Sorry for the long post in advance, but want to provide as much info as possible to get useful advice. Bought a 2003 F-350 6.0 PSD in August. 67k miles but unknown hours (this truck was on Alaska north slope oilfields since new with very likely many idling hours). Truck started and ran fine when purchased and have been driving it since, the only issue until recently was hard start condition after sitting overnight. The truck would fire and run very briefly, then die as if running out of fuel. Every time on the fourth start cycle it would run and keep running. Very strange thing was if it was parked nose downhill maybe 2-3% it would start fine the first time, every time and keep running. Last week I started it in the a.m. (temp. was 16*F. at the time) I let it idle at high idle (1300rpm) for approx 10 minutes and then left for work. Drove 3 miles, stopped at a stop light and was having rough idle, shifted to neutral, increased rpm to about 1500 while waiting for light. When I idled down and shifted into drive it died and would not start. Pulled it off the road let it sit all day while deciding how to get it home.
It sat about 8 hours, I stopped by, tried it and it started but ran horrible. Much black smoke, intermittent lack of throttle response, surging rpm without touching throttle. While driving home with it barely running I shifted from drive to 3 and rpm increased as they should and it smoothed out. Shift back to drive and it would go back to bad running condition. Got it home barely and it died as I pulled into driveway and hasn't started since. I've spent many hours reading on this forum (many sharp people and much useful info on here, thanks).
This is what i've done and where I'm at: At first I didn't have a code reader so I changed all filters (used all motorcraft), oil (used rotella t6), removed, cleaned and replaced egr (left it unhooked, also jacked up the rear of truck to look for coolant in egr port and there was none), checked batteries individually (okay)checked voltage on FICM, 48 volts as required, brief drop to 45V on initial key on, and also brief drop to 42V when first beginning to crank but comes right back up to 46V during cranking. Wire harnesses look okay. Unplugged ICP and tried to start, no luck. Fuel looked clean when changing filters, couldn't see or feel any oil on ICP or pigtail, oil pressure comes up on gauge while cranking.

Today I bought a scangauge II, and ordered adapter to hook-up fuel pressure gauge (adapter will be here tomorrow).
Scangauge shows only one code P2285, I know this is a code for the ICP, and my questions are: 1. Doesn't unplugging the ICP create a condition where the truck will start if this is the problem? 2. Does having the ICP unplugged cause the code? 3. When I had the batteries unhooked did that clear out other possible codes? 4. Should I plug the ICP in and clear the code and see if I get it again while cranking? 5. After the adapter gets here and I check the fuel pressure what are my next steps if that isn't the problem?

BTW While trying to start in the driveway I got some black smoke, but now in the garage since I started working on it I get no smoke.

 

p2285 can come form disconnecting the icp sensor.
you need to moniter icp pressure, sync, ficm sync, ficm m_ pwr. as well as check for other codes.
IMO you do have a ficm issue but you may also have something else going on.

 

Not saying it is from here but this could indicate an ficm problem.

 

Thanks for the input, tomorrow I will check fuel pressure. How do I check the other tings tha cheezit suggested

 

with a scan tool that aloows pid functions

 

Thanks again, I'll find someone that can do that for me

 

The tech folder has a check and repair section in it for the ficm. It is not 100% inclusive but probably finds the problem 80 to 90 per cent of the time. Cheezits method is absolute but takes special equipment.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try