2004 Acceleration problem. | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

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2004 Acceleration problem.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rugger1982
  • Start date Start date
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Rugger1982

Gold Member
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Thunderbird Year
2004
I have intermittent acceleration problems from starting from stop or occasionally in higher gears. I push the pedal and RPMs drop and a few seconds later the car accelerates. I put high quality fuel injection cleaner in and high-octane gas. Still happens. Not making any noises. Can be multiple issues - fuel filter, coils, transmission, etc. The car has 60,000 miles. Any thoughts?

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The data link connector is located under the right side of the driver's dash panel under the steering column. It's pointed down about where your right upper shin would be located when driving. The first thing I would do is to check for faults stored in all control modules. Since your car is 20 years old, it would be a good idea to replace the fuel filter. When I purchased my 2004 Thunderbird one of the first things I did was to replace the fuel filter. What surprised me was that there were no drivability issues, but I couldn't blow air through the old filter.

Replacing the fuel filter isn't a hard job to do and requires just a couple tools. Here's how you do it:
  1. Remove the driver’s side front wheel and have the car on jack stands on that side of the car.
  2. On the kick panel of the passenger’s side remove the #4 fuse in the fuse panel. At this point turn the engine over for a second; this relieves the pressure in the fuel line.
  3. With the wheel removed you have easy access to the back half of the fender liner. There are 5 plastic fasteners that hold this in place. Remove all 5 fasteners and then pull the rear half of the liner from the wheel well. You can now see the fuel filter bolted to the wheel well.
  4. The bracket holding the filter is held in place with one 8mm bolt. Using a fuel line removal tool, disconnect the outer line. Then unbolt the bracket and remove the other line. You now have the filter free from the car.
  5. The bracket has a holding tab on the side of it. With a straight blade screwdriver pry this tab outward while sliding the old filter out of the bracket.
  6. To reinstall, just do everything I mentioned in reverse making sure the arrow on the new filter is pointing towards the engine compartment.
  7. Once everything is back in place reinstall the fuse into the panel and you’re finished.
doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

IMG_4020.JPG
 
While the fuel filter may not be the problem, Doug makes a great recommendation to replace this often overlooked part. If you you want to drive 20 year old cars then coolant changes, correct trans fluid (changed) and fuel filer changes need to be added to the "basics" for maintenance. The only time I have ever been stranded (twice!) in the last 30 years was due to the often overlooked fuel filter. When the fuel filter becomes restrictive or clogged, the fuel pump is the next thing to go and that becomes a much bigger job.
 
Rugger1982 said:
I have intermittent acceleration problems from starting from stop or occasionally in higher gears. I push the pedal and RPMs drop and a few seconds later the car accelerates. I put high quality fuel injection cleaner in and high-octane gas. Still happens. Not making any noises. Can be multiple issues - fuel filter, coils, transmission, etc. The car has 60,000 miles. Any thoughts?
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I had similar issues when I bought my 2005 earlier this year. I replaced the fuel filters, drained the tank of old gas but no help. I hooked up my engine analyzer and it said bad coil. I bought a set of high performance engine coils (Red Ones) and really inexpensive, and I installed them myself. I swear it was like I had a whole new engine. Good luck.
 
bbgun10 said:
I had similar issues when I bought my 2005 earlier this year. I replaced the fuel filters, drained the tank of old gas but no help. I hooked up my engine analyzer and it said bad coil. I bought a set of high performance engine coils (Red Ones) and really inexpensive, and I installed them myself. I swear it was like I had a whole new engine. Good luck.
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Hi! I really enjoyed the info on your post. Can you please tell me the brand name and cost of those red engine coils? THANKS! Vic
 
I ordered the ones recommended on here, for 55$, for a complete set, and plugs for the same amount, replaced them, found 3 bad intermittent just like you described, also changed the fuel filter which was still the original, lol. replaced the exhaust cat back with a cross pipe and flowmasters, for 830.00 you wouldn't recognize the performance if you didn't experience it. 🙂 Gonna install the cold air this weekend. Having mentioned all that, I remembered, I need to know if anyone can recommend a programmer and a place I can get 2 programs, 1 economy and 1 performance? Thanks all.
 
The ORD reader showed no codes. It is odd as the car only does this infrequently. Sometimes when I am out not at all. I will get the fuel filter replaced and fluids as well. When I bought it I insisted the coils be checked and the verified they were new. Still could be them. Hopefully not transmission. I appreciate all the help.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
An OBD reader does not have the ability to check for faults and data in all of the control modules. You need to make sure you can communicate with all of the control modules in your car. Since this is an intermittent acceleration problem, I don't think the problem is with the transmission. Besides, if the transmission was slipping the RPMs would raise and not drop.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
 
I bought the Blue Driver reader as recommended ad did full scan. The most relevant codes to what the car is doing are U1041 invalid or missing data for vehicle speed from the PCM and B1201 Fuel sender circuit failure. Also possibly U1262 data link fault?
Any thoughts on how to approach repair or replacement?
 
just a follow up. added the cold air and a new battery, now about 4.5 sec stop to 60, can't wait to find a program for the car in okla, if anyone knows of one that can do it thru a phone or tablet would appreciate the knowledge, "the Kitten" roars now 🙂
Paladin said:
I ordered the ones recommended on here, for 55$, for a complete set, and plugs for the same amount, replaced them, found 3 bad intermittent just like you described, also changed the fuel filter which was still the original, lol. replaced the exhaust cat back with a cross pipe and flowmasters, for 830.00 you wouldn't recognize the performance if you didn't experience it. 🙂 Gonna install the cold air this weekend. Having mentioned all that, I remembered, I need to know if anyone can recommend a programmer and a place I can get 2 programs, 1 economy and 1 performance? Thanks all.
Click to expand...
 
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