I have a 2004 F150 FX4 with 75k miles. 2 weeks ago I was turning sharply while going 4-5 mph and it stalled. Didn't think much of it, as it continued to run fine after restart.

About a week ago, I noticed tighter than normal steering at low speeds.

This seemed to go away in 3 days.

Now I have a sluggish engine that seems like it is slow on takeoff and restricted, and when I let off the gas while traveling at any speed, it slows down faster than normal. (Basically instead of continuing to coast, it slows down as if it was a stick shift and someone was downshifting to brake.) I have not had any lights come on and it was clear for codes (checked at autozone).

Dealership wants to charge me 80 to scan, but I want to see if possibly it would be a clogged fuel filter (starts on first crank every time though), dirty throttle body, something in power steering, or possible idle control valve.

Lastly, it has been idling a little lower than normal. It sits (when warm) in gear at a stop light at 500rpms.

Any thoughts before I get raped at the dealership?

 

anyone?

 

Sounds like your iwe's may be engaged, which would account for the tight steering and extra drag during coast, as your CV's will be spinning. Could be a bad vacuum solenoid or a vac leak in the 4x4 system. Quick way to check - with the engine running, try to spin the cv shaft or iwe hub going into your front wheels - they should spin freely. If not, then you have a vac leak or bad solenoid. See the IWE thread on this forum to all you need to know about that.

 

Spark plugs?

 

If spark plugs, wouldn't it throw a code? I had it scanned with no codes thrown...but it was also a scanner at autozone.