Diesel Dan, thanks for the input. I have only been on the FTE since 2011 and don't know that I have had much to offer. Having truly qualified tech's figure out what my problems were based on my typically incomplete explanations seems to fall short of qualifying for an Xplan but any insight on moving forward with that would be great!

Hopefully some have benefited from reading the guru replies to my posts either way! FTE is a great resource. I am truly appreciative and include my positive experiences every time I am telling a repair story on my truck- quite a bit.

Any one have thoughts on where to sell it independently? or what it would be worth? I'd let it go tomorrow if I could get 13K for it!

 

I don't think your post count or contribution to the forum is what "qualifies" you for X-Plan. Ford wants to sell vehicles, they give their employees a bunch of PINs to hand out so their neighbor's, family, everyone, buys Fords.

You should post a separate thread and ask for an X-Plan PIN, but I'd do it up in the 6.7 forum 1st.

On the old truck: you can take it to a Carmax and have it appraised, go to your Ford dealer (that will be low), but really I'd use like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, NADA for your area and see how it books out. Then I would peruse Craigslist and see what folks are asking for similar trucks, and lastly and most important: when you are ready to park it and only show it to buyers, pay the couple hundred bucks to have it professionally detailed: inside/outside/underside/underhood. It truly amazes me how buyers don't get past that shiny/clean thing and will want yours over the guys down the road because it is soooo clean (often this is when the Wife factor kicks in).

Oh, and advertise on Craigslist. Works 100% of the time in my area... Cash only, or go to the persons bank and accept a cashiers check if they draw it right then and there...

 

If you work for a corporation that has a ford fleet ask your HR person or fleet manager/or buyer

 

Dang, I gotta say from reading the information you provided I don't think the problem here is your truck. The problem is the people you took your truck to time after time and letting them convince you that you needed $13,000 in repairs. It's terrible that so many 6.0 owners just keep writing checks for all the misdiagnoses, and never get it right. I get that some trucks were worse than the norm, but dang, that's hard to believe. I can't understand why you'd have dumped 13 grand blindly. So the transmission and the whole top end needed rebuilt and replaced at the same time?
I feel for you, I wish that hadn't happened to your truck. But with $60K in it, that is a hugely tough decision to walk away from it and lose or stick with it some more to see if you will finally reap the rewards for all the work. But you'll have to stop taking it where it's been going. If you dump it, those new trucks are supposed to be great for $60K.
Maybe all the issues are ironed out now and you can get some more years out of it?

BTW, I'm all too familiar with the X plan, A plans, and all the plans. Honestly, you can do better than the X plan with some negotiating. Even after fees are tacked on. Those fees are all negotiable anyway.

 

Sounds like your over it. I'd cut my loss and get rid of it. Personally, I wouldn't even look at a 6.4, just jump into a 6.7, they seem to be holding up very well. Or take what you get out of it and find another 6.0.

 

X2 on the comment's guys, finding a honest shop to do honest repairs is the key or learn and do the work your self, the tow haul has a fuse look to see if the amps on the fuse matches the size rated for, there's been a few trucks that has issues when running tow haul the fuse pop's. learning your Vehicle and doing the repairs would save a lot of cash that's why this site FTE is so great we all learn feel confident to do the work and we are all here to help walk you through it with the tech folder too

 

Appreciate all the feedback guys thanks. Agreed without the FTE I would have been bankrupt long ago!

Not to say I have just been cutting checks blindly to any mechanic though. Regarding the 13K- New transmission with RV billet & some HD upgrades- thats 4-5K all day long. Truck was running fine but while they had it apart I had the studs done and that led to new heads because both mine were cracked. A few glo plugs were shot so I had them all changed while they were there and then why not test the injectors... all failed for some reason so they all got changed too. Throw in a Turbo check/clean, EGR delete, new oil cooler, radiator flush/change, oil change, filters ect... and we are getting into 13K territory pretty reasonably, no? I had them pull the banks set up and install a new STC too.

My flawed thought process was if I got it all done, while they were in there, it would all be behind me. A more accurate process may have been just do the minimal work because you are going to be in the shop every couple weeks anyhow!

I have done tons of wrenching on this truck along the way. Sometimes by choice but sometimes because no one else could seem to get it done. Always with my laptop handy and FTE by my side. Thanks to all!

Regarding my truck being a lemon- I don't think any of the things I have had to do are beyond what most here have behind them or on their to do list. All this stuff just needs being done if you are going to keep this make & model long term. I have loved this truck for 10 years. Just time to move on basically because it is unreliable.

10X on finding a good "diesel specialist" mechanic.

 

That doesn't sound like an unreliable truck. It sounds like a paranoid owner. I know, I used to be one, but with a 7.3 truck. I got rid of it after I did all kinds of things to it, and still was nervous. These transmissions are really stout, why did you feel like it needed rebuilt and upgraded? Did the truck leave you stranded often or something? How is it unreliable?
Anyway, you gotta do what keeps you happy, I understand that. Good luck.

 

I had the tranny rebuilt because it wasn't shifting into reverse and it was slipping in drive. Tranny is beyond my capacity as a mech so I brought it in hoping it was a solenoid. They told me it was done & needed a rebuild so when I went for it. I had the upgrades put in, seemed like the right time. Tons of towing and plowing snow so it didnt seem unreasonable at roughly 140K.

Yes I have been stranded on many occasions. 3 times in the last 2 weeks I've lost all gauges over fuse 45 (start run). Still have not isolated it. When that happens the transmition starts acting up. Last time I limped it back to the station and had to walk the last 1/4 mile. For some reason the alternator (6 months old) was not charging resulting in loss of power & shut down. We used two jump kits and left them under the hood to get it the rest of the way. Of course, once the fuse was replaced- couldn't find anything wrong and it was charging fine.

Computer is throwing a code that it cannot communicate with the Gem module. Thats probably a 350-400 part, special order and a week to program the mileage. Luckily when it happened today while driving in the city on a congested road (always the way right?) I had a spare fuse and swapped it out. Ran fine the rest of the day.

I'm figuring it is something to do with the tow haul switch but after stripping the column the wiring harness seems fine. I'm not complaining, just saying I've had enough. I'm sure I will figure out the problem (any insight appreciated!) but after sinking so much time & $$ into it it is interesting to note that alot of things still go wrong with an old truck. Even if it isnt major, it still left me hanging- unreliable seems like a good description given the current situation.

I do love my truck though and even after all I will buy another ford. Just love the diesel power. In between my second & third diesel I bought an FX 250 lariat gas job and I was so disappointed I sold it within 6 months, took a beating and went back to 350 diesel. What can I say-I'm hooked!

 

Check the wires on the shift lever handle, it was also common.

 

Let us know what you decide.

 

So I drove a buddy's GMC with the duromax and had to just laugh. After relentless ridicule I lent him my truck for work and he left my driveway in a cloud of smoke, then took a vid of my 6.0 passing the 100 mph mark just seconds later. Needless to say my 10 year old beater absolutely blew the duromax away. I actually had to ask him if it was really a diesel or was it a 6 cyl gas job?...

Anyhow, I am affirmed that I like the ford and after he beat on it for a day, well my tranny and electrical gauge problems have gone away (2 weeks no problems). That kind of sucks as I am sure they will return at some inconvenient time.

However, I still went to 2 dealers and priced up a new 15 lariat 350. Well, one dealer sent me a spec that I agreed to but it was a 14, I asked for the same features in a 15 and never heard back... Next dealer, well we nailed the spec agreed on a rough price of 54K and then made arrangements to bring in my 04 for a trade valuation and they left me in the waiting room for over 1/2 hr on valuation day. Well I'm just a working man but that went up my *ss sideways. I had an appointment and I ended up having to leave. pretty disappointing after bringing in my title and a blank check.

I spoke to a buddy in commercial rental and he told me that the 350 diesel is the most profitable unit ford makes. You would think they would make an effort to actually sell them?

F-it, I'm hanging with my truck and I will skulk around for 6-12 months waiting for a ridiculously good internet deal until I find one. I realize these guys have a hard time with competition but if someone actually gave me a bit of service and attention I'd be posting on the 6.7 forum right now.

 

6.7 has been for the most part a great product..
Your better off with a private sale of the 6.0
If your going to trade it in get an offer from carmax if you have one near buy, take the bid to the dealer with you