2001 F-150 chugs, misses, hesitates

[say_der]

My '01 F-150 with the 4.6 V8 is chugging, missing & hesitating. I replaced a coil pack a few months ago when it was doing the same thing, I got the error code thru the OBD II. Now the check engine light is NOT coming on so I can't get an error code. I know I can take it in to have it looked at, but is there anything anyone can recommend or had the same thing happen to them? This is my ice fishing vehicle, but not my daily driver.

I was thinking it's a fuel flow problem possibly? Or maybe it's somehow getting water in the gas? I tried using HEET in it, but it didn't really help.

Thanks for any advice.

[jlm]

Could be a gas problem as you suggested. Fuel filter perhaps. I had a problem with water im my gas last year and it chugged as you stated. I would try Isypropal (sp?) which will help if water is in the gas. I do not think Heat will solve water problems in the gas. Sorry I can't be more of a help!

[Hibbing]

Try a bottle of Sea Foam in your gas tank. It's like a miracle drug!

[ChuckN]

Chugs, misses and hesitates does not sound good. This happened on my 5.4L but it turned out to be the coil and the check engine light flashed, engine would hardly run.

Those coils fail without any notice. Are you sure your dash check engine light bulb didn't burn out? (seen it) I ask because these computers always sense the most minor problems!! Strange.

Change the fuel filter like someone mentioned?

[say_der]

I'll probably change the fuel filter this weekend. And try the Seafoam. That's cheap and won't rob my ice fishing budget too much.

Dash light isn't burned out, it flashes on when the key is first turned.

Ford knows their coil packs are the weak link on those things, but instead of improving them, they decided to up the production of them. Makes wonderful sense, doesn't it.

The one I replaced I used a GP Sorenson. I was hoping that was a better one than the Motorcraft. Problem is that the Motorcraft one is a GP Sorenson with a different sticker on it.

Mine went without warning too, second time in fact. Sure makes it run terrible.

Oh well, I'll try the stuff you guys suggested. Thanks for the advice.

[Twitter]

I've had 3 coils go bad on 3 Fords over the last 5 years. I've always had 5.4's and they usually went bad at around 60-70K miles. Last summer my '03 started to sputter and hesitate after cold starting. It would usually sputter for a little while and clear itself after driving down the block. After a month or 2 of that happening, it finally wouldn't clear up one day and just kept sputtering like it was missing a cylinder. It ended up being a bad fuel injector. When it went, the service engine light did come on.

[ChuckN]

FYI, if you haven't changed the fuel filter on these trucks, they require a little plastic tool to remove the filter from the lines (purchase at any auto part store). Good luck.