Need advice ASAP - please help!
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: VA
Need advice ASAP - please help!
Old News"
05 X 6.0 diesel, towing a 9,000 trailer and it started overheating on the road yesterday. It's been fine for the past year - not a new trailer for this vehicle. Doesn't overheat without the trailer.
New Fan clutch last year
New water pump
coolant flush and fill when it was bullet proofed
no leaks, coolant full
only overheats under load (trailer)
e fan running according to tourque
Oil / coolant delta is within 10 degrees
it is throwing code Po480 which is a E. Cooling fan error but I can hear the fan running."
Truck is at the local Ford dealer
Truck is tuned but was that way when I bought it
Dealer wants me to buy a new SCT tuner / chip so they can pull the old one and reset everything to Ford Spec to diagnose the overheating issue then reinstall the new SCT tuner. Dealer sez all the info out of the truck right now is worthless. Dealer also mentioned undoing the EGR delete. This seems excessive to me. Help me O wise ones!
05 X 6.0 diesel, towing a 9,000 trailer and it started overheating on the road yesterday. It's been fine for the past year - not a new trailer for this vehicle. Doesn't overheat without the trailer.
New Fan clutch last year
New water pump
coolant flush and fill when it was bullet proofed
no leaks, coolant full
only overheats under load (trailer)
e fan running according to tourque
Oil / coolant delta is within 10 degrees
it is throwing code Po480 which is a E. Cooling fan error but I can hear the fan running."
Truck is at the local Ford dealer
Truck is tuned but was that way when I bought it
Dealer wants me to buy a new SCT tuner / chip so they can pull the old one and reset everything to Ford Spec to diagnose the overheating issue then reinstall the new SCT tuner. Dealer sez all the info out of the truck right now is worthless. Dealer also mentioned undoing the EGR delete. This seems excessive to me. Help me O wise ones!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,888
Likes: 3,602
Since it is at a dealership, you are essentially at their mercy as it relates to mods (especially EPA mandated emissions systems).
IMO I would be looking at the degas pressures to see if you had head gasket issues.
Even though it had an EGR delete, did you still have an EGR valve plugged in? I can't recall which model years without looking it up, but some model years needed the EGR valve plugged in for proper cooling fan operation.
Also, verify that the two small coolant vent hoses (radiator and intake manifold/EGR cooler) are not plugged off
IMO I would be looking at the degas pressures to see if you had head gasket issues.
Even though it had an EGR delete, did you still have an EGR valve plugged in? I can't recall which model years without looking it up, but some model years needed the EGR valve plugged in for proper cooling fan operation.
Also, verify that the two small coolant vent hoses (radiator and intake manifold/EGR cooler) are not plugged off
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 4
From: DFW
Old News"
05 X 6.0 diesel, towing a 9,000 trailer and it started overheating on the road yesterday. It's been fine for the past year - not a new trailer for this vehicle. Doesn't overheat without the trailer.
New Fan clutch last year
New water pump
coolant flush and fill when it was bullet proofed
no leaks, coolant full
only overheats under load (trailer)
e fan running according to tourque
Oil / coolant delta is within 10 degrees
it is throwing code Po480 which is a E. Cooling fan error but I can hear the fan running."
Truck is at the local Ford dealer
Truck is tuned but was that way when I bought it
Dealer wants me to buy a new SCT tuner / chip so they can pull the old one and reset everything to Ford Spec to diagnose the overheating issue then reinstall the new SCT tuner. Dealer sez all the info out of the truck right now is worthless. Dealer also mentioned undoing the EGR delete. This seems excessive to me. Help me O wise ones!
05 X 6.0 diesel, towing a 9,000 trailer and it started overheating on the road yesterday. It's been fine for the past year - not a new trailer for this vehicle. Doesn't overheat without the trailer.
New Fan clutch last year
New water pump
coolant flush and fill when it was bullet proofed
no leaks, coolant full
only overheats under load (trailer)
e fan running according to tourque
Oil / coolant delta is within 10 degrees
it is throwing code Po480 which is a E. Cooling fan error but I can hear the fan running."
Truck is at the local Ford dealer
Truck is tuned but was that way when I bought it
Dealer wants me to buy a new SCT tuner / chip so they can pull the old one and reset everything to Ford Spec to diagnose the overheating issue then reinstall the new SCT tuner. Dealer sez all the info out of the truck right now is worthless. Dealer also mentioned undoing the EGR delete. This seems excessive to me. Help me O wise ones!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,888
Likes: 3,602
I love the "I need help ASAP" threads that never respond to ASAP help .............
There are two other threads on this in other sub-forums. One mentions radiator fins might be clogged (an idea still worth checking on since there was no follow up post on that suggestion). The other mentions it might be head gaskets.
It would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge on the degas bottle to see if it is pressuring up (the main way to check for leaking head gaskets since you won't get oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil w/ leaking head gaskets).
There are two other threads on this in other sub-forums. One mentions radiator fins might be clogged (an idea still worth checking on since there was no follow up post on that suggestion). The other mentions it might be head gaskets.
It would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge on the degas bottle to see if it is pressuring up (the main way to check for leaking head gaskets since you won't get oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil w/ leaking head gaskets).
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 18
From: NW IA
So frustrating when you google something, come across what explains your problems or question, and the thread was never resolved.
I don't mean that just for FTE, but for any forum or thread on any problem.
It almost gets the point of being hesitant to post advice since you sort of know by the original post(not picking on the OP here) that it's just a couple post drop in that likely won't contribute much, if anything, after the fix or advice is given.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
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From: VA
I love the "I need help ASAP" threads that never respond to ASAP help .............
There are two other threads on this in other sub-forums. One mentions radiator fins might be clogged (an idea still worth checking on since there was no follow up post on that suggestion). The other mentions it might be head gaskets.
It would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge on the degas bottle to see if it is pressuring up (the main way to check for leaking head gaskets since you won't get oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil w/ leaking head gaskets).
There are two other threads on this in other sub-forums. One mentions radiator fins might be clogged (an idea still worth checking on since there was no follow up post on that suggestion). The other mentions it might be head gaskets.
It would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge on the degas bottle to see if it is pressuring up (the main way to check for leaking head gaskets since you won't get oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil w/ leaking head gaskets).
Since the truck ran correctly for several months logic dictates that either the electric fan clutch is operating incorrectly or it's not getting the correct signal from the controller - possible controller failure. The harness and connectors all meter out correctly. The other possibility is a bad temperature sensor.
Bottom line - it's still an ongoing mystery.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,888
Likes: 3,602
Seven days goes by and I'm getting beat up because I didn't respond promptly when I didn't get responses for several days. Wow. OK. Truck is still being diagnosed. Radiator is clear and head gaskets are fine (pressure test is OK).
Since the truck ran correctly for several months logic dictates that either the electric fan clutch is operating incorrectly or it's not getting the correct signal from the controller - possible controller failure. The harness and connectors all meter out correctly. The other possibility is a bad temperature sensor.
Bottom line - it's still an ongoing mystery.
Since the truck ran correctly for several months logic dictates that either the electric fan clutch is operating incorrectly or it's not getting the correct signal from the controller - possible controller failure. The harness and connectors all meter out correctly. The other possibility is a bad temperature sensor.
Bottom line - it's still an ongoing mystery.
and within a day on this one (no response to T Diesel's question):
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nder-load.html
I asked a question in my response post that was never answered. It gets frustrating because it happens a lot, and ASAP usually means it is important. You were just an easy target - nothing personal. Unfortunately there are a lot of P0480 threads on the various forums but few, if any, conclusions ever posted.
Your followup information is appreciated (radiator clear and not head gaskets).
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,888
Likes: 3,602
It would be helpful to know what pressure test was done for checking the head gaskets. Was it monitoring the degas pressure while running at WOT and several hard accelerations, or just a pressure fall-off test on the coolant system?
Also, how high did the coolant and oil get when it overheated?
The P0480 is specifically a circuit code which almost always is the clutch itself or the electrical circuit to it. Has the fan relay been checked or changed?
As you said, the literature on this does suggest the possibility of a ECT or IAT issue, or even a A/C refrigerant pressure sensor as well, but not sure how those external sensors would throw this specific fan circuit code.
One cheap way to check the coolant temperature sensor (ECT) is to swap it w/ the oil temperature sensor. They are the same part.
Also, how high did the coolant and oil get when it overheated?
The P0480 is specifically a circuit code which almost always is the clutch itself or the electrical circuit to it. Has the fan relay been checked or changed?
As you said, the literature on this does suggest the possibility of a ECT or IAT issue, or even a A/C refrigerant pressure sensor as well, but not sure how those external sensors would throw this specific fan circuit code.
One cheap way to check the coolant temperature sensor (ECT) is to swap it w/ the oil temperature sensor. They are the same part.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 214
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From: VA
250f
The P0480 is specifically a circuit code which almost always is the clutch itself or the electrical circuit to it. Has the fan relay been checked or changed?
As you said, the literature on this does suggest the possibility of a ECT or IAT issue, or even a A/C refrigerant pressure sensor as well, but not sure how those external sensors would throw this specific fan circuit code.
One cheap way to check the coolant temperature sensor (ECT) is to swap it w/ the oil temperature sensor. They are the same part.
As you said, the literature on this does suggest the possibility of a ECT or IAT issue, or even a A/C refrigerant pressure sensor as well, but not sure how those external sensors would throw this specific fan circuit code.
One cheap way to check the coolant temperature sensor (ECT) is to swap it w/ the oil temperature sensor. They are the same part.
My research has indicated that the electric clutch is a weak link in the cooling system (subject to failure under heavy towing) so I'm swapping out the electric unit for a mechanical one from a 7.3
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 18
From: NW IA
Not sure
250f
I know the fan relay was metered but not changed. The shop is suggesting the ECT sensor but i don't think that's the issue. Personally i'm leaning to the controller since it was a sudden failure. The Ford dealer said the controller wasn't energizing the fan once the threshold temp was reached.
My research has indicated that the electric clutch is a weak link in the cooling system (subject to failure under heavy towing) so I'm swapping out the electric unit for a mechanical one from a 7.3
250f
I know the fan relay was metered but not changed. The shop is suggesting the ECT sensor but i don't think that's the issue. Personally i'm leaning to the controller since it was a sudden failure. The Ford dealer said the controller wasn't energizing the fan once the threshold temp was reached.
My research has indicated that the electric clutch is a weak link in the cooling system (subject to failure under heavy towing) so I'm swapping out the electric unit for a mechanical one from a 7.3
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: VA
Mechanical fan clutch from a 7.3 seems to have resolved this issue. I'll know for sure tomorrow when I tow the trailer but it's running cooler now. As a bonus the A/C is now like a meat locker!
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Senior User
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From: VA
The good news: Fan issue is resolved - even with the trailer.
The bad news: spent 3 hours on the side of the road today waiting for a tow. 6.0 sputtered a few times then just quit outright. Crank but no start. No codes. Will investigate tomorrow
The bad news: spent 3 hours on the side of the road today waiting for a tow. 6.0 sputtered a few times then just quit outright. Crank but no start. No codes. Will investigate tomorrow
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hardridincwby28
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Dec 5, 2010 11:23 PM