Excursion broke down on vacation
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Excursion broke down on vacation
2004 6.8 4x4 ltd
So the truck is fully loaded and were 5 hours into the trip to Florida. At the start of the trip, there was some transmission whine that Id never heard before, but that went away about 1/2 hour in. My wife takes over so I can nap and an hour into her shift the power steering goes out, the check engine light goes on and power is way down, with the engine bucking slightly. With my assisting with steering, we manage to get it into a motel parking lot right off the highway.
If anyone has any ideas what this may be, id like to go to the dealership with your comments in mind.
This same thing happened on this same trip eight years ago in my 2001 X. That Ford dealership tried to rip me off by charging double. I had to call other Ford dealers in the area to get comparative quotes and throw them in the service managers face to get his prices back in line.
So I'm trying to be careful about getting taken advantage of...
Thanks for any thoughts you may share.
Scott Rethford
So the truck is fully loaded and were 5 hours into the trip to Florida. At the start of the trip, there was some transmission whine that Id never heard before, but that went away about 1/2 hour in. My wife takes over so I can nap and an hour into her shift the power steering goes out, the check engine light goes on and power is way down, with the engine bucking slightly. With my assisting with steering, we manage to get it into a motel parking lot right off the highway.
If anyone has any ideas what this may be, id like to go to the dealership with your comments in mind.
This same thing happened on this same trip eight years ago in my 2001 X. That Ford dealership tried to rip me off by charging double. I had to call other Ford dealers in the area to get comparative quotes and throw them in the service managers face to get his prices back in line.
So I'm trying to be careful about getting taken advantage of...
Thanks for any thoughts you may share.
Scott Rethford
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 777
Likes: 2
Are you sure it was the transmission whining? Are there any places in the area that can check the codes for you? Do you still have fluid in your PS reservoir? Have you done any work on your truck lately?
What was the fix when it happened 8 years ago?
What was the fix when it happened 8 years ago?
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I'm no auto mechanic, lol, but I'm reasonably sure it was tranny whine, a noticeable variable humming as the truck went through the gears.
A ford dealership is 18 miles away, that's where I'm having it towed.
I'll go check the fluid now. Tranny fluid and PS fluid are both full.
Dealership at home does all my work, but I only had the oil changed for this trip.
A ford dealership is 18 miles away, that's where I'm having it towed.
I'll go check the fluid now. Tranny fluid and PS fluid are both full.
Dealership at home does all my work, but I only had the oil changed for this trip.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
I wouldn't expect the power steering had anything to do with the engine running poorly. you've checked the simple stuff, you still have a belt, and none of the pulleys aren't seized up. The engine running poorly I would check your coils first, check to see everything is dry. I think it rained everywhere yesterday some water may have worked itself in where you don't want it
You might want to post exactly where you are now someone may be nearby and willing to help you out.
I would also recommend picking up a bluetooth code reader and the torque app if you have an android phone and tossing it in the glove box for $30 you have a decent code reader
You might want to post exactly where you are now someone may be nearby and willing to help you out.
I would also recommend picking up a bluetooth code reader and the torque app if you have an android phone and tossing it in the glove box for $30 you have a decent code reader
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
I'm no auto mechanic, lol, but I'm reasonably sure it was tranny whine, a noticeable variable humming as the truck went through the gears.
A ford dealership is 18 miles away, that's where I'm having it towed.
I'll go check the fluid now. Tranny fluid and PS fluid are both full.
Dealership at home does all my work, but I only had the oil changed for this trip.
A ford dealership is 18 miles away, that's where I'm having it towed.
I'll go check the fluid now. Tranny fluid and PS fluid are both full.
Dealership at home does all my work, but I only had the oil changed for this trip.
Is your overdrive light flashing? that's usually a good indicator of a transmission problem
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We're at the Gray Plaza motel in West Frankfurt, Illinois. Help is exactly what I may be needing since I'll have to go with the truck to the dealership and wont have a way back to the motel should the repairs take longer than a day.
Im also open to getting the work done outside Ford, if someone knows a decent repair shop nearby. That'll save me near $50 in towing costs. Towtruck is here in 45 minutes.
Not the OD light, just the check engine...
Im also open to getting the work done outside Ford, if someone knows a decent repair shop nearby. That'll save me near $50 in towing costs. Towtruck is here in 45 minutes.
Not the OD light, just the check engine...
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
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From: Colorado
Was the powersteering going out the first symptom ?
Remember, the power steering runs off of the serpentine belt , which rotates at the speed of your engine. So if the powersteering pump wines, it will wine at the speed of the engine rpm's.
If the pump is seizing up, it might drag the engine down a bit too.
Remember, the power steering runs off of the serpentine belt , which rotates at the speed of your engine. So if the powersteering pump wines, it will wine at the speed of the engine rpm's.
If the pump is seizing up, it might drag the engine down a bit too.
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Tow truck guy says a belt came off. I can see it dangling there on the flatbed. Is this going to be costly?
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Brett Foote
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From: Colorado
no, belts are cheap but... It could be a pully that seized (also cheap) or it could be the powersteering pump that seized up and threw the belt or broke it.. Or another piece like the waterpump.
Check if the pulleys that the belt runs spin normally. (not seized)
Check if the pulleys that the belt runs spin normally. (not seized)
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Ohio
Are you sure it was the check engine light? Could have been the battery light which makes sense if the belt came off. If that's the case, I would say power steering pump seized up, threw the belt. Weird engine behavior could be caused by low voltage. Of course these are all long distance guesses.
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the 4 pulleys I can see on the front of the engine all spin very nicely. the tensioner broke, causing the broken belt.
Total repair cost $150
Me doing the happy dance cuz my two week trip isnt ruined? Priceless...
Thanks everyone
Total repair cost $150
Me doing the happy dance cuz my two week trip isnt ruined? Priceless...
Thanks everyone
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Just turned 120,000 this trip, about 80000 of them are ours.
Two more months of payments and she's mine!
I'll never be without an X if I can help it.
They're almost done with the repair and with any luck we'll only lose 14 hours.
Two more months of payments and she's mine!
I'll never be without an X if I can help it.
They're almost done with the repair and with any luck we'll only lose 14 hours.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Ontario, Canada
Glad it worked out for you, Enjoy your trip!