Rough Idle, maybe?

[P. A. Schilke]

My truck has a small miss on cold start. Definitely noticeable if I put it into gear right away. Need to take it to the dealer for reflash just haven’t had the time. I just remote start it and let it drop off high idle for now lol.

Hi Lucas,

Sorry to report that I had the reflash and still have the rough cold start. Ford needs to understand this and fix it!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

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[DavidR]

For whatever it might be worth, from reading through various threads, there seem to be a few things that have helped with the rough cold running problem at least in some cases, assuming you already have the TSB fix installed.

User RCMUSTANG reported that his cold idle roughness improved after upgrading to Holley after-market ignition coils.

In my own experimenting, I've noticed an improvement by switching up to 89 octane fuel.

Both of those have a cost, and might not work in every case. At least changing the fuel isn't too expensive to try for a tank or two. If you want to try that, make sure you fill up from an almost empty tank so you get the full octane change.

-D

 

[Caluke]

Hi Lucas,

Sorry to report that I had the reflash and still have the rough cold start. Ford needs to understand this and fix it!

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Yeah, sad to here the reflash doesn’t really fix the problem. Probably a hardware issue not a software problem. I’m betting it is a fuel injector issue but I haven’t thrown any codes yet so I will probably just leave it alone for the time being.

 

[LightningBlue]

Yeah, sad to here the reflash doesn’t really fix the problem. Probably a hardware issue not a software problem. I’m betting it is a fuel injector issue but I haven’t thrown any codes yet so I will probably just leave it alone for the time being.

The reflash completely resolved my issue. I have, however, been running 91 octane since I purchased the truck. So I couldn’t say whether or not that is a factor.

 

[Caluke]

The reflash completely resolved my issue. I have, however, been running 91 octane since I purchased the truck. So I couldn’t say whether or not that is a factor.

I only run 91 octane also. I do have a tune on the truck. Does not seem to make any difference on my cold start issue. Stock tune or any other it still misfires on cold start. Maybe I will take it in for a reflash next week. Thanks.

 

[LightningBlue]

I only run 91 octane also. I do have a tune on the truck. Does not seem to make any difference on my cold start issue. Stock tune or any other it still misfires on cold start. Maybe I will take it in for a reflash next week. Thanks.

You’ll definitely notice a difference, at least I did.

 

[Gary Marquard]

My new Ranger is finally running perfect, I can only guess after hitting the 500 mile mark the computer has run it's course, first was engine revving by it self, second, idle was rough, third, auto start and stop was not working, fourth, door ajar kept going off, and heated seat went on by it self, talked to my tech here at work, said maybe the computer was what he called taking a snapshot of all the programs? now I can drive it like a truck! oh and I put a cross in it. LOL.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

My new Ranger is finally running perfect, I can only guess after hitting the 500 mile mark the computer has run it's course, first was engine revving by it self, second, idle was rough, third, auto start and stop was not working, fourth, door ajar kept going off, and heated seat went on by it self, talked to my tech here at work, said maybe the computer was what he called taking a snapshot of all the programs? now I can drive it like a truck! oh and I put a cross in it. LOL.

Hi Gary,

I hope it holds for you, but I do not believe it is computer learning related. I think you still have the problem. It sounds like a electrical connector on either the 14289 or 14410 harness, likely in the engine compartment. Others have reported weird happenings that were chased to poorly seated connector/s... Good Luck!

Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[DavidR]

Hi Gary,
I agree with Phil. The computer can calibrate things, but some of those things you're describing aren't the sort of things that would be classified as learning adjustments or calibrations. Phil has far more info than I do, but even before reading his reply, I was also starting to think something like intermittent connectors or, in some cases (like bogus door ajar warnings) possibly physically misaligned senders that are right on the borderline. It *is* possible that 500 miles of physical movement might have pushed some of those things slightly to the working side of the threshold, so maybe it will all stick.

For reference, we sometimes very rarely get a left-rear-door-ajar warning, but only very rarely and only when our 1000-lb camper is on the back, so we may also have a similar thing that will need to be chased down at some point. Since Phil pointed out specific harnesses, I'm going to look them up and try at least re-seating any accessible connectors..

My new Ranger is finally running perfect, I can only guess after hitting the 500 mile mark the computer has run it's course, first was engine revving by it self, second, idle was rough, third, auto start and stop was not working, fourth, door ajar kept going off, and heated seat went on by it self, talked to my tech here at work, said maybe the computer was what he called taking a snapshot of all the programs? now I can drive it like a truck! oh and I put a cross in it. LOL.

 

[Quard1]

Hi Gary,

I hope it holds for you, but I do not believe it is computer learning related. I think you still have the problem. It sounds like a electrical connector on either the 14289 or 14410 harness, likely in the engine compartment. Others have reported weird happenings that were chased to poorly seated connector/s... Good Luck!

Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thank you Phil, I worked at Valley Ford in Cleveland for 7 years in the 90's, The only thing that acting up is the heated seat comes on when I remote start it not all the time. and it is running better and better, Ranger's rule

 

[WhtRanger]

I know its an old thread but im getting this, 2019 with 80k.

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