Hello everyone.
I have a 2002 f350 7.3 powerstroke just turned 112k non-dually if that matters. I bought this truck 4 months ago and I've noticed it seems more sluggish but its only at times. I unplugged the ICP and my edge showed a steady 14.5(IPR) reading in park doesn't matter if its warm or cold. ICP reads more around 480(when plugged in) average when warm in park. When i plug the ICP in the IPR reads maybe in the 12 area then as it warms IPR drops to about 9(commonly bounces between 8.9 to 9.4). Also the ICP reads 725 constant in park without it plugged in. I'am not the best diesel mechanic by any means just trying to provide all the info i can so someone can help me out with this. Another thing i have noticed my starting time is longer it used to fire up instantly now it has almost like a fumbled sloppy start and my battery light flashes as i crank the engine. Is that normal? But this is not all the time. It will start right up every morning and after its warm its a sloppy start until i let it sit for 6 hours at least. I've been doing a lot of research and not having much luck finding anything. any ideas? and if it matters i have an edge evolutions cts. 4 inch mbrp exhaust turbo back straight pipe and a spectre intake. Also sometimes i hear a thud from the front passenger side and i'm wondering if i'm doing all this research for something as simple as a stuck caliper that breaks free every now and then. I did replace the front calipers.... or maybe im just crazy and nothing is wrong with this truck? also sometimes the transmission drags the shift out it seems like. Then makes a hard shift. Other times it shifts perfect and i cant even feel it shift! If this helps any I took it on a trip (empty) and averaged 18 mpg doing 60. everyone i talk to says that's low with my mods and I run it in race mode level 2. Trying to give all the info i can. But any ideas?! all are greatly appreciated. thanks for reading

 

Moved to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

 

As far as starting goes, it sounds like your batteries may be weak, and your at the upper part of the mpg scale. As for the electronics end of it, some of the AE gurus will chime in on that. AE= auto enginuity, a diagnostic tool.

 

Ok thanks guys. Sorry i posted in the wrong spot. New to all this. I talked to a guy today and he said it sounds like a sticking IPR. I will check those batteries their going on to 3 years old now. Thanks again.

 

Sticking IPR is possible, generally while cranking you could view ICP climb, if it seems to hang around 200psi or so and quit climbing that would generally be evidence of a sticking IPR. But good batteries are essential to quicker starts. The PCM needs to see around 100 RPM's as seen by the CPS, 500psi as seen by the ICP, and at least ~10.5Volts in order to even start firing the injectors.

 

Check the battery terminals and the alternator to, since it does it after its been running a while. Check the simpler free things first.

 

Ok ill take the tester with me to work and check it all. Because it normally acts up once I get out there since that's a long enough drive. It has been rather hot here latley also and another thing I'll throw out there is before I bought this truck it sat in a garage for a very long time and was rarely driven. I know that plays hell on batteries and I double checked they are 3 year old interstates. The only issue I had so far today is after shutting it off and restarting it I noticed the rpm guage bounces just a little and if I tap the gas it goes away. Other than that it has fired right up. My edge shows between 13.9 and 14.1 on the charging system but I will check terminals and everything. The only reason I pointed to the IPR so fast is because of a slightly unstable idle at times and when I first changed the fuel filter it was gray. So I'm sure that's not healthy. I'll get some numbers back to you guys ASAP. Thanks

 

That thud is probably your blend door slamming shortly after you start up. Mine does it every once in a while. It is hard enough to feel in the floorboards if you are wearing cheap sneakers. Wife thought it was backfiring.

 

I have been wondering for a long time what that noise was. I thought it had to be something with the climate controls because it comes from that area of the truck.

 

I tested both batteries after I got back from work. With the truck off they both had a 12.7 reading. Had someone start the truck as I tested the betters and they both showed in the 11.7 area while cranking and once it was running voltage went to 13 then steadily climbed to 13.9. I did notice some junk on the terminals I will get off and double check the starter connections just incase. Other than that I'm stumped the truck takes off good most times but the faster I go the more sluggish it gets. Any ideas?

 

Are you saying the more you get into it, the more it falls on it's face? If so I would be checking fuel pressure, if you haven't done the hutch mod it is possible that the screens in the tank are restricting your flow.

 

Yes it's horrible when it acts up. What's the best way to check fuel pressure? My edge says 9.0 average on ipr percent when warm. And icp psi is always around 480 doesn't matter if it's park or drive. When the truck is cold ipr reads 12.4 normally and 625 CPI psi. Once I loose those numbers it's like I might as well pull over and restart the truck because it's a slug an shifts rough. And the only reason I can think of why shutting it off would solve anything is the crap on the tank falls off the pump in the tank or something.

 

And what's the hutch mod? If you don't mind explaining

 

The pickup foot in the fuel tank falls off, which causes vehicle to run out of fuel just below 1/4 tank. The fuel return line discharges too closely to the pickup, so you pick up a lot of bubbles. Pickup screens are in the tank, which can clog - which is a maintenance item. Somebody (that goes by "Hutch") modified the fuel pickup system to eliminate the bubbles and need for further maintenance. If you do a search on it, you'll find everything you need.

The last link in my signature may help your problem.

 

ICP and IPR numbers are great tools, but you need to look at them when the truck is acting up. Don't bother checking them with the ICP unplugged, when you do that the PCM just sends out default numbers based on a predefined parameters.

When the truck is slow to start, watch your IPR % and note how high it has to climb while cranking. Then compare that to cold cranking values. You could have worn o-rings on the IPR or a sticking IPR as mentioned.

How many miles are on the engine oil? Is it full? What type of oil is in there and are there any additives in it? Can you read EOT with your Edge? See if you can determine what oil temps define hot and cold in terms of your start up problems.