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This is a 2002 XLT, 4WD, 4.0L V-6. I get a random bucking, like a hiccup, when there is snow in the air. Regardless of whether the engine is warm or cold, under load or coasting. Runs fine in warm weather or cold, except when the snow flies here in Vermont. Bucking is random and may occur a couple of times a minute or a little as every 5-10 miles. Been to the dealer and no computer codes are found. Reflashed the memory just in case but to no avail. Take it to a shop and it runs fine. They would have to live with it for a while and wait until a snowfall. Even then no check engine light has ever come on. Been going on for 3 winters now, sure would like some idea of what to look for.

 

I have a 2004, same engine and tranny and have the same problems. Only when it snows! Dealers are stumped. Did you ever find out what's wrong??

Thank you!  

I am glad to see that i'm the not the only one with this problem. I have a 2001 with a 4.0L. Bought it in the fall so this my first winter. Haven't taken it in to a garage yet because the bucking was so intermittent. My daughter and I commute to school and work 30 miles everyday and we just deduced that snow was the common denominator when the problem occurred. We've had a lot of snow this year in Michigan. I waterproofed the ignition wires with some spray trying to solve this issue but it still bucked. I'm not convinced the problem is drive train related. I've read of some problems with antilock brakes cycling on their own intermittently so I thought about pulling the antilock fuse and testing to see if that was my problem, but I think I may need them when it is snowing and that is the only time when the problem occurs. Hopefully someone will have a solution.

I don't think it's the brakes anymore but I Did some more observations under the hood recently and found the air cleaner cover was not snapped down all the way. I wonder if snow was sneaking past the air filter (although rain doesn't cause the bucking) and hitting Mass air flow sensor possibly causing the problem. Anyway I snapped the cover down (not an easy task) after checking the condition of the air filter and now I'll wait for another snow,after all this is Michigan. It was in the 60's here in February this year so I expect a good snow storm before July sometime.

FYI

 At first glance the air cleaner cover looked snapped down all the way but it wasn't!