1997 Ford F-250 SHUTTING OFF

BOYCED

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1997 FORD F-250
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

I AM HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK. IT IS A 7.3 DIESEL ENGINE. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS - BUT BOTH TANKS WILL BE FULL. IT WILL RUN FINE THEN AT SOME UNPREDICTABLE POINT, IT WILL BEGIN TO LURCH & STALL OUT. IT WILL ALSO PERIODICALLY DIE WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN. IT SEEMS TO HAVE A "HAPPY PLACE" SOMETIMES WHICH IS IN BETWEEN 50-60 MPH - IF I PUSH IT ABOVE 60 OR SO, IT WILL LURCH. I HAVE CHANGED OUT MY FUEL FILTER, CHANGED THE OIL, AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE ENGINE SEEMS SOUND AS DOES THE TRANSMISSION. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME.

6 Replies

DAVE H

MECHANIC
13,384 POSTS

Is the CEL/MIL on the dash? Did it come on when the fault occured? Have the cars computer read to see if there are any pending codes stored?

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Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 AT 4:10 PM

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Hi Dave, I don't know what the CEL/DIL is. No codes or warning lights were illuminated. All guages on dash were normal. I will have to take it somewhere to have the computer checked. Is that expensive?

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Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 AT 4:17 PM

DAVE H

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Sorry the MIL . Malfunction indicator light. Orange warning light on dash panel. Most good autoparts stores (autozone) will check the codes for free for you. Sounds like a fuel fault? Try adding a good fuel injector cleaner as well.

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Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 AT 5:14 PM

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I have already put Lucas treatment in the tank. I also ran a bottle of Mobile 1 through it (another diesel owner said that might help lubricate injectors). No warning lights have come on at all. Will the computer pickup codes even if I didn't have warning lights come on? Thanks for your help.

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Thursday, December 18th, 2008 AT 8:13 AM

DAVE H

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The computer will not turn on the MIL untill the fault has been recognised 2/3 times by the computer but there should still be pending codes to be retrieved. Have it read at autozone etc.. Let me know?