Im at my wits end.

[fourwheelford]

I need help I am near pushing this off a cliff and trying to commit insurance fraud just to get rid of it. Instead of creating a wall of text telling you what I have done I will tell you what I haven't done its much easier.

I have not changed the alternator, powersteering pump or A/C stuff. I have not installed a new motor or transmission and I have not had to change the thermostat. I haven't done a compression test the last time I checked the fuel pressure at the rail at an idle it was a 42 psi(a little low for the flex fuel by 3 psi according to the haynes manual)

The truck is a 2000 XLT auto 4x4 with a lift.

Ok heres the symptoms, while im driving it always feels like im driving down dirt road even on fresh pavement, just really jerky back and forth not side to side. If the tires werent a year old I would think the one of them had a big ass bubble in the tread, thats what it feels like. It struggles to climb hills at 55 mph at 3000 rpm. I took it to a very respectible transmission shop and the owner and I took it for a drive and he beat the crap out of it and tells me its something other than transmission he thinks fuel or exhaust problems. I don't fully believe him but im hopeful that is is something else, tranny fluid is red and smells fine.

Please guys I need help with this I have only put 10,000 miles on this truck and have only enjoyed about 1000 of those miles it just rolled over to 108,000no codes at all. I welcome all ideas thank you everyone.

 

[Big Jim M]

Could be a partially stopped up cat or muffler.. You did give a minimum of symptoms. Try harder and leave all the jabber out!
Big JIm

 

[fourwheelford]

I have cat back exhaust installed in the last 4000 miles but I haven't examined the cats the transmission guy pointed out the center pre cat and said it may be the problem, will a plugged cat give the jerky type of symptoms? Its really hard to explain unless you actually drive it for your self. The best way to describe it is a bubble in the tire tread but the tires are fine. The idle is good but surges just enough to notice if you have the hood up standing in front of it, doesn't show on the tac though.

I have been dealing with a tick for awhile that I couldn't find, recently I touched the stethoscope to that pre cat and I heard it there but not in the head tranny or oil pan. Aside from cutting out the cat and looking at it is there any way to test the exaust flow? I just passed emissions in march also.

 

[Spootnuke]

Brakes from your first post, but your second post makes me think that something crawled up the exhaust and nested in your headers. lol. Seriously though, I would make sure all the small things are checked, such as fuel filter, brakes, mild suspension, intake, air filter, spark plugs, and any other minor. It may be a dumb list, but its always great to be able to rule many a thing out. I'm a computer repair specialist, believe testing something with a known good is a godly gift. lol.

 

[fourwheelford]

Everything except suspension has been done in the last 10000 miles.

 

[jasongind]

Might be a long shot, but have your drained the fuel tank? My buddies S10 was haveing similar systems for like 4 months. We did a battery of things as you are doing and finally dropped the tank. There was water in it. Dont know how it got there or what not, but we removed it and cleaned the tank, replaced the fuel filter and it ran as well as an s10 can lol. good luck

 

[fourwheelford]

I have a few things to try and diagnose and if those don't pan im going to drop the tank and inspect the fuel pump, I suspect the hose that connects the fuel pump to the assembly may be split or the intank little filter sock is plugged up. I put a new fuel filter on it about 6000 miles ago. If there is water in the tank I should be able to find it then thanks for the replies everyone.