Hi altitude(Colorado) vs Lo altitude(Nebr)...performance - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

beltloop · 01-12-2010, 10:21

I have a 2004 F150, 5.4, Automatic, 4:10's, Heavy-half. I drove it to Pagosa Colorado on vacation hoping we might be able to drive 'some' of the trails into the back country. I figured the 4:10s would be a great asset and frankly I'd not have another 150 4x4 WITH OUT the 4:10's...

Well, we got there! The next day I found a hill to climb that had tracks from previous 4 wheelers. It was not any steeper than some of the hills I climb while Deer Hunting in the Valentine Nebraska area.

I engaged 4x4 HI, started to climb and the truck hardly moved!!! I floored it, it...it died half way up.... EVEN 4X4 LO was pitiffull...

.

This experience: RUINED MY TRIP

I know it is the Altitude...

What can I do to have my truck perform at Higher Altitudes like it performs the central plains of Nebraska....????

**360ci** · 01-26-2010, 18:02

I've driven N/A and turbocharged engines throughout the US and Canada and never noticed much performance difference in high altitudes. Most was about 7200ft above sea level, so I'm not sure how high you're talking about here. If you go above 10K, I can see altitude becoming a problem as the oxygen gets rather thin.

I'd get the vehicle checked for codes, some might be stored that you may have missed if the engine light flashed. As you mentioned "it died half way up the hill" leads me to believe that you have more going on than a change in altitude.

beltloop · 02-25-2010, 20:42

I have driven F-150's 'only' since 1971. All have been 4 wheel drive. I have more that 40 yr's 4 wheeling in the Sandhill's of Nebraska Deer and Antelope and Grouse hunting.

I have a rather good feel when the motor is or is not upto snuff. The truck I drove to Colorado worked flawlessly in 4-wheel drive busting up and down sandhill's and Sand Blow-outs.. even pulled out my brother in laws 250, 4x4...when in Nebraska!!!

There was just no power, no nothing at the higher altitude with the new 04 150....

NO LIGHTS CAME ON OTHER THAN WHEN IT JUST UP AND DIED GOING UP THE INCLINE....all was not right.... and no others problems...'lighted' up....

This auto just never work'd....

**Bert** · 02-25-2010, 20:48

There has to be something wrong with it. There are many trucks with that engine and all over the U.S. Have you had it checked?

**360ci** · 02-26-2010, 13:40

I'd definitely get it checked. Worst case is a bad PCM. I'll also mention that an '04 isn't entirely 'new'. It might be new to you, but nothing can get around the fact that it's still six years old; seven, if it was made in late '03 as an 04 model. Anyway, a proper diagnosis is the only way to go.

beltloop · 02-27-2010, 07:15

I am srry I was not exactly clear on the date of this trip: I bought the truck new in Oct of 2004, we took the trip in August of 2005. So it was still under Warranty.

I still have the truck, and I maintain it since it is my main work truck! Alas of any preceeding F-150's I have had this one IS the most COSTLY FORD 150 truck I have EVER, EVER owned. At 89,000 mile I had the 100,000 mile tune-up done... I ALWAYS use Synthetic blend oil.

The 4x4 system works fine in Nebr but I will not take this truck to Colorado again...in nebr it is a 4x4 beast in Colorado it is a g...d... pussy!

Thought I Had read once, somewhere that I one should disconnected the battery entirely then re-coonnect so the cmptr can do it's thing....

By the way there were 3 people in my truck when event occured: my Father in Law, dyed in the wool chevy man, mother in law, and wife...a truly humbling moment in my FORD life...

IS THERE ANY ONE HERE FROM COLORADO THAT DRIVES A 150 4X4 AUTO ...THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME...