2000 F150, after the fire

First, thanks to all of you. This is my first post, but during the last month I've devoured the forum's tips, suggestions and how-to's.

Last month my 2000 F150 caught fire in the parking lot (cruise control switch). Insurance company totaled it. I bought it back for $725 and (with help from this forum) replaced the wiring harness, inner fender, air intake assembly, LF ABS sensor, vacuum hoses, brake booster, master cylinder, the upper and lower valences, fuses, relays and the evaporator on the firewall.

It cranked on the first try. I've gravity bled the brakes replacing all the brake fluid and have driven it about 20 miles. The engine itself (block, COPS, fuel rail, etc.) was undamaged.

One odd thing that I can't figure out (and this never happened before the fire), when I turn left the engine acts like it wants to die. It's actually died twice in left hand turns. Right hand turns, forward and reverse are fine.

Left hand turns cause the RPMs to fall down into the 200-400 range.

Any ideas?

Rick

Look to see if there is an electrical switch in the power steering high pressure line or on the pump itself. If it has one, check the wiring. This raises the rpm on hard turns to keep from stalling out. It is more common on smaller engines and smaller cars, but Ford does wierd things.

way2old,

Thanks for the tip. I didn't see anything on the wiring harness or power steering system like you described.

I know few things in life fix themselves, but the rpm is no longer falling off when I turn left. I wonder if the F150 has to "reprogram" itself like my wife's Windstar does after the battery is disconnected. It takes about 20 miles of driving before the Windstar smooths out and behaves.

Again, thanks for the suggestion!

Rick

The PCM does need to be "reset" after battery disconnection. Maybe it got back on track and is running correctly. Let us know if it changes again and we can search manuals for help.