Sorry man that my rigs down or me and the trailer would be on my way out. Hope u get back going soon.

 

How did they test them? You didn't give them the go ahead to fix that did you?

Seems weird, but that's how it usually happens. And it won't even act the same each time. Sometimes it causes a loud knock like you're about to throw a rod, other times it just feels like only half the motor is running.

WAIT. What happened to it was several bad injectors?


Did you let them change the "bad" injectors? That would be the only reason they would pull the valve covers unless they were changing the UVCH wiring or valve cover gasket. If they changed some injectors and now have determined it's the IDM, they're just throwing parts and your money at it. Eventually they'll guess right if you have enough money.

I'd suggest you visit the dealership in person Monday morning and ask to see in writing everything that has been done so far, then take a look under the hood yourself and listen to how it sounds when you try and start it. See what you can tell from that and go from there. Usually a clogged fuel filter just needs a new fuel filter and you're done. If they pulled the valve covers, make sure they got everything plugged back in. Make sure they didn't blow any fuses or mess with any chip if you have one.

 

Thanks, well we are on hold till Monday. I hate having my truck at the dealership!
So here is what I think they have done,

1 Changed fuel filter, did not fix, problem

2 pulled both valve covers,, said oh you have several bad injectors.

3 called and said it is the. Idm,, and we can not realy test for bad injectors till we have the new idm.


So I am guessing they tested the Uvc wireing when they pulled the vc,

So now we are stuck here till Tuesday at the earliest, ( we need to make it to Steavinisville tx by wednesday evening by the latest) or this whole trip is a waste of time.

We get the new idm Tuesday at 7:30 am,
Then take it to ford,
They put it in and test injectors ( so they say) put the vc back on and a way we go... We hope..

That still leaves the mystery of the oily fuel filter..

And since it will be just sitting there on Monday.. What should I have them do? Should I have them replace all the injector o rings? And put the vc back on??

Or do I need to wait for the idm.. So they can " test the injectors"?

Thanks you all for your help!
J

 

They better know how to do all the things mentioned or you're going to be throwing parts at it like mentioned.

Injectors should have already been tested.

You know exactly what happens when you "GUESS" or "ASSUME" they tested the wiring harnesses. I really don't like the sound of anything going on here...

 

So how do you go about buzz testing injectors?
Is it true that they need a working idm to test the injectors?
Or are they just not the smartest folks out there?

On the plus side the serivce mangaer has been very very nice. He did at least know what I was talking about when I told them the check the idm, valve cover wires and that we had already switched out the cps.

I do think this dealership is bringing strait with me... It just seems like they did not check the things I told them first like the idm... If they had we would have been on the road yesterday, if it realy is the idm that is the problem.


.... They have not put any new parts in other than the fuel filter at this point.. As far as I know.. So I hope we will just be paying for the idm.. And not new injectors... If we get new injectors, I am going to ask to see the old ones and have them show me how they " know " they aree bad.. I realy don't want them just throwing parts at it.
They also tested the fuel in out tanks. To tell if that was the bad batch or not.

 

Yes, you need a working idm to do a buzz test as it is what does the test. And you can't pull codes from the IDM without doing the buzz test. They probably did not have a idm in stock to do the test, best guess.

IMO sounds to me they are being straight with you. Lived in Arizona for 27 years and Winslow ain't the worse place to break down. Think I would trust that group a lot more than a big dealer in a large city.

 

Have them try to buzz test the injectors before the IDM swap. If they do buzz, a new IDM may not fix anything. I'd also ask them to check the fuel pressure while cranking. Based on your description of the filter, did they clean out the inside of the bowl first or just put a new filter in? Did they clean the screen in the FPR?

How many miles has it been since you changed the fuel filter?

 

About that black fuel filter, have you seen it personally? Was it slimy and black or just black in color? If it was slimy, that tends to indicate a problem with algae in the fuel and not an issue of injector o-rings, which is what the diagnosis typically is with a black fuel filter.

Honestly, regardless of what they tell you about the injectors, if it were my truck and it seemed to run alright with the new IDM, I think I would take my chances that it would get me there. You can probably buy a set of 8 rebuilt injectors from Rosewood and have them installed for less than they will charge you for the "few bad injectors" they say you have. And you could have them bumped up to stage ones at the same time and have a whole different running truck. You think that thing pulls that horse trailer now, imagine what it will do with injectors capable of nearly twice the fuel!

 

I'd like to see an ohms test on them as well ...

 

So I saw the filter my self. It was black and slimy.. It looked like oil to me but I suppose it could Have been algea but I have no idea what that would look like... The truck did sit most of the summer..

I think the last time I changed the fuel filter was last fall.. But my records are in my truck in the shop.. But it could have been the fall before if for some reason I missed it on the service.

I do not know if they cleaned the fuel bowl or screen.

As far as the idm.. I think I am in sort of a bind.. The dealership wanted 1150$ for the idm. I found one for 460$ so I went for it... There are no retuned as soon as I hook it up.. So if it is not the idm , I cant return the idm.. I guess if the dealership uses theirs and and it is not it.. I might not have to pay for it.... Maybe? As long as I trust them not to just put parts in my truck that are not need..

 

The injectors/wiring, right? I was referring more to if they buzz test the injectors first, and they all buzz, then they may not need to replace the IDM and could proceed to other tests like ohming the injectors. And that would be something they could do Monday if they're not too backed up with other work.

What I can't figure out is, why a Ford dealer with the right scan tool would pull the valve covers without having anything under them to fix. Maybe they were just looking for a loose UVCH and don't know how to test with a multi-meter?

I see nothing at all wrong with having a spare IDM. There are enough times where those actually do fail. Often it's moisture related, so having a spare isn't a bad thing. If there's a core charge and you have to send the old one back, then I'd suggest further testing before you plug it in.

 

I'm wondering why my sctm tuner did not find any codes... I would have thought that we would have gotten one for an idm



My guess they pulled the vc Just to look and see if any ting was loose..

Im very surprised that they do not have a way to test the idm.. With out putting in a new one.. I wish some one here had a obs psd so I could try putting the old idm in to test it my self.





I would not mind having a spare idm.. Either. There is a core charge on it though so I would have to make sure the old one was realy still good to keep it and not return it..

 

Just a WAG, but I wonder if they have a piece of test equipment that could plug directly into a UVCH, and put a 110VDC signal on the injector circuit, as a way of testing the injector and UVC wiring, bypassing the need for a good IDM.

 

If I were stranded like you, I'd take your idm, find anybody with a 7.3, 94.5-03 doesn't matter, and tell them you'll give them 20 bucks or something to just plug it in and see if it works.

 

I sure would like to,, I. Have not seen an other obs psd here.... Which is think is just plain wrong!! It's been hard to go looking for one on foot too.