2003 F150 5.4L V8 has ran like a top, but there was a miss or a bump at times while driving, for two years I drove this truck daily, and once a month I would get a bump when accelerating in 4th from 55 to 60+. Now the bump is there even at 35 while cruising, and it is getting worse. In my 17 mile drive to work over the last week it does this maybe 20 times, same on the way home. Doesnt feel like a heavy jar and no noise associated to it, just a mild miss, but it is becoming more and more frequent. Havent had codes read yet, thought maybe this was a common issue folks have with this motor. Any ideas out there that wont break a very weak bank?

Thanks...
V

 

A bad coil. If you have a check engine light on you'll be able to narrow it down to the cylinder. Otherwise buy 1 new coil and start going around until you replace the one that causes the issue to disappear.

 

No check engine light at all. Have never seen it on since I bought the truck. It looks like I can get all 8 for around $60, so i think I may go that route, but in another forum someone mentioned they had a like problem and it was spark plugs... Don't want to go that route as the post said it took them 4 hours to do them themselves... 8(

 

? Takes me at most an hour to do them in my 98

 

Be careful of cheap e-bay cop, many here have been burned by them having 2-3 or more out of 8 that are bad or go bad quickly.

First time doing it is a 4 hour job easily. Thats about what it took me the first time I did it, I took my time though.
I could probably do it in less than 2 now (and will be doing it again soon).

 

The $60 for 8 are not a good bet. Buy 1 motorcraft. Yes, it goes without saying if your plugs have 100k or so they are ready to be replaced. And it might take 4 hours...so what. Otherwise you're looking at at least $300 just to have a shop change them.