I am new to the diesel pickups. I have to ask though if anyone else has had three computers go down. Does anyone know if there is possibly something causing this other than the fact that it computerized? I drive a 97 F250 with 193,000 miles on it and one or the other computer has gone out about every 10, miles. The first time they said that the alternator overcharged and burnt the coputer up. The second time they didnt know, but the wiring harness for the injectors was burnt off. Now this morning it went down again. Not sure what they will say. I would love to know if there is something that can be done, so that these $2,000 stop. Plus there is no warning, so it makes it undependable. I guess I should not have taken my husbands truck from him..Please help.

 

the truck misses him, and its got you screamin nells bells (enter hells bells guitar riff now)
Sorry, I had to....but back on topic....lol. I have never heard anything like it, and Im guessing you meant every 10,XXX miles, an not 10? I think you may have thrown the local pros a hardball. I dont know how the alternator overcharging the battery could kill the computer, since I'm quite sure the comps power source is regulated by a fuse which would blow if overloaded enough to fry anything. However, strange things happen all the time.
I just reminded myself of something, which makes me think its your whole wiring harness/system. I remember seeing on the news a few years back insurance companies were auctioning of flood damaged vehicles for salvage. Some people were taking them and rebuilding them and putting them on the retail market. Some consumers happened to recieve "haunted" vehicles. As in their vehicles electrical systems would stop working all of a sudden, or turn on all by themselves with the ignition off and key out.
Some history of the vehicle would help us out.

 

so let me get this right...


you replaced a computer because the harness on vc fried???????

$2,000 for a computer? they sell em at parts stores for under 200.00
and take 10 minutes to change.

 

That was the total for everything. The computers are a dealership only part around PA. The computer was junked along with the burnt harness. They thought that was what got the computer, but werent sure. I am just looking for other causes that may lead to this problem.

 

that doesnt make sense why only in pa dealer only? but i dont live there you do.
jody tipton(dp tuner) also sells em.

 

Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts nellsbells!

I'm glad you found us as I suspect your dealer is taking advantage of the fact that you are female....or they just don't now what they are doing. Neither concept is terribly appealing.

Does the truck crank over now or is it completely dead? If it will spin over, does the tachometer register any movement? Does the Wait To Start light illuminate normally before you attempt to start it?

 

in your first post you say it went down again.....

does that mean the truck just shut off while driving it?

if so its probably not the pcm. but cps which are cheap.

 

The truck stalled out and I was able to start it back up. It would only go about 15 miles per hour in the three lowest gears. It was idling and knocking rough to say the least. There was no warning, no smoke, nothing.I have not started the truck back up since I parked it this afternoon. My husband said that the last time it was in they replaced the cps. However, he thinks that they possibly only changed one wiring harness. Is it possible that the other one now burnt off as well? I will have to wait to pull the cover off in the morning. Thank you for all the help up front. I appreciate it. I spend a lot of time by myself and of course that is when the truck breaks down. I think I am going to go pre 94 next.

 

sounds like you have some burnt wiring for sure. uvc's they are cheap from ih...