Hi, all.

I'm Pacmansb or Shane if you prefer... I live in the Houston Texas area and have never owned a truck that wasn's a Ford.

Sadly they was always Rangers as I never had the need for a big truck.

But I have evolved!

3 days ago I purchased a 2005 F-250 super duty 4x4 super cab with the gas v8.

So the skinny of it is I got it because it has a 5th wheel towing package for an 5th wheel camper I bought.
The truck only has 9200 origonal miles on it.
I'm due to pull the trailer to lousiana next week.

Today I was driving it and inexplicably the dash just shut down. I lost the raido, and all gagues with it. The dash looked like the truck was turned off before inserting a key. This happened for about 40 seconds and then it came right back on.
The trucks preformance during the power outage was normal. Other than the dash gauges and the raido the truck ran just fine.

I supect a short of some kind.

Do i need to be looking for a damaged wire?

I have looked up all the reported information on the truck through carfax etc, and a friend even had a dealership mechanic he knows pull a repair report. There is nothing in the trucks history suggesting it was a know issue.

So thanks ahead of time for any help. I'm glad to be a member.

I'd also like to hear about any mods that ya'll think are essential to this type of truck.

Thanks,

Pacmansb
(Shane)

 

Welcome to the site and congrats on the truck.

Can't help on the dash issue but there are plenty of knowledgeable folks here that will chime in I'm sure.

9200 miles? Wow, that's low.

 

Yeah, I wasn't planning on buying a truck till later this year. But then while looking for an RV camper, I came across the truck. I just couldnt pass it up with that kind of low milage.

Thanks.

 

Yeah, really good find. Hopefully you can work out the dash issue easy enough.

 

Well so far no re-occurance on the dead dash issue.

Saturday I'm set to haul my 34' 5th wheel trailer about 400 miles.
That's about 6 hours on the road. This will be my first road trip in the truck and my first haul as well. Also the first time to pull a 5th wheel. So look out.... I-10 from Housto to Lousiana might be a place to avoid!

I'll update if the dash issue returns.

So what necessary modifications do most of the F-250 superduty owners feel are essential? (Again I have the gas v8)

Since I'v never owned a large truck, I have never taken an intrest in preformance modifications. But times are a changing. So if you have ideas or suggestions I would really apprecaite your time and opinions.

Thanks,

 

Do basic maintenance first, including changing the rear axle oil. Do you have records of what has been done? I would not do any 'mods' until you get possibly overdue maintenance under control.

 

Thanks, for your input. Yes, I do have an accurate history of the truck.

It's previous owner kept execllent records on the truck. However I will begin a complete fluid change out just for piece of mind.

I also have the carfax report which is ok but never the whole story. a buddy of mine who is a certified mechanic at a dealership pulled a different report showing a more detailed mechanical history which showed 2 small recall jobs fixes. And a 3rd repair involving a 7 hour labor charge. These three items he pulled were not on the carfax report.

Again, thanks for your input and suggestion.

 

Here is a thread on the problem. Seems to be a different problem for each person however the gauge cluster seems to be a problem for more than a couple.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...1100154&page=3

 

Thanks Snowkeeper, I apprecaite that link.
I will take the time to get the battery checked and make sure the contacts are in good shape.
So far the problem has still not reoccured.
But after reading that I think I will definantly see it happen again.
Huge help!

Thanks