Greetings all! Been a long time lurker while working overseas the past few years with some sporadic posts. Well finally made the leap and spent the overseas living allowances on a new house and most recently a new (to me) pickup. It is a 2006 F350 dually 4x4 lariat with 100k miles on it. History shows it was a ford buy back somewhere around 15k miles. Got sold to a construction company who appear to have abused it for several years before the 3rd owner got it. He had it for about 15k miles and recently had the EGR cooler replaced, injectors and FICM rebuilt last year with blue spring update. The story he told me they sold the camper so didn't need the truck any more...I have my suspicions with the most recent development. Read on.

Anyway, while looking at it everything seemed to check out although the water in fuel light had been on for a few weeks (claims he didn't drive it much the last month or two). I got under it and drained maybe a teaspoon of water out. No worries I thought. Started fine, nothing around the coolant overflow, oil looked alright. Drove it around, seemed to run great. Drove it 3 hours home on back roads and highways, ran fine at all speeds. Parked in the driveway and moved it around a few times as the movers came and went. Went to drive it the first time since bringing it home, leaving work it was about 85 degrees out. Started rough like it was missing a few cylinders but cleaned up and ran fine. Started my way home and at the second traffic light maybe 1/2 mile away it started idling rough and eventually quit. Crank no start. Sat there with cars giving me the finger for about 10 minutes...then it started but ran rough and died again. Ended up towing it home and ordered autoenginuity which was already on the list...but wasn't expecting to need it this soon. Also the water in fuel light has still been on, I assumed the sensor may need replaced since I already drained it (twice).

Unplugged ICP sensor and cranked it, no difference. Just now I hooked up my laptop, here is a video.

 

I would check fuel pressure. Check upper filter and see if it fills up fast with koeo. Did you get the drane completely shut. Make sure it isn't leaking fuel down there.

 

I did not hear the injectors pre-cycle.

I take it you have you looked in the Tech Folder at the
"No Start" tests.

Are you getting sync?

What Codes are you getting now?


Sean

 

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

bobcat, I'll work on checking fuel pressure tomorrow.

Working through the stickies now, just posted the vid to see if it was obvious to anyone. Logged one of the runs and appears to get sync. Will have to grab codes tomorrow and listen for injector pre-cycle (pretty sure I've been hearing it)...remembering seeing cylinder 1 contribution, water in fuel, and one other one...but I just got AE so those might have been in there a while.


<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1406"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:3100;width:65pt" width="87"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:5973;width:126pt" width="168"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:8391;width:177pt" width="236"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:6513;width:137pt" width="183"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:6001;width:127pt" width="169"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:5774;width:122pt" width="162"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:5404;width:114pt" width="152"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:4664;width</colgroup><colgroup><col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:4181;width:88pt" width="118"> </colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt;width:65pt" height="19" width="87">Time</td> <td style="width:126pt" width="168"> Battery Positive Voltage (V) [0.00 - 16.00]</td> <td style="width:177pt" width="236"> Injector Control Pressure Regulator (%) [0.00 - 99.61]</td> <td style="width:137pt" width="183"> Injector Control Pressure (PSI) [0.00 - 4061.06]</td> <td style="width:127pt" width="169"> FICM Information for SYNC (Bit) [0 - 1]</td> <td style="width:122pt" width="162"> Injector Timing (Deg BTDC) [-512.00 - 512.00]</td> <td style="width:114pt" width="152"> Fuel Pump Sec Mon High (Bit) [0 - 1]</td> <td style="width FICM Main Power (V) [40.00 - 52.00]</td> <td style="width:88pt" width="118"> Engine RPM (RPM) [0 - 8000]</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:06.972</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">47.5</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:07.420</td> <td align="right">11.44</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">39.09</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">47.5</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:08.260</td> <td align="right">11.44</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">37.96</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:09.100</td> <td align="right">11.5</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">37.96</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:09.940</td> <td align="right">11.5</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">37.39</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:10.780</td> <td align="right">11.44</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">37.39</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:11.620</td> <td align="right">11.38</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">36.82</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">1</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:12.524</td> <td align="right">9.94</td> <td align="right">70.7</td> <td align="right">1580.58</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">7.14</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">142</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:13.365</td> <td align="right">10.06</td> <td align="right">41.8</td> <td align="right">1242.37</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">7.14</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">73</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:14.213</td> <td align="right">10.88</td> <td align="right">49.61</td> <td align="right">864.51</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:15.085</td> <td align="right">11.38</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">43.62</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:15.925</td> <td align="right">11.38</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">46.45</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:16.766</td> <td align="right">11.5</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">46.45</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> <tr style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> <td style="height:14.4pt" height="19"> 07:28:17.694</td> <td align="right">11.5</td> <td align="right">14.84</td> <td align="right">46.45</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">0</td> <td align="right">1</td> <td align="right">48</td> <td align="right">0</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

 

Have you pulled the IPR to see if the screen is in place or ripped? also what is ICPV at test

 

Fuel pressure (or lack thereof) and/or injector(s) require replacement. That should have you covered there.

 

Well you guys were right, there was a definite lack of fuel pressure. Turns out the fuel pump was blowing bubbles although the gauge was reading just below 1/4 tank. Dumped 2 gallons of diesel in, started right up. Went ahead and replaced both fuel filters...neither looked very bad so I guess that's good news. Pumped in another 39 gallons at the gas station which is interesting since I thought they only held 38??

The fuel gauge was at 1/2 when I bought the truck and drove 3 hours it dropped to 1/4 which seemed normal. Now its full but the gauge still reads just below 1/4 so now it looks like a sending unit is in my future. Water in fuel light came on again so I guess I'll need a new sensor too.

Happy it was something simple but embarrassed at the same time...I guess its better than getting the call from a shop saying you ran it out of fuel dumb ***! Just glad I this didn't happen while towing something.

 

You might want to just clean the water cavity first.
Algae will set the sensor off.

When you in the tank take a close look at the fuel
pick-up. The screen may be clogged of the valve may
be failing on you. Not a real expensive part. But the
fuel level sender will will set you back.

Have a look at this link. I did a repair on my sender
and it has been working ever sense. That was back in Sep 2012.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12322006

Sean

 

It happens. Lesson learned and at least it was a cheap fix.

 

We all make mistakes, it's why they put erasers on pencils.......with the fuel gauge working like you say it did on your 3hr. trip the fuel level wouldn't have been my first place to look either. Glad it worked out to be a simple fix for you.

 

Don't feel bad.. Awhile back i purchased a 2001 crew cab dually 7.3 for $2,000 because a "diesel mechanic" said it needed an engine (with 90k miles).

Towed 'er home, couldn't find a darn thing wrong!? except bad fuel gauge sending unit, and no fuel in the tank..

 

Thanks guys. Insurance covered the towing except for $5, so I'm just out some pride, the cost of AE, and some of the special tools I would have needed to fix a high pressure oil problem. Was planning to buy it all eventually so no big deal. BTW- worked perfect for the lower fuel filter.

Ran some errands today, each time I got back in and started it the fuel gauge was a little higher. After about 40 miles it was back to full. A few threads I've read suggest keeping the fuel above half when its not being driven so there's less condensation to corrode the electronics. Guess I'll wait a while and see what it does.

Thanks for the link. I'll try cleaning the housing first although the drain plug looks pretty rusty on the inside so chances are the sensor is just as bad. May try the carb cleaner trick and see if that does anything.

maxtruck, sounds like you got yourself a smoking deal! Sort of feel bad for the previous owner, but highlights the value of doing things yourself or hiring a competent mechanic.

 

There is a post about taking the HCFM apart and cleaning the chamber
and removing a lot of goo. Then all your out is a gasket. The sensor
seems to be a really tough part. You may even get one to put in and
not needed see if they will take it back. Also I would put the updated
drain plug in. It's made of brass and is a lot less of a pain to open to
drain when you need to.


Sean

 

There is a check valve on the fuel pickup/level sensor that is known to come off causing the fuel pump to lose suction at approximately 1/4 tank. So make sure you pull it and check it.

 

Didn't know that, will keep that in mind. In my case after putting 41 gallons in a 38 gallon tank, I think it's safe to say the tank was dry.

Yahiko, I do plan to change the drain plug next time I deal with it, the existing one makes a hell of a mess if diesel hits the driveshaft.

Thanks for the info!