parts can be changed quickly.
I've also heard the O2 sensor can cause issues like this (but it will typically make the check engine light come on).
If it is presenting a check engine light, O'reily and Advanced have loner comps to connect to the truck to get the code. Might save you a $100 if you can use the tool for free...
I've also heard the O2 sensor can cause issues like this (but it will typically make the check engine light come on).
If it is presenting a check engine light, O'reily and Advanced have loner comps to connect to the truck to get the code. Might save you a $100 if you can use the tool for free...