2001 f150 just bought this truck, has surging problem, theft lite flashes

[bumble bee]

I just bought a 2001 f150,4.6 v-8, auto, plain jane, starts fine cold, after it has run for a few minutes and shut off, when restarted it will surge then come back down and surge back up again (somtimes it will die and have to restart) untill can catch it at the lower rpms and drop it into gear, it will try to surge one more time then smooth out and run fine tillthe next start up, and it may or not on the next start up, also the theftlite flashes with the key off, sometimes with the key on. Any ideas??

[Jersey_Joe]

Welcome bumble bee. Is it throwing a code? P1260? Means the theft system is engaged. Engine thinks it's being stolen and is trying to counter. Also. It may be the chip in your key. Have a spare key? U can try to turn your key forward. Let the light blink. Turn key to off position. Then turn right back on and leave for about 15-20. If that doesn't work. Then disconnect the batt for a bit. That should clear it for a little bit. All of this could not work also. Sometimes it does. And sometimes not.

lit up by F150leds.com & 5Star tuned....

[bumble bee]

ok will try , those ideas, thanks, now drove truck last nite and discovered that when restarting and engine starts it's surging if I apply brake pressure the surging stops and it idles fine, will do more checking today, but don't know why or what requires a vaccum draw to set, and I took it to O'Reilys and their code reader wouldn't or couldn't read, so I will go to advanced auto and see if theirs will read, so at this point I don;t have any codes to go by. Thanks for any and all ideas, this is the reason the seller sold this truck as the local mechanic's that he went to couldn't figure this problem out and were just lost, lol, I haven't ever liked being told "can't" so here I am, lol ' Thanks again for all ideas and things to check