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Hey all, I just purchased a new to me 2000 Excursion Limited 7.3 4x4 the other day. Test drive went off without a hitch, paid and drove home 3 hrs. About half way through my drive home I noticed the vehicle acting up. With my foot steady on the pedal, the rpms started to jump all over, down, then up, like it didnt know what gear to shift into. It felt like I was losing power, like the engine was starting to die, then it would surge forward like I gave it gas. I noticed it in first and second gear mostly, but it was happening a bit at higher speeds also. I didn't show any CEL or codes when I was looking at it at the sellers place, but yesterday when my wife was driving it the CEL went off. The code read P1249 Wastegate Control Valve Performance. The Ex is bone stock with no chip or tuner, and the light isn't coming on after a hard accel, just randomly. I thought the problem might have been the gas pedal sensor at first, as the previous owner was steering me toward that, but now I'm leaning towards this code. Can anyone help to diagnose this with me? I just spent our savings on this vehicle and don't have any funds left to take her to the shop. Would a new wastegate actuator be the remedy? Thanks in advance!
A new wastegate control solenoid may take care of the P1249, but I do not think it will take care of the surging you are feeling. That sounds like it may be related to an issue with the pedal assembly, which is not uncommon.
Before buying a new wastegate control solenoid, make sure the red line is connected to the cylinder on the wastegate itself. A lot of people disconnect this line and plug it to get a little more boost.
Thanks for the reply Justin. I swapped the pedal on my 99 F350 with the Ex yesterday and took them both for a drive, didn't have any problems with either vehicle. I was happy the Ex ran fine with the truck pedal, but at the same time I was leery that was the surge problem because the truck ran fine as well. We drove both vehicles again today and no surge on either, but the P1249 code keeps coming up on the Ex. I'm pretty confused. I'll do some more digging on the wastegate problem, but the surge issue had me a little freaked out.
"The book" says that can be a grounded signal wire. The other symptoms you describe could be of the same ilk. You can look at the wiring harness to the 42-pin connector over the driver side valve cover, and look for wire chafing.
As Justin mentioned, the red line can cause this issue if there is a leak in the red hose. Is it plugged into the wastegate actuator or removed and capped? Do you have a way to vacuum test the red line with a gauge (Mity Vac)?
You might also consider a new OEM Cam Position Sensor, since it's a very inexpensive thing to try - and it's good to have a spare on-board if that changes nothing.
White Buffalo, I'm using an Innova code reader, cheap thing. What kind of device would be able to monitor the tps? Sounds like something I need to pick up, that's fantastic. Tugly, thanks for the reply. The red line is plugged into the actuator, but the black rubber boot that connects the line to the actuator is really cracked and falling apart. Could this be an issue? I don't have a way to test vacuum, but I can pick up a gauge if need be. You guys are so much help, I really appreciate all of the great advice. I'm going to start combing through this and testing each parameter y'all mentioned, and keep this updated as to my findings. Going to get it transferred into my name today and I'm super excited to have another 7.3 addition to the family.
Alot of folks us the TorquePro App, but I'm not sure if it will show the TPS (throttle position sensor) or not, Tugly and some of the others will know the answer to this. I have an older version of AutoEnginuity but some of the newer versions have given some forum members a headache or two. Edge makes some as well.
I'll post up some of the info & diagrams of the wastegate so you can get that trouble code fixed.
Do you recall what engine speed & RPM's this was happening at?
Thank you for that info! If I remember correctly the surging was happening mostly between 500-1000rpms and below 10 mph, but I did notice it at highway speeds also, just not nearly as bad.
To me that doesn't sound like the waste gate causing the problem, but best repair the trouble code identified malfunction. Tugly's CPS recommendation is definitely one to consider. A good scanner like TorquePro and AutoEnginuity sure pay for themselves after a few uses and sure are a valuable tool when troubleshooting.
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