Fuel starvation or transmission issue???

[awsmvic]

We bought one of the last 2004 Marauders available late last November. The car is totally stock and now has 4800 miles, and it has not once been run "hard". For about the last 300 miles or so, anytime the car comes under a strain-mainly going uphill at any speed once the car is in overdrive-all the way up to 80+ mph, the car begins to "lunge" as if it is either starving for fuel or gives the feel of running into a huge headwind. The transmission also feels as if it wants to down shift, but I suppose that is normal once the car begins to come under a strain. I am going to take it to a local Ford SVT dealer instead of the L-M dealership I bought it from, in hopes they can pinpoint the problem and properly repair it. Any thoughts, or has anyone else experienced this? I also should add that the engine does not "miss", it just bogs down and the car seems to start lunging.

Steve
Alabaster, AL
2004 Silver Birch Marauder-4800 miles

[MENINBLK]

We bought one of the last 2004 Marauders available late last November. The car is totally stock and now has 4800 miles, and it has not once been run "hard". For about the last 300 miles or so, anytime the car comes under a strain-mainly going uphill at any speed once the car is in overdrive-all the way up to 80+ mph, the car begins to "lunge" as if it is either starving for fuel or gives the feel of running into a huge headwind. The transmission also feels as if it wants to down shift, but I suppose that is normal once the car begins to come under a strain. I am going to take it to a local Ford SVT dealer instead of the L-M dealership I bought it from, in hopes they can pinpoint the problem and properly repair it. Any thoughts, or has anyone else experienced this? I also should add that the engine does not "miss", it just bogs down and the car seems to start lunging.

Steve
Alabaster, AL
2004 Silver Birch Marauder-4800 miles

Sounds to me like you need Lidio's tune programmed into the Marauder.
That will solve all of your driveability problems.

I too have a 04 Marauder.
I have experienced the same situation you described.

[awsmvic]

Sounds to me like you need Lidio's tune programmed into the Marauder.
That will solve all of your driveability problems.

I too have a 04 Marauder.
I have experienced the same situation you described.
Did the dealer rectify your/this problem for you? Or did you go some other route? It's just a little weird that I am just beginning to experience this "problem" all of a sudden.

Is this a big enough problem that I need to consider trading the car??

Thanks.

Steve

[BillyGman]

it has not once been run "hard". Maybe it needs to be, atleast once in awhile.

[Blackened300a]

Try opening the car up or giving it a few WOT starts. Maybe Carbon is building up or the plugs are starting to foul out. Maybe the Computer needs to learn Air/Fuel Mixtures at WOT Since its never been pushed

[torinodan]

Try opening the car up or giving it a few WOT starts. Maybe Carbon is building up or the plugs are starting to foul out. Maybe the Computer needs to learn Air/Fuel Mixtures at WOT Since its never been pushedI would try what has been said here. Slow hard carbon buildup on the plugs, valves, and possibly oil buildup in the manifold will make a Marauder run like crap. Romp it a few good times like they said and clean it out. No, this is no reason to get rid of your car.

[RF Overlord]

Steve:

When this problem starts, does it do it continuously, or does it just "lunge" a couple of times then it's OK? For instance, does it exhibit the problem the entire time you're going uphill, or just at the beginning? Does it do this every time you go uphill? Have you tried driving with OD off?

Sounds like T/C clutch shudder to me, but that would be unusual in a car with so few miles...

Try Blackened300a's suggestion, otherwise known as an "Italian Tune-Up"... :D

[Blackened300a]

Steve:

Try Blackened300a's suggestion, otherwise known as an "Italian Tune-Up"... :DAY YO HIT THE FRIGGIN GAS TONY! LOL I guess its obvious Im italian or the Fact Im from NY Driving a Black Sedan lol

[DEFYANT]

AY YO HIT THE FRIGGIN GAS TONY! LOL I guess its obvious Im italian or the Fact Im from NY Driving a Black Sedan lol
AY WTF? i DID HIT THE FRIKKIN GAS. THE GOD DAM POS IS JUS BOGGED IN DOWN. WHOZ DIS LIDIO GUY? i HEAR HE CAN FIX DIS.

i speak NYeaze too :D

[Dennis Reinhart]

We bought one of the last 2004 Marauders available late last November. The car is totally stock and now has 4800 miles, and it has not once been run "hard". For about the last 300 miles or so, anytime the car comes under a strain-mainly going uphill at any speed once the car is in overdrive-all the way up to 80+ mph, the car begins to "lunge" as if it is either starving for fuel or gives the feel of running into a huge headwind. The transmission also feels as if it wants to down shift, but I suppose that is normal once the car begins to come under a strain. I am going to take it to a local Ford SVT dealer instead of the L-M dealership I bought it from, in hopes they can pinpoint the problem and properly repair it. Any thoughts, or has anyone else experienced this? I also should add that the engine does not "miss", it just bogs down and the car seems to start lunging.

Steve
Alabaster, AL
2004 Silver Birch Marauder-4800 milesWhen this hapens how much gas is in the tank going up hill? the reason why I ask is if you are less than 1/4 tank you can suck the resivoir dry

[Blackened300a]

AY WTF? i DID HIT THE FRIKKIN GAS. THE GOD DAM POS IS JUS BOGGED IN DOWN. WHOZ DIS LIDIO GUY? i HEAR HE CAN FIX DIS.

i speak NYeaze too :D
AY YO DIS FRIKKIN DING AINT MAKIN IT UP DIS HERE HILL MAYBE DIS DENNIS GUY IS ON TO SUMTHIN??? ok enough of that lol Making People think thats actually a pic of me in my Avatar lol

[metroplex]

Check da fuel filter on the Marawdah.

[rayjay]

Oh no.... please don't tell me that this car also has a fuel pump problem :mad: We don't have enough of us to force a recall like we did with the Focus.

[Blackened300a]

Dis Ding Has No Frikking Fuels Pump Problemos Ya Hear??

[awsmvic]

Try opening the car up or giving it a few WOT starts. Maybe Carbon is building up or the plugs are starting to foul out. Maybe the Computer needs to learn Air/Fuel Mixtures at WOT Since its never been pushed
Responding to most of the comments on my thread...I never let the gas tank get below 3/4 full. I have opened it up WOT from standing start AND "at speed". No, it does not do this every time, just at random with no consistent pattern. And it only does it when it's going at a consistent speed, then if I gas it, it clears itself up most of the time. But it definitely displays the lunging characteristic only when it's going uphill. And I also have tried drving with O/D "off" but only up to about 60 mph. But I can definitely say the problem is getting progressively worse each time I drive it, whatever that may mean.

Steve
2004 Silver Birch Marauder
Alabaster, AL

[SergntMac]

Responding to most of the comments on my thread...I never let the gas tank get below 3/4 full. I have opened it up WOT from standing start AND "at speed". No, it does not do this every time, just at random with no consistent pattern. And it only does it when it's going at a consistent speed, then if I gas it, it clears itself up most of the time. But it definitely displays the lunging characteristic only when it's going uphill. And I also have tried drving with O/D "off" but only up to about 60 mph. But I can definitely say the problem is getting progressively worse each time I drive it, whatever that may mean.

Steve
2004 Silver Birch Marauder
Alabaster, AL
This inconsistency worries me. I'm from the school that says something is broke, or, not broke, but rarely almost broke.

The one thing that could lead to this inconsistency, is fluid temp. Mercon V is very sensitive to temp, and each time it approaches boil, it gets a bit weaker. Your tranny fluid may be borderline burnt up, which explains why the symptoms show up only under certain circumstances, like increased heat. Normal operating temp for the 4R70W is 175 to 210 degrees, and if you're at 210 before you go up hill, for sure you'll be at 240 by the time you get to the top. If this is when your tranny slips, but only once in a while, this suggests that the fluid is tired, and breaking down.

I don't know how to check this out, other than to suggest a tranny flush and refill. It's all I can think of, as long as your symptoms are irregular. Once the OD band gives out, it's gone and you'll know it. You won't get stranded anywhere, I drove from Texas to Chicago with no OD, but the gas consumption...Whew!

Try to find a tranny specialist near you, and take him for a test drive? If you can't replicate the symptoms on command, it's going to be a brain twister.

Suggestions ^ there about fuel supply aren't that funny. The MM has a seperate fuel filter mounted to the frame beneath the right rear passenger seat. This filter system has two 45 degree bends in the supply line, and it needs to be serviced on a regular basis. Moreover, due to it's location, something may have flipped up and damaged a fuel line, best take a peek at this too?

[metroplex]

How many miles do you have on the current ATF?

If it's more than 20k-30k, you need to have it changed. Friction modifiers do not like lots of heat.

The 4R70W likes its ATF around 170F-180F.

[awsmvic]

How many miles do you have on the current ATF?

If it's more than 20k-30k, you need to have it changed. Friction modifiers do not like lots of heat.

The 4R70W likes its ATF around 170F-180F.
The car only has 48 HUNDRED miles on it...that's why I am in a quandry over why this could be transmission problems already.

Steve
Alabaster, AL

[metroplex]

4800 miles? There's no way your ATF is fried unless you did typical supercharged Marauder burnouts for 5 minutes and then wonder why your transmission fails...

[awsmvic]

4800 miles? There's no way your ATF is fried unless you did typical supercharged Marauder burnouts for 5 minutes and then wonder why your transmission fails...
"Supercharged?!?" Nope, sorry...mine's totally stock. But the Cobra I buy as soon as I can unload this Marauder will be...:D

[SergntMac]

4800 miles? There's no way your ATF is fried unless you did typical supercharged Marauder burnouts for 5 minutes and then wonder why your transmission fails...
Not entirely true. Heavy loads, up hill driving, running hot, or, low fluid could burn up trans fluid on the way home from buying the car. Unlikely, yes, as it is unlikely in 4800 miles, but still quite possible.

Awsmvic, after looking over the suggestions one more time, perhaps RF is on to something too. Maybe the T/C is not unlocking to allow a down shift, but no matter what we suggest, it's still covered by warranty, so, head back to the dealership and let them have a look. Good luck!

[Blackened300a]

Looks like trip to the dealer so they can tell you that there is nothing wrong and this is normal.

[metroplex]

Assuming Ford fills it to the proper level (this isn't rocket science, fill in X number of quarts), and assuming the lines aren't clogged, climbing a hill won't kill your ATF. Hauling a heavy load MIGHT wear out the ATF if there's inadequate cooling. Keep in mind all Panthers 98-up are equipped with a 24,000+ GVW stacked plate cooler. The same ones that police interlopers are equipped with. If the ATF took a dump after climbing a hill you'd see 4R70Ws being swapped left and right in San Francisco. :D

[MMSuperFan]

I had a similar problem with my '03 S/C'd MM. It did get progressively worse to the point it would finally just die. To make a long story as short as possible, the fuel pressure regulator turned out to be the culprit. Replaced and no problems since. :banana:

I made an 1100 mile trip to Florida with no problems until I got to Orange Park. The car died in the middle of the street would not restart. :help: Dennis had it towed to his shop and after it cooled down, Dennis started the car just like normal and looked at me as if I were demented (not really, just couldn't figure out why it would not start). I drove it back to Texas, again, no problems. One day later my alternator went out and the PCM fried. :mad2: After replacing the PCM and alternator the car still would not run over about 5 miles without dying, and would not restart without cooling down. :confused: After everyone scratched their heads for about a week, we were watching the fuel pressure data while driving the car towards the next engine shutdown......48 PSI rail pressure until just before shutdown, then 21.5 followed by 74 PSI in just a few tenths of a second. I don't think my dual Cobra fuel pumps, as good as they are, will produce a 53 PSI in less than a 1/4 th of a second. Technician checked the fuel pressure regulator and it was bad, part replaced problems gone. :D

The only warning signs I had prior to this failure was an occasional hesitation and lunging much like you described, but it seemed to go away.

Dunno if this 411 helps anyone, but wanted to share my nightmare.....Thank god it's over. :banana:

Ron

[Marauderman]

I had a similar problem with my '03 S/C'd MM. It did get progressively worse to the point it would finally just die. To make a long story as short as possible, the fuel pressure regulator turned out to be the culprit. Replaced and no problems since. :banana:

I made an 1100 mile trip to Florida with no problems until I got to Orange Park. The car died in the middle of the street would not restart. :help: Dennis had it towed to his shop and after it cooled down, Dennis started the car just like normal and looked at me as if I were demented (not really, just couldn't figure out why it would not start). I drove it back to Texas, again, no problems. One day later my alternator went out and the PCM fried. :mad2: After replacing the PCM and alternator the car still would not run over about 5 miles without dying, and would not restart without cooling down. :confused: After everyone scratched their heads for about a week, we were watching the fuel pressure data while driving the car towards the next engine shutdown......48 PSI rail pressure until just before shutdown, then 21.5 followed by 74 PSI in just a few tenths of a second. I don't think my dual Cobra fuel pumps, as good as they are, will produce a 53 PSI in less than a 1/4 th of a second. Technician checked the fuel pressure regulator and it was bad, part replaced problems gone. :D

The only warning signs I had prior to this failure was an occasional hesitation and lunging much like you described, but it seemed to go away.

Dunno if this 411 helps anyone, but wanted to share my nightmare.....Thank god it's over. :banana:

Ron
These latest comments and those before it seem to hit it---but I will add one more--which has been mentioned--but differently--I know of one MM that had only had 1/4 fill of ATF ( 3 qts min low)----imagine this going up hill--or any roughness---either way--check out these latest comments---everyone is trying to help you KEEP you MM.......hope you do

[Donny Carlson]

"Supercharged?!?" Nope, sorry...mine's totally stock. But the Cobra I buy as soon as I can unload this Marauder will be...:D
You better NOT get rid of that sweet Silver Birch!

As I mentioned to you before, I am betting on fuel delivery as the culprit. A tranny problem.... eh, maybe, but seems to me it would not be so intermittent.

Being as you are still under warrantee, I would take it over to Champion and talk to the service manager. I was talking to the parts manager there just last week, and he says they have competent techs for the 4.6 DOHC, though no transmission specialist. Give them a shot first and if they don't properly diagnose it, you may want to take it over to Earnest McCarty's serive dept. McCarty Ford is an SVT dealer, and has a good service dept (they worked on cars I bought there in the past).

Absent this, follow me over to Team Ford in Marietta. I know Scott Levine will be able to fix it. Not to mention you can have Aric tune your car and get those shift points adjusted to your liking.

[SergntMac]

Assuming Ford fills it to the proper level (this isn't rocket science, fill in X number of quarts), and assuming the lines aren't clogged, climbing a hill won't kill your ATF.
Indeed. Now you're catching on. When fluid runs low, drive quality suffers, and the fluid present will deteriorate at an accelerated rate.

[CRUZTAKER]

I'll be watching to see what you find Steve.

My first thought was perhaps the (known by most) poor factory EEC trans programming might be the problem...I'm not a mechanic and have only stayed at Red Roof lately :hide:

I don't do hills, but I remember how my car acted the first few months, particularly under load.

Let us know. ;)

[Pat]

[QUOTE=awsmvic]Any thoughts, or has anyone else experienced this? I also should add that the engine does not "miss", it just bogs down and the car seems to start lunging.

Steve;

Talking to my mechanic over supper tonight and he feels it's probably a fuel pressure regulator. They can cause some real weird problems especially when the motor is loaded. Good luck.

[MMSuperFan]

[QUOTE=awsmvic]Any thoughts, or has anyone else experienced this? I also should add that the engine does not "miss", it just bogs down and the car seems to start lunging.

Steve;

Talking to my mechanic over supper tonight and he feels it's probably a fuel pressure regulator. They can cause some real weird problems especially when the motor is loaded. Good luck.

That is precisely what my post describes above....Fuel Pressure Regulator....and I understand I am not the only MM member that has had this failure.....Lidio told me it was becoming more common on the MM's.