1998 Ford F-150 Engine Shakes and Shudders

Tiny
RDY2BYRICE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
I have seen at least a dozen blog posts from people with this exact same problem, and I have yet to read a true fix for this issue. I have a 1998 F150 automatic 5.4 liter V8 with 130,000 miles. This problem started about 18 months ago. Sometimes when shifting from first gear into second, the engine shakes and shudders violently. The Check Engine light would come on for a few days and then go out and the truck would run fine for a few weeks and start the process all over again. Sometimes after running for a while I would pull up to a stop light and the engine would act like it wanted to stall but didn’t. I had it checked out by my mechanic and he said it needed a new ignition coil. I had it replaced and that fixed the problem for about a year. Then it started doing it again. Again I had an ignition coil replaced. That fixed the problem for about 3 months. After the third time I had all 8 ignition coils replaced. Well it lasted about 3 days before it started shaking and shuddering again. The Check Engine light comes on sometimes and after a few days it will go out. It’s not the transmission, it’s the engine. Do you have an answer for this? I keep reading on F150 blogs about little fixes that don’t work; Spark plugs, Plug wires, Fuel filter etc.
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 8:22 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
MADMIKE1735
  • MECHANIC
  • 951 POSTS
This should be coil over sparkplug setup. No wires. Do you have a check engine light on? As far as replacing all the coils, that sounds like money wasted. Usually one coil will die at a time, giving a certain cylinder misfire. Also you said when it shifts from 1st to 2nd? Is this stick, or automatic?
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Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
RDY2BYRICE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The Check Engine light is not on, but sometimes it will come on for a few days then go off again. It is an automatic transmission. When I pull out of my driveway and go about 50 feet to get up to speed, it shifts into second gear and starts to shudder. If I keep on the gas for a few seconds and let off, it will shift into third gear and run fine after that. I know it sounds crazy but that's exactly what happens.
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+1
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 8:56 PM
Tiny
MADMIKE1735
  • MECHANIC
  • 951 POSTS
Heard of it. I understand the check engine light is NOT on, but get it scanned anyways. There maybe be a code in there that will help me narrow down the causes. Your local parts store should beable to do it for free.
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Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
RDY2BYRICE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I'll stop by Autozone sometime this week or weekend and let you know what they find. Or don't find.
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Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
MADMIKE1735
  • MECHANIC
  • 951 POSTS
Sometimes codes are stored in the system, but they dont trigger a check engine light. We gotta start somewhere.
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Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 AT 9:56 PM

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