after spending half my savings on trying to fix my 04 fx4, i still cant figure out whats wrong with it and why it runs like ****. I was told today that it could be anything from my fuel injectors being bad to my fuel pump going out, to my speed sensors on the tranny having to be replaced, im about to throw in the towel, anyone have an issue with losing power shifting into second gear and rattleing?

 

what have you replaced?

 

So to see if we understand, you have a 2004 FX4 (5.4 engine?), and you have an issue with it losing power, shifting into second gear, and something rattles?

Understood that you're frustrated and upset from spending money on this, but you'll need to provide a bit more information, such as a list of items you've already done (i.e. parts replaced).

Another possibility is a restricted exhaust (clogged cat converters), but I'd thing the rear O2's would be tossing a code.

 

Is the rattling 'intake backfiring'?
Disconnect your exhaust pipes at the manifolds and take it for a spin.

 

wow...hold your ears

 

Mechanic told me i had 3 bad coils, 3,5, and 6, replaced them, then he told me to cut my cats out cuz my truck could have caught on fire so i put a straight pipe, now i went to a local parts store and spoke to some o e thenre and theyre telling me its my speed sensor, and my mechanic is telling me that my head gaskets were blown before but werent fixed right, i personally thinknits my fuel pump or my injectors

 

I changed the air filter amd fuel filter and now my truck is louder than it was when i cut the cats off, mechanic told me that throwing a cherry bomb on there would make it quieter but i think it might make it louder, i think this dude is just getting me for my money

 

lol...if that changed the sound of your truck...you need to sell it.

 

Doesn't the truck have 2 downstream O2 sensors after the cats? If the cats were removed, wouldn't that introduce even more problems if a tune wasn't installed to shut off the rear O2 sensors? Should be seeing some codes.

 

STOP, STOP, STOP!!!!!

Your "mechanic" is way to limited to help you here and is just spending your money.

A good mechanic does not throw parts hoping to hit the problem. A good mechanic diagnosis the problem thus determining what, if any parts, need to be changed.

A parts store guy is doing the same.

What codes are there? Not just "P" codes that a generic scanner pulls but the Ford codes only available with a Ford scan tool? Has your "mechanic" run live with a scan tool while this issue is happening? A good mechanic would.

FYI

Cutting your cats is going to make it harder to diagnose properly since it will cause more issues than it solved. You need to figure out if those cats were actually bad, if not put them back on.

You need to find out where the good mechanics are in your area. They usually cost more per hour but save you money in getting things right the first time.