When is enough enough for repairs?
 

Bought my 04 F350 supercab back in 04 and put on a utility body/fuel tank. I loved the truck and loved it even more after putting on a banks kit. 4wd and plow package for my own driveway. I used the truck 50% work and 50% towing boats & race trailers around for fun. This was my 4th brand new truck (3rd diesel) but the only one I have held onto for more than 4 years.

At 80K the truck just started falling apart and hasn't stopped. I'm a diligent oil change guy every 3K and do my general maintenance with filters, grease, brakes ect.. but

I have replaced the wiring harness (total bitch), hubs, ball joints, glow plug module (twice) glow plugs, all injectors (some twice), FICM (thank god for swamps!) rear wheel seals (too many times), transmission at 140K and did a full bullet proof that time around with studs, new heads & all new injectors. Lets not forget the myriad of typical stuff- alternator, coolant leaks, random wiring shorts, engine stutter/hesitation problems, turbo leaks, oil leaks, MAP sensors, EGR issues, batteries and a bunch of near impossible to reach little valves and sensors.

My general conclusion is that all trucks require ALOT of maintenance. I don't care if its ford, chevy or dodge- they all suck to some degree.

My issue is that no one in my area (MA) seems to know what the hell they are doing to service these trucks. The repair bills are HUGE and rarely do I walk away with a successful repair or even diagnosis. I'm ready to give a bullet to my "diesel specialist" who just "bulletproofed" the truck for 13K. Nothing but problems since and the guy is so indifferent it is staggering. Initially, mileage went down to 10mpg & performance was less than when I sent it in!

So the truck is down again with some short that is related to the instrument cluster (for the second time) but no one can seem to isolate it. Tried pulling the dash & column as some on FTE have reported problems leading to the tow haul switch but can't find it yet. I'm sure I will get it worked out but to the point of my thread:

Is enough enough? Before I spent 13K on a bulletproof last year I was getting 15-16 mpg and my truck was worth about 8K. My truck is still worth 8K (or less), I'm now getting 12-13 mpg tops & I still have a break down or repair to deal with every month or two. Most all of the repair over the years I have had to diagnose myself with FTE help, thank you to all the great mechanics here! Without that resource the truck sits in the shop running up a huge tab & either no one can find anything wrong or its some grossly misdiagnosed resolve. (most recently a bad alternator for what was actually a bad 15 cent fuse)

At this point it is costing me as much as a new rig payment (that I dont really want) to keep it repaired. I'm actually not even sure if I can trade it with the EGR delete ect... but if I did I think I have to go back to the keep it 4 years or less model and stay away from the repairs?

What would you do? IS enough enough?

I've always bought my trucks but they never had much value when I went to trade them. At 50-60K for what I am in now, it is a pretty painful endeavor. I am out of the field now and can get just a standard supercab, no utility body /fuel tank- Anyone lease trucks like this with good luck?

I think the highlighted statement above sums up the majority of your problem and frustration. Sometimes finding a RELIABLE 6.0 tech is VERY difficult.

I have read that there are good ones and bad ones. By reading your story, it sounds like you got a bad one.

Mine has been pretty good, except one cracked head. I chose to replace both at the time because I also did a bullet proofing so both heads came off anyway and she was studded.

I really hope that mine turns out to be returning to being a good one, now that I did the heads, studs, blue spring, stand pipes, dummy plugs, STC, -EGR, coolant flush to ELC... Seems to be going well so far, but to answer you question, if your's was mine, I think I'd cut my losses and get out of it as quickly as possible. Sounds to me that your truck has been a nightmare.

Or maybe I've been blessed to have mechanics that are good with this engine where you weren't as fortunate, as partsman said... Either way, it doesn't sound like you've had the best relationship with your baby.

I think I would have cut my loss before the 13k bulletproofing.

For 13k you could have taken it to a Ford dealer and also gotten a kiss with your change.

112k. Same glowplugs, same alternator, same starter. 1 bad injector my fault it went south. Same front end.
2nd oil cooler. I just did that when I pulled the engine to stud it, figured why not. I did have to put a rear main seal in it, it started leaking pretty bad one day.

Anyway what is your current issue, im pretty sure someone may be able to help you sort it out.

Im sorry

13K was way too Much the Guy was a Crook period

Your Turbo Likely Leaks and is cause of MPG Loss, BUT would help if you gave more detailed list if repairs


Its sounds like you have tried your best with Diagnose I am SHocked you paid 13K for it though

Where in mass are you and where did you bring the truck

I'm in Mass and brought it to Mass Diesel for the bulletproofing. I do not recommend them at all. Not just the work but the customer service just flat out indifferent. I had every right to throw a nutty but never did. Always went in even keel, fair & reasonable. Barely could get an acknowledgement or returned call. As mentioned, they rebuilt the tranny, replaced all injectors, studs, heads & glo plugs. Forgot to mention they also did a new oil cooler, removed the banks tuner and put in an STC for the 13K.

I have had it at various other shops as well (mostly dealers) and never got a good feeling. I'd love to get a good reference from someone for my area.

Someone was asking for a list of repairs... well I've pretty much done them all and then some. Forgot to mention earlier that I also did a new fuel pump and blue spring (everyone seems to love to mention that one but I noticed nothing after installing it). Honestly it has been so many repairs over so many years I can barely remember them all.

To be direct- I work my truck hard and play hard too. Not complaining that I got a lemon just saying I've had enough. Not complaining that it is a ford rather than another brand either. I will likely buy a ford again. Mostly because the truck just "feels" higher than a chevy and despite the repairs I have loved the power & performance along the way.

Just saying now that for me it is too unreliable and expensive to keep repairing it. I am regretful I spent the last 13K for bulletproofing ect.. and the roughly 3K since

Im also buying a ford again because they didnt take a bailout. Thats my own personal take & dont expect anyone to give a ****.

Funny- I never actually considered mine a lemon but always thought of it as a powerhouse. I'm just tired of wrenching on it this way..I like my time in the garage working on my own stuff but it is alot more enjoyable adding an upgrade than trying to diagnose repairs!

Now just to decide 14 or 15 model year? Any thoughts on weather to trade or craigslist and sell outright?

BTW at 112k I also had the original glow plugs (& glow plug module), alternator, starter and front end. I think at that time even my FICM was original and I had only replaced one injector. Tranny was solid too.

Things have changed.

Oh ok, i was going to recommend mass diesel...haven't really heard any problems from them.

On a facebook group called diesels of new england we have a list of trusted repair shops...
There is nathan's garage in assonet, Mass, he is excellent.
street diesel performance in chaplin, CT...also excellent
Affinity auto repair in salem, NH

closest to you id imagine

oh yeah, my current issue is that I have blown the instrument cluster fuse 2 times in a many weeks. I'm sure it is just a short somewhere. It happened Friday afternoon and Sat am the batteries were dead. I haven't even looked at it yet I'm so disgusted. It also causes the tranny to shift irregular or fail to shift into gear. It dies not appear to be the wiring harness to the tow/haul switch.

thanks for the info acf6

If it's any consolation, our local Ford dealer stated to me that aside from oil changes the new 6.7 has just about shut down their diesel section for lack of repair work.

I too find I take pride in that I own Fords and that they may have hawked their first-borns, they did not take Bail Out money, they also are a smarter company (like not building a "clean sheet" all electric vehicle in-house, vs. Ford licensing proven technology, and the list goes on).

2nd: even though you'll pay more due to less incentives, I'd go '15 -- I like what they've done by simplifying it some as well as making it stronger. If you can qualify for X-plan that is a no hassle deal, there are folks on this site and others that work for Ford that can get you a friends and family X-Plan Pin -- the price is hundreds of dollars under dealer invoice and all other incentives can still be used.

Sell your old truck yourself. The bullet proofing adds value and you have documentation showing what was done, I much prefer to buy from an owner. While you are tired of it, it will be fresh and someone's "new" baby (and you can tell him to join FTE :-drink).

You, on the other hand will get bored in the 6.7 section and will still find yourself down in this forum, likely helping folks while your bazillion stock HP and Lb Ft of Torque new truck just motors along.

6.7 tip: from all I've read: one common prob exists, so take all four O2 sensors out and put a dab of anti-seize on the threads and put 'em back in, then carry a couple of new ones in the glovebox. They seem to be one thing that does go out when it wants to and will cause a Limp Mode...

Hope you come back and say hi every now and then. :-drink