1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

Need help.... My truck is still chugging. It's got to stop or it's going up for sale.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-20-2006, 07:48 PM
John7894's Avatar
John7894
John7894 is offline
Cargo Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Need help.... My truck is still chugging. It's got to stop or it's going up for sale.

I'm ready to re-insure my gasser and drive it till it pukes......... My PSD sucks right now. Really sucks.

Whatever the #$%^ it's problem is will not trip the SES light. It chugs bad when first lit off that it'll barely run. Give it some pedal and it will not increase RPM at all. I honestly can't tell if the EBPV is open or not since it's so loud with the straight pipe. Gimme some things to check. I'm off tomorrow, Thurs, Fri, and the weekend. So, I got time to work on it.

Here's what it did today..... I cranked it up (was not plugged in overnight) it barely ran. It was in the 40's last night. I gave it some pedal and it ran a little better. It at least idled real bad. I let it warm up for about 5 minutes. Got in it and it at least drove. It drove with a real bad miss. I'm talking dead, solid miss.

I drove it about a half mile in the neighborhood like this. I pulled out on the highway and accelerated, when it shifted into second it immediately ran perfect........ Just like someone turned a switch on....

No problems after for my 2 mile ride to my co-workers house (we carpool). He drove today. My truck at at his house all day. I got in it this evening, crank it up and it does the same thing. I let it warm up again, this time it'll just idle real bad. No change in RPM in gear, nothing. I could get about 1800 RPM out of it in neutral. It eventually ran a little better, but is still missing. I drove it home and shut it off like this.

Here's what I plan to do tomorrow. Not sure if I should do it all at once since doing so could not pinpoint the problem. I'm also going to try and round up a Diablosport tuner and see if it has any codes, or at least be able to monitor some stuff while it runs and chugs.

1) Change fuel filter
2) Change CPS
3) Remove BD Diesel chip
4) Unplug EBPV
5) Remove and clean the ICP sensor

It's got 2 fresh, hot batteries in it already.

I'm going to try and do the hutch/pre pump stuff this weekend if I can. I'd like to plumb in some clear fuel return line tubing and see if it's an excesive air intrusion problem. Hell, could it be a low fuel pressure problem?

The oil is not that old, PLUS I don't think it's oil related since it runs good AFTER it's warm. Unless it's viscosity related..... BUT, I still ain't buying that since other PSD's that I know of run fine with Rotella 15W40 in the winter down here and other more northern parts of the country.

Guys, I'm stumped and frankly am ready to throw in the damn towel. Maybe I bought a lemon, who knows???????? Either way it's ticking me off. It's either gonna get fixed or sold, whichever is less painful........ I'm not gonna dump money it a blind problem........... I can think of more creative ways to flush money away.....

Gimme some help please!
 
  #2  
Old 11-20-2006, 08:22 PM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
John, One of our support trucks ( After its 4 year life as a front line response truck and 2 years as a reserve) is doing this and I have been trying to correlate all of the symptoms and conditions. It doesnt do it all the time just after extended sitting 2 -3 days. I describe it as stepping on a wet sponge when mashing the go pedal until it warms to NOT. I have done every test AE can throw at it and all pass. The only thing I have not done is a cold cylinder compression check. What i think is happening is when cold some of the cylinders are loosing compression but once it warms everthing seals up and she runs fine. I know this is not what you are wanting to hear but I think we have thrown about every check at your truck we can without actually hooking it up and doing some test.
 
  #3  
Old 11-20-2006, 08:27 PM
PowerstrokeJunkie's Avatar
PowerstrokeJunkie
PowerstrokeJunkie is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 21791
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Have you checked the UVC connectors that go into each valve cover gasket? You may have a bad pin or a shorted wire in the harness somewhere, that will cause the truck to run like crap, and if the wire moves or gets bumped, it will go back to normal. All i can recommend is looking over every possible engine harness wire (wrapped with red and black elec. tape on the engine) and see if any wires are chafed. Im pointing at an electrical problem since it's sporadic and not constant.
 
  #4  
Old 11-20-2006, 08:54 PM
Tenn01PSD350's Avatar
Tenn01PSD350
Tenn01PSD350 is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am thinking you need to verify your checkvalve for the HPOP reservior is not faulty since it comes to life after it is warm. This can be done by checking the HPO reservior VIA the allen head plug on top after it has sat for at least overnite. Should be within an inch of the top at worst.

Filter change is always a good idea, at the same time you check the HPOP level, just pull the bowl cover and check the fuel level there also. In addition, there are restrictors in the fuel lines where they enter the heads. Complete with screens. Mine are in the shed. Maybe they somehow get over come if clogged once the fuel pressure builds. That last is a swag but it is under troubleshooting for a lot of symptoms in the manual.

Disabling the EBV is also a good quick check but it should not cause it to chug when idling/warming up. If it is malfunctioning, it would simply fail to disengage when you get underway and then present a problem, but still worth a look.

I somehow suspect Alan has looked into this with his vehicle with similar problems but maybe not. Just my 02.

Perhaps a bad idle validation switch or throttle pedal assembly? And or both. Anyone else?

Also, a clear return line is not necessary as any type of cheap see through filter plumbed in there or similar item will serve the purpose.

BTW, I run 15W 40 year round. If it's clean, it's not your problem.
 
  #5  
Old 11-20-2006, 09:13 PM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Not my truck tenn she runs like a swiss watch, its one of the old rescue chassis we use as support vehicles
 
  #6  
Old 11-20-2006, 09:29 PM
Tenn01PSD350's Avatar
Tenn01PSD350
Tenn01PSD350 is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That is what I was referring to Alan. I know you wouldn't tolerate that. Have you checked all the items I listed on that chassis?
 
  #7  
Old 11-20-2006, 09:42 PM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Every one of them several times. Only other thing I have been thinking about is fuel airation in the pump. The colder the fuel the easier for dissolved air to be churned into entrained air. The quik connects are suspect also but I think these would be an all the time issue and not just when cold.
 
  #8  
Old 11-20-2006, 11:08 PM
John7894's Avatar
John7894
John7894 is offline
Cargo Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Guys,

Thanks for the responses. I just got back from inside. I went outside, cranked it up, and it ran fine!!!!!!! AGGGHHHHHHGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!! Read below as I'll address everything you guys just mentioned.

I just changed the fuel filter (looked OK) and the CPS (royal PITA). I also unplugged the EBPV, then plugged it back in. I figured that's enough till tomorrow. If it starts up bad tomorrow I'll pull the EBPV and retry it. I doubt that's it though. That wouldn't cause any roughness, just a lack of power.

Alan, honestly I don't think it's a compression problem since in the past it has done this out of the blue while the engine was warm. I found some old notes of mine in the garage and it has done it once the engine warmed up. The first few times it did it was right after fueling, SO, maybe it is a fuel aeration problem?

I hooked up some tubing to the fuel bowl drain and ran it into a tub. Once I cracked it open it gurgled real loud until it was empty. I closed the valve, cycled the pump a few times and drained it again. I did this about 5-6 times and drained about a 1/2 gallon out. Only the first time was loud. The others were hardly gurgly at all. I made sure the drain hose was clear of all diesel before I cracked it open each time. I also cranked the truck up and opened the drain while the engine was running. The fuel came out kind of aerated, so maybe there is a fuel aeration problem there.

I bought this truck back in February. The weather was still cold when I got it. It did it a few days after I bought it I remember. It did it a few more times after that too. It has not done it over the summer. My thoughts is that the fuel line is getting stiff in the cold weather and causing air intrusion.

Also Chris, you might be on to something as well. This morning it was like someone turned on a switch. It shifted second gear and all was well. I mean just like that it was OK.

I'll do some digging through the wire harness and see if anything is chaffed. Only other thing I can do are the pre-pump/in-tank mods to see if it's that.

Back around Feb/March I did find the chip loose in the PCM. BUT, the chugging it's doing now is more pronounced than before, so maybe the 2 chugs are not related. Either way the chip comes out tomorrow. Hopefully I can get it to chug first thing in the AM, shut it down, pull the chip and see a difference......

Only other thing I can think of is the accelerator pedal assembly. My dad and friend bothe have 02's and have had their's changed under a recall. Maybe mine is bad too. I have an early 01 truck? Anybody know where to check for recalls?

Finally.... I broke the clip off of the CPS wire harness. SO, now the plug can simply slip out and leave me stranded. Anybody know if ford sells just the male plug? Maybe they do and I can transfer over the pins to the new one. If not, anybody know who makes that plug along with a part number. It looks like a Deutsch or a Weatherpack connector from what I can tell.

Thanks again guys. Hopefully, we can get it sorted out. After this is done my mission is to get the cackle removed. My dad and friends truck (both have only 100K miles) idle like a 6.0 compared to mine (250K).......
 
  #9  
Old 11-20-2006, 11:11 PM
John311t's Avatar
John311t
John311t is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Im guess UVC connectors. I just change the GP's in my truck and the connector that happened to be under the valve cover came off a little bit and was not causing a connection to any off the right bank injectors or GP's. But i would also assume since i got a SES light for an IDM code, that if that was the problem causing a miss that bad it would throw the a code thus turning the light on. My truck idle like crap, like a certain miss because the truck was running on one bank.
 
  #10  
Old 11-20-2006, 11:22 PM
John7894's Avatar
John7894
John7894 is offline
Cargo Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Thanks John,

How much trouble am I looking at to pull the VC's and check those harnesses? Aren't those the harnesses that were prone to chaffing under the covers?????? I remember seeing pics of those I think. Is the UVC connector inside or outside of the VC?

What about the ICP sensor? Someone suggested that it may be faulty as well.....
 
  #11  
Old 11-21-2006, 07:12 AM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
John the intanks and prepumps will remove the chance of air getting into the fuel up to the pump but there are still 2 quik connects on the engine side of the pump that can draw air.

There are 3 connectors to look at the one outside the VC the One built into the vc Gasket and the one inside. Kwikk has a good pic of a rubbed spot on his harness inside the cover https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...or-wiring.html

Ford does sell a repair kit for the harness where you can just splice in a new connector. I'll see if I can dig up a part # on the CPS lead
 
  #12  
Old 11-21-2006, 07:23 AM
Kwikkordead's Avatar
Kwikkordead
Kwikkordead is offline
Fleet Owner
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Rio Rico, AZ.
Posts: 24,502
Received 791 Likes on 603 Posts
You beat me to it Alan, I was going to post those pictures.
I also feel that the wiring under the valve covers are the most likely suspect with the description of symptoms.
 
  #13  
Old 11-21-2006, 07:27 AM
John311t's Avatar
John311t
John311t is offline
Postmaster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You will need to pull the IC tubes off. On the right side you need to pull of the intake to the turbo. Then you pull out the 10 bolts. On the left side is similar except you have to move some wiring out of the way.
 
  #14  
Old 11-21-2006, 07:34 AM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
We kinda started off with a cold start after sitting problem but now it is sounding like a harness issue or that CPS connector is sending a very crappy signal. did it break before all this started or after John? Untill you can get it fixed take a couple of tie wraps and see if you can secure the connector to the mounting braket to help hold it is place. If you are not getting a good constant 12V feed to the CPS it may be missing some of the key marks on the timming disk and really throwing off the timming, But I would expect this to store some codes (P0344)
 
  #15  
Old 11-21-2006, 07:36 AM
Uzumati's Avatar
Uzumati
Uzumati is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Central, Al
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
John here is the TSB on the Harness repair kit
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...p?tsb=01-10-12
 


Quick Reply: Need help.... My truck is still chugging. It's got to stop or it's going up for sale.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:29 PM.