So our work truck has been showing a problem of the drivers side bank dropping out on humid/wet days. Almost always a restart of the motor would take care of the problem and we would be on our way. Lately it has been getting worse (I expected this) and it is time to take care of it.

I have been reading and watching videos about the idm and the different things people do to them. I don't feel there is an actual component in the idm failing but just moister bridging connections and causing intermittent problems.

My plan is to pull the IDM, pull it apart, inspect, clean, and reseal both the board with glyptal and then the case with silicone. I see one video where a guy recommends changing out a bunch of resistors and stuff in one square of the board. Then in another video changing out one resistor to gain 40hp? I am not much looking at doing the hp mod (although it is interesting) but I am willing to change out the resistors or whatever they are that he says causes most all problems in IDM's.

This is the video with the resistors to be changed out:

Anyhoo, anyone on here dig into this at all? Comments, tips, info, and stuff? I can only have the truck down for a total of 4 days now so I will have to get all my parts and ducks in a row for the job.

 

Sounds like a 120v (or higher) mod.
Please provide some truck details. Later 7.3 have higher voltage ism from the factory.
Thanks

 

It is an 01 from cali. I remember reading something about only certain years of IDM's only work for certain year trucks?


This is the thread of when we first got the truck and got it into working condition.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ook-tugly.html

 

If my memory serves, the IDM's have different part #'s (100, 120, 140) but that did not correlate with the voltages. All the stock IDM's produce the same voltage and I think that is 120V but I'm not certain on that. All part numbers are interchangeable as far as I know. I know personally the part number 120 will work in place of a PN140 IDM.

 

I don't think the 140 is stock. Swamps mod is to redo the IDM voltage and wave length and make it a 140 volt if mine serves me right. I plan to do this, most have very good reviews on this. You should have the 120 volt in 2003.

 

Ok, with a little digging I found out the skinny on the IDM's. I was close but not correct on the info I provided.

There are 4 models of the PSD IDM. 100A, 100, 110, and 120. All produce the same voltage in their stock form which in 110v to drive the injectors. Any one of the IDM models will work on any year PSD. There is a picture of the circuit boards of the 4 models on the Swamps webpage. Swamps does do a 140v mod to an IDM and I have read that the throttle is snapper with this mod but I have not witnessed this nor do I feel the need for this.

The video is interesting on repairing one but when mine puked it was because it was completely full of water. $130 later and I had a rebuilt one installed. At the time I had two trucks, an e99 and a 2000. The 2000 was the model 120 and the e99 was the 100. I drove the 2000 with the 100 for a few weeks until the rebuilt one arrived with no difference in performance.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the info guys! I have been eyeing up the rebuilt IDM's but I am a diy kind of guy and like to save cash when I can. Still the price of a rebuilt and still have mine as a spare and test dumby is tempting.

Looking back in the pics on my build thread it looks as though the corner of the IDM is pretty crusty.
Attachment 288374



The IDM cut out the drivers side bank twice today, the truck ran for 12 hours today, -6f in the morning and a high of 8f. The two times the idm acted up is after idling for around 45 minutes at a stop.

 

The plugs on the IDMs tend to collect moisture themselves, never mind the IDM internals!

 

Looking closer it seems most want your old IDM in return.

 

Thanks, I will definitely be checking the plugs out too! Does ford put any lube in the connections from the factory?

 

There was some grease on the pins the first time I took mine out.

 

Put dielectric grease on the pins prior to plugging it back together. I bought a can from one of the big box parts stores that was in an aerosol can. $6-8 IIRC. Very convenient.

 

If you need an IDM I have three I don't need anymore. Don't know how fast you need one but I can ship one out.

 

Here is a picture of the IDM's I have. I did not install the 94' in my truck when I had it so I don't know if it works or not. But the 98' and other one I did install. I don't remember the year of the black one.
I was hoarding these so I could send them to swamps diesel and get credit towards a modified IDM but then sold the truck.

 

The black one is a 120, I believe that one would work best for our truck. I sent you a pm. Thanks!