I’ve noticed an intermittent problem with my 2001. It seems that there is a miss or stutter around 3500 RPM. This only occurs after I do a slow 20-30 mph turn and then floor it. I believe that the truck is in 2nd gear and it doesn’t downshift. The WOT starts around 2500 RPM and when it reaches 3300 to 3500 a noticeable loss in acceleration occurs and I have witnessed a 300 to 500 RPM DROP on the tach…….keep in mind that this is still at wide open throttle. After the stutter the truck will continue to accelerate in the normal manner. This will not occur if I go WOT in first gear of if the tranny downshifts (3rd to 2nd etc). I haven’t really checked to see if I am loosing boost, but I don’t think I am.

Has anyone else had this problem or know how to cure it? I know that if I take it to the dealer it will come out “No Problem Found”.



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Scott Weatherford
351W 1993 LX 11.9 @ 118MPH (Drag Radials)
1995 Cobra #808 (FOR SALE)
Black 2001 Lightning 370 miles no timeslips yet
WWW.TheVL.COM/VENOM

 

Your RPM drop indicates that possibly the torque convertor may be switching over to lock up at that point. Piece of advice, if you get a chip don't try what you are doing with the chip. At that speed it will downshift and when it hits second the *** end will pass the front end.

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Red '00 Lightning,
Power Surge Performance enhanced,
Sound effects provided by Flowmaster,
375 RWHP,
445 RWTQ,
12.974@104.818
Track Videos

 

I had a similar "stutter" and with the windows open and my son hanging out the window we determined the tires were slipping/spinning/advancing/laying rubber a very little bit as the truck shifted to 2nd gear.



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Silver 2001.5 - bone stock for now;
Expedition customized by Pacific Auto;
2001 2 door Ford Exploder;
2000 Infiniti I30;
1998 Chevy S-10;
1948 ****** Jeepster.

 

351stang,
I have an 01 also that started to miss. You may see it start to get worse with more driving. Mine turned out to be the #4 spark plug not firing. Mine started off as a little stuter then as i put miles on it, it got worse around 68miles on the odo. I replaced all the plugs with the NGK's and it runs great. May want to change the plugs and see if it helps!

Good Luck!!

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2001 L. (Silver)
Born on date: 1/17/01
Weight: 4,670 lb.
Eyes: Clear
Blood type: Ford Blue
Received: 1/25/01

 

I have got a 2000 L and mine has a miss also.It seems to happen when I jump on it at about 60 mph. When I hit around 80 mph then it has a small miss.Now when I am doing about 20mph and jump on it it is real strong as I go through the gears no miss at all until I get up around 80mph plus then the miss starts again.Hope some one has an answer. Bob.

 

Right now I don't think it's either the spark plug problem or spinning tires.

Thor, did your spark plug problem happen at higher RPM? Did you just have an RPM drop or accompanying engine roughness?

It can't be spinning tires, because that would cause an RPM increase, not a decrease.

I think it might be torque convertor related, either electronically or physically. I'm going to do some more testing this evening and see if I can get a little more info.



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Scott Weatherford
351W 1993 LX 11.9 @ 118MPH (Drag Radials)
Black 2001 Lightning no timeslips yet
WWW.TheVL.COM/VENOM

 

351stang,
I noticed the miss at part throttle at first. It started light then got so bad i couldn't go over 40mph.

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2001 L. (Silver)
Born on date: 1/17/01
Weight: 4,670 lb.
Eyes: Clear
Blood type: Ford Blue
Received: 1/25/01

 

351stang:
(disregard my sig - i got rid of 2000 for 2001 L) - i have same thing. please let me know if you go to dealer. i am guessing it's electronic, and not a physical tranny or engine problem. i am NOT going to dealer, as i had some bad experiences with my 2kL. let me know what you find out. it will be interesting to try a chip once they get one for 2001L and see if this stops. it's really not too bad, just a little annoying. when i try a standing start WOT 0-100, i have NO problems - just the part throttle stuff.

let me know if you go to dealer.

thanks,
dave o

 

I did a search on "Missing" and found several L2 owners had similar problems, but they seemed to occur at different times. They did seem to always be at WOT. No cure was listed. Help!



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Scott Weatherford
351W 1993 LX 11.9 @ 118MPH (Drag Radials)
Black 2001 Lightning no timeslips yet
WWW.TheVL.COM/VENOM

 

I have a similar problem with my 01. The best why i can describe it is a 3 1/2 gear. It feels like its shifting, but then it picks up. I have heard that a chip will fix this problem.

 

That's exactly what mine is doing. There is a pause in the power band right around 3500 rpm to 4500 rpm. I tried over and over again last night and I could not repeat the 300 RPM drop, but there was still a significant lag.

I think it is electronic control of the tranny. I also want a chip to make more aggressive downshifts. I am a little concerned about warranty issues though.



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Scott Weatherford
351W 1993 LX 11.9 @ 118MPH (Drag Radials)
Black 2001 Lightning no timeslips yet
WWW.TheVL.COM/VENOM