Sorry if this was covered before but I'm using my iPhone and can't search forums for some reason.

I took delivery yesterday of a 2004 f-250 lariat crewcab fx4 and started noticing on light to medium acceleration it surges like I'm pumping the pedal. I guess I didn't notice it test driving cause I was on the floor most of the time. My friend who has the same truck except drw said it was clogged fuel filters. The problem is really noticeable when it's cold. The truck has 126000 on it and it is all stock. What do you experts think

 

could be sticking turbo, failing vgt silenoid, or icp sensor and connector. check it for codes yet? also on an 04 it helps to know weither its early or late build engine.

 

I don't like the words failing turbo. I dumped all my savings into the down payment so I could afford the payment. Haven't checked for codes yet. What's a cheap scan tool for these? And how can I tell if it's a late build or not?

 

late build has a sensor in the right valve cover (passanger side) this sensor is the icp sensor.
if the sensor is not there its going to be behind the the turbo on the high pressure pump cover.

a sticking turbo is not as bad as it sounds. most can be cleaned and reused. there are some posts on here about turbo cleaning.

 

If I can peel my kids off the computer I'll search that. I guess that's similar to a turbo washdown. I've done that on yanmar engines in big boats. It takes about ten minutes

 

I am using a $50 code reader with success..

 

it couldn't hurt to change fuel filters if you don't know their history ,, also consider fluid changes ,, I had a surging issue for a while but getting the latest flash( at that time #7) helped tremendously ,, these trucks have a cold engine / transmission strategy

 

they have a chemical flush ,, but the best way is to pull it and use the reconditioning process ( basically sanding discs )

this will take a few hours to do

 

Did you get it from a lot. If so most used vehicles come with at least a 30 day warranty. If so take it back and tell them to fix it.

 

Yeah I bought it off a lot as- is. Tonight it got real bad then when it would shift into overdrive it would almost shake you out of the cab at idle it sounded like it was running on six cylinders. So I pulled into autozone had them check for codes and nothing came up. I went ahead and bought the filters to change tomorrow. Got back in the truck and it wouldn't start. Called the tow truck and while I'm waiting for him I continued to crank on it after about 20 minutes it finally lit up it ran the same but got me home. I shut it off in the driveway and tried to restart it cranked awhile but finally started. I guess I'll see if I can get money back from the car lot.

 

yup get them to fix it or $$ back ..

 

mine is doing the same thing too its an 06 have you found out what is causing it yet?

 

After harassing the dealer he called a mechanic he knows and he said icp gasket or o ring, can't remember which one he said. I have to drop it off tomorrow evening and they will replace it. I'll let you know if that fixes it.