M3hunter

This week my wife used my 5.0, and she stop driving my car late Wednesday. Today (Saturday) I tried to start it, and it did not wanted to, I jump cable it, the engine was stumbling iddling at low rpm's and the check engine (wrench) was on, I began driving the car very slowly (it was like governed), I could not go higher than 2500 rpm, highest speed that I could reach was 20 MPH, I could hear the engine stumbling while driving. driving at that speed felt like eternity, upon my arrival to the FORD dealership, (their first question was if my car was modified, I'm lucky that I have not touched anything on my engine). About 3 hours later they call me, my car was ready, like nothing happened. They ask me if I had drive my car at high speed, I told them no, since my wife drives like a turtle, apparently they only hook it to their computer after a test drive and that was it. What went wrong?

AzPete

The first sentence you wrote......lol

If ford saw nothing on the computer, hard to say. Maybe just the reaction to a dead battery. They are touchy with that.

M3hunter

Hi AzPete,

You might be right, in the afternoon it happened again, after starting my car, it began to do the same, I was planing to drive it back home that way, but my kid told me Dad, turn off the key wait (we wait one minute), and then when I crank the car back, the car was great again without any issue (the check engine disappeared). I still have the problem that FORD was not able to detect in my 5.0.

AzPete

It is going into what they call "limp mode" but if there are no lights on the dash, it is hard for the dealer to see what is wrong.

It is unfortunate that the mechanics of today have to rely so much on the electronics and not able to use the old fashion method....cannot fix without a light on the dash....

M3hunter

Hi AzPete,

Just to follow up. Last night I went to check my 5.0, on my first try to start it, it behaved like it had an almost dead battery, then I tried to start it again, and it showed the same exact problem that it had before, I did it a third time, car started like nothing was wrong.
Today in the morning I tested again my car, on the first start normal, I did it again and normal.
I will take the 5.0 to FORD on Monday for another checkup, and explain them your suggestions maybe the problem still is there.

Thanks for all your advises, I will keep you posted after FORD finds the problem, just for someone else, if they have the same issue, to be able to solve it fast.

Stangette

Arent they supposed to go into limp mode if they get too hot? I remember the book saying something about that.

M3hunter

Always has happened to me before driving the car, when the 5.0 is parked. So in this case is not overheating the reason of my problem, I believe.

Gary Ugarek

Next time you start it , use your camera phone to video it. even if it runs right, record each time this way you have something to show the service department.

M3hunter

Thanks Guys you are the best, I'm debt with you and FORD, after 4 days of work Dealer found the problem, they replaced the throttle body and motor asy. and the battery.

white08gt

probably nothing more than a bad battery. when voltage drops below 11.5 volts goes into a limp home mode.good have been as simple as glazed over battery post. high temp. can cause this before i would have taken it in i would pull and clean the battery post. my wifes car started acting up, radio was searching and seeking on its own, seat belt chime was going off when belted and transmission was shifting correctly. all of the troible was a bad battery and computer was trying only to get the car to limp home.