NHTSA Complaint #10390000 — 2000 FORD F-250 SD

THERE WERE NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WILL NOT KEEP RUNNING ON ITS OWN. TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING LIGHT PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR TO MAINTAIN AN 800 TO 1000 RPM. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN, HOWEVER, THE LEFT FOOT MUST BE USED FOR BRAKING SINCE THE RIGHT FOOT MUST BE USED TO KEEP CONTINUOUS PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STALLING. THE ACCELERATOR ISSUE WILL SOMETIMES CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER STARTUP, HOWEVER, IN MOST CASES THIS PRESENTS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN THE ENGINE IDLE CORRECTS ITSELF, THE RPMS WILL TAKE A +1000 RPM JUMP FROM THE CURRENT RPM POSITION. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU WITH LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, THE JUMP FROM 1000 RPM TO 2000 RPM MAY SEND THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU IF YOU DO NOT SLAM ON THE BRAKES QUICKLY! ANOTHER SITUATION THAT HAS ALSO CAUSED A "CLOSE CALL" IS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE 5 MPH AT 1000 RPM IN A PARKING LOT. THE REASON THIS SITUATION IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE IS TYPICALLY NOT BEING APPLIED AT ALL, SO WHEN THE +1000 RPM JUMP TO 2000 RPMS OCCURS IT CAN SEND YOUR VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN THAT IS CROSSING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE FAILURE BY REMOVING THE AIR BREATHER ASSEMBLY AND CLEANING THE INTAKE THROAT WITH CARBARATOR CLEANER, HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. *TR