Ford E350 - 460 "hiccup"

[LifeInsideJack]

UPDATE: Today I finally got to replacing the ICM. Boom. Fixed the problem. I found the replacement part at O'Rielly's and connected it, started the engine and within a few minutes knew the problem was resolved.

Thank you all for your responses and input.

Ok, I'm special (according to my mom) but I'm not that special. Who else has a 460 motor that hiccups?

The engine runs along fine then a momentary surge of "Go!" and then back to normal. This isn't crazy like I'm holding it back from running into things ... nope, just a quick rev up and then it settles back down.

The mechanic hasn't seen this before and it recently passed smog with super low numbers. There are 68k miles on the engine.

Anyone else have something like this and know where to start on trying to fix this?

Minus this strange quirk it runs like a banshee. Super strong and easily passes trucks when needed.

Thoughts?

[LifeInsideJack]

Biggyniner wrote:
So... I have a 1994 Minnie Winnie with the 460 in it. I have an occasional miss at idle, not the same problem you have, but similar in nature. It's had the distributor changed, ford plugs and wires and fuel filter, yet it still persists. I have it in the shop now and I will let you know what they find...

Thank you !

[Biggyniner]

So... I have a 1994 Minnie Winnie with the 460 in it. I have an occasional miss at idle, not the same problem you have, but similar in nature. It's had the distributor changed, ford plugs and wires and fuel filter, yet it still persists. I have it in the shop now and I will let you know what they find...

[j-d]

gOOgle "remanufactured instrument cluster" and you'll get a number of hits.

[CaptainCal]

I had the same problem that SEMO MIKE had . The transmission would act as if it was is neutral, engine would rave up, then go back into gear. I replaced everything, everybody knew they had the answer but their answer failed. A old time mechanic at Hudsonville transmission in Hudsonville, Michigan had the answer, Now get this ----- "the speedometer", 1992 to 1995 has a PSOM programmable speedometer odometer module built into the speedometer. It will short out and cause the transmission to do all sort of strange things.
Ford does not make a new replacement part the only option is a used speedometer replacement. Hope this helps out .

[theoldwizard1]

T18skyguy wrote:
For what it's worth, I know a Ford mechanic that deals with that vintage all the time, and I also owned a 95. One of the first things he does is unplugs then re-plugs all the engine electrical connectors. Sometimes there is corrosion at the terminals and that move can cure it. Put a little di-electrical grease on it too while your at it. Another thing he does is unscrew the water temp sensor and clean the gunky buildup off it. He says he has cured a lot of intermitents that way.

Those a simple, inexpensive things to try and worth it when you are chasing "ghosts" !

(Older, pre-1990 ?, ALL Ford engine control sensor and actuator connectors had di-electrical grease inside of them.)

[T18skyguy]

For what it's worth, I know a Ford mechanic that deals with that vintage all the time, and I also owned a 95. One of the first things he does is unplugs then re-plugs all the engine electrical connectors. Sometimes there is corrosion at the terminals and that move can cure it. Put a little di-electrical grease on it too while your at it. Another thing he does is unscrew the water temp sensor and clean the gunky buildup off it. He says he has cured a lot of intermitents that way.

[crasster]

This may sound hokey, but I'd run some Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas and oil. It's a heavy detergent and cleans out a lot of "issues" such as sticking valves, carbon build up, clogged injectors, etc. Read reviews on the stuff. It works very well for many oddball internal engine probs. For $3 bucks, probably worth a try, and if it doesn't work, it will still cleanup your engine.

[LifeInsideJack]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
Does this happen when driving down the road ? It could be the direct drive clutch of 4th gear causing the problem.

You don't state the frequency of this problem, but here is something to try. Drive with the overdrive turned OFF and see it occurs. If not, you have found the culprit.

Don't condemn the transmission right away. It could be a bad electrical connector or a bad solenoid.

Yes. I drive with the OD off when driving up or down the Cajon Pass and it happens then also. Idle. Driving. It's strange. However, I think we're onto something with the post further up that I responded to.

Thank you for your response. I feel a little less blind on this matter.

[j-d]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
It could be a bad electrical connector or a bad solenoid.

We had a smaller Ford van about that vintage (1992 Aerostar). It had a Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) mounted on the top of the differential. One 10mm capscrew and an electrical connector.

VSS went bad on a trip. First thing we saw was the Rear Antilock Braking System (RABS) warning light flashing. Then the cruise control dropped out and the odometer stopped rolling. Speedometer was electronic and we lost that. AND, it came out of gear!

We drove home in "D" and not "OD" and the transmission worked fine. Just no Cruise, or RABS, or Speed/Odometer. New VSS cured all that. I think the Ford automatic overdrives of this vintage have "electronic overdrive" but the rest of the transmission is conventional hydraulic shifting.

The VSS is magnetic. Things just might work better if you pull it out, clean it, and reinstall. It's on an O-Ring, so it shouldn't leak if you clean the area before removing the VSS and make sure you don't lose the O-Ring. Another member here has solved several problems cleaning the VSS.

[theoldwizard1]

Does this happen when driving down the road ? It could be the direct drive clutch of 4th gear causing the problem.

You don't state the frequency of this problem, but here is something to try. Drive with the overdrive turned OFF and see it occurs. If not, you have found the culprit.

Don't condemn the transmission right away. It could be a bad electrical connector or a bad solenoid.

[LifeInsideJack]

fourthclassC wrote:
Spent a great deal of time trying to resolve this exact same issue on my 94 460. Fuel filter, ign. coil, and many other parts were replaced.... The fault was completely resolved by changing the ignition control moduel. It is the unit that requires the specialty thin wall socket tool (not very expensive) This module is located on one of the inside of one of the fenders accessable from under the hood.

Excellent. Thank you.

Yes, it's a 1994. Sorry to omit that previously.

I'll run this by our mechanic. Thanks you again ...

[SEMO_Mike]

I have a 1992 chassis with a similar issue. I can be driving along for 500 miles and all of a sudden it acts like it dropped into neutral. The engine revs as if not in gear, no increase in speed. It may do it three or four quick times in a row than not do it again for another 500 or 1000 miles. Recently I noticed that it seems to do it when the cruise control is on for a long time and it has done it several times shortly after the cruise control has been switched off. Newer cruise control module just installed and same problem. 79,000 miles on a 460 with recent tuneup. Mechanic has no answer.

[fourthclassC]

Spent a great deal of time trying to resolve this exact same issue on my 94 460. Fuel filter, ign. coil, and many other parts were replaced.... The fault was completely resolved by changing the ignition control moduel. It is the unit that requires the specialty thin wall socket tool (not very expensive) This module is located on one of the inside of one of the fenders accessable from under the hood.

[j-d]

By the appearance of the coach and OP saying "460" it'll be 1992-1996, but I'm pretty sure every 460 over those years is not the same.

If it's a 1996 Chassis Year, it should have OBD2 diagnostics with a test port under the dashboard. It may not offer all the information that newer OBD2 vehicles do, ***AND*** (emphasis added, this is important!) not all "code readers" will capture it.

If it's 1992-1995, then it's OBD1, and there's a trapezoidal-shaped connector with only a few pins actually connected, under the hood. Probably high on the driver side, say between brake booster and fender liner. The OBD1 "readers" only count signal pulses, so they can be read with a test light or a meter. Since that's all the OBD1 puts out, you count the flashes, needle movements, whatever, and look at a chart that provides the description.

BAT Auto is a good auto and light truck site. Try posting there, be sure to scan for codes, and see if those guys can help. Hiccups are about the worst to find. I doubt there'll be a code, but you owe it to anybody who's trying to help, to say you checked and what you found.

You can gOOgle "ford obd1 codes" and get a lot of ways to read and interpret them.

[1995brave]

What year is it? Could be mass airflow sensor dirty, or throttle position sensor, O2 sensors, etc. When was the last full tune-up?