Hi all. Yesterday morning and today morning when I went to start my heavy duty 2008 5.4liter F150 to go to work, the engine initially sputtered and putted, and a very very brief grinding sound like the starter gears rubbing on the flywheel happened a couple of times. The sputtering lasted about 5 to 8 seconds, then the engine picked up and idled normally. Temperature outside was about 2 degrees Celsius (34 Farenheit). During the day, the engine started with no problems. I've never had this problem even when the temperatures were way down below freezing. Any ideas out there as to why the engine would act this way now? Thanks.

 

tagging along. Mine does this as well

 

Is it possible that you have a bad battery that will barely start the truck and the grinding sound you heard was the starter relay clicking for a second?

 

It's not the starter relay that made the very brief grinding noise. I know what a relay sounds like when not enough juice is coming from the battery. The engine turns over immediately and starts, but fires and runs roughly for a few seconds only right after it starts. Then revs up to idle and stays there. While it's running rough, that's when I heard the very brief grinding sound, which as I said before, sounds like the starter gear rubbing against the flywheel for a second.

 

The only two things that can make the starter hit the flywheel after the truck is already running is the solenoid in the starter sticking out or you holding the key to start after it already starts, and I'm not 100% on the last one because I know A lot of newer Fords disable the start function after the engine is running for that reason. As for the running rough at start up, is your maintenance all taken care of, such as tune up, air filter and fuel filter, all three of those can cause rough idling that can either clear up or stay depending on how bad they are.

 

I bought the truck just 2 months ago used, and the dealer told me they had changed all the filters, engine and transmission oil, a ball joint, etc. They even replaced the tires as the originals were worn right down. So I'm assuming that they brought it up to snuff before selling it to me. I noticed this morning that, after turning the ignition key and before starting the engine, I stepped on the accelerator a couple of times, and then turned the key all the way to start the engine. Apart from a very very brief stutter, the engine fired up right away. So I'm thinking this may be a fuel issue. Perhaps the truck is losing fuel pressure overnight, thus the sluggish start. But no problem starting it during the day any time....wierd. I'll repeat today's procedure tomorrow morning and see if I get the same result.

 

Drop the spare tire and check the fuel control module its bolted to the frame above the spare,they start to oxidise and cause those sort of problems.

 

If that were the problem, it would continue even when driving, wouldn't it? This problem is just on start up. However, once the weather warms up a bit, I'll drop the spare and check to make sure all the connections are clean.

 

Well, yesterday it seemed like the start up was hell, as the engine sputtered and the grinding noise (I assume the solenoid gear hitting the flywheel) didn't really stop. So I turned off the engine, and restarted it with no problem.

Today, I stepped on the gas a few times, then turned on the engine, and it fired up normally. Battery appears to be good. It was 12.04 volts when I got home yesterday, and 12.84 volts before I started it this morning.

 

Everytime my truck begins to do that, I treat a tank of fuel with Berryman's chemtool B-12. It does a good job of cleaning the fuel injectors and fuel system and is quite inexpensive. I buy mine at Wally World (Wal Mart) for under four dollars. One can treats a full tank and is used by many as an economical alternative to Seafoam. I also run it in my outboard engine to keep the rings free instead of buying that expensive Ring Free at $11.00 per 13 oz can. It's so inexpensive, you cannot affort not to try it.