I have a 1996 F150 with 197000+ miles on it. Truck has been running perfect and smooth and starts first time every time. Recently if I am driving down the road, all of a sudden there is a big gulp or whatever like the fuel shuts off and I don't have power, but it does not stall, sputter or anything. It generally does this one time or more a day. I have always used Exxon fuel in it.

Any ideas from anyone here? I did try a can of gas treatment but so far it still does it. Is this a fuel pump problem?

Cecil501

 

Shot in the dark, but your ECM or Fuel Pump relays may be crapping out intermittently. Usually they'll just quit completely, but anything's possible. Also, there may be a wire loose or just barely hanging on, and loses contact at times.

Good luck.

 

how does it handle under heavy load and WOT accplication? could be a vacume leak. check MAP sensor. could be debris in the line. de carboning the intake manifold wouldnt hurt either.

 

Could also be your PCV valve but I don't think the effect is usually that violent, still - could be in the descriptions. A bad pcv valve will make no noise but you'll feel a little lurch like the engine stops for a fraction of a second and starts again.

I guess it is possible you have water in your fuel, but it shouldn't be a continuing problem as yours appears to be. There are special fuel additives specifically to deal with water, however, (someone answer this please) since ethanol does absorb water, maybe an ethanol blend fuel would do the trick?

 

I can drive the truck up the steepest hill with not a sign of a miss in the engine. If I drive on the Interstate at high speeds, I generally get that brief stoppage of fuel or whatever is causing that pause maybe one time in 100 miles then it happens sometimes on a short run of a few miles but never more than once.

Cecil501

 

I only put in a fuel additive like STP gas treatment on Sunday morning. On Monday I drove the truck for about an hour, but never felt the problem. But I can drive it lots of the time and don't get that pause. Then again maybe once or twice a day. This has been going on for about a couple of months. I don't know what is the best product for taking out possible water in the gas. I am going to change the pcv valve, I think its been quite a long time since that has been replaced.

Cecil501

 

Well, the truck cut out again this morning. Then it cut back on and in about a half mile, the engine died. I couldn't restart it until about 7 or 8 minutes later. I took it to my mechanic after that. I will let you know what he finds.

Cecil501

 

Good luck. Be sure to let us know. Don't just use us for help then never tell us the outcome like so many people

 

First indications from the shop are they think its posibbly caused by the ignition module, however they are not through with checking it out yet.

Cecil501

 

Got the truck back from the shop. They don't know what was causing the pause but it must have been water in gas. I put 100 miles on the truck yesterday with no problem.

Cecil501