Engine Problem or Transmission Problem
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Engine Problem or Transmission Problem
I have a 99 F350 with a 7.3L engine and automatic transmission. I just got the truck from my father who had it sitting up for awhile. I am having a problem that I can't pinpoint. When it is cold, it will start out running fine. Then it is like it loses power randomly. It will drive fine for awhile, then it won't hardly make it up a hill.
I initially changed out the valve cover gasket and harness because it was showing cylinders that were missing. That did not fix it. Took it to the repair shop and they said the injectors were firing electrically but not mechanically. They replaced 3 injectors. When I picked it up, the truck drove like a dream. Later that night, I took it out and it started acting like it had no power again. The engine sounds like it is bogging down. I have to put it in low gear just to crawl up a hill.
It doesn't sound like it is slipping and the scan tool I have does not show any misfires. The OD light started blinking at on point, so I pulled over and killed the engine. When I cranked it back up, it ran fine and no blinking OD light. Shortly after, is started bogging down again.
Any ideas on what may be causing this?
Thanks
I initially changed out the valve cover gasket and harness because it was showing cylinders that were missing. That did not fix it. Took it to the repair shop and they said the injectors were firing electrically but not mechanically. They replaced 3 injectors. When I picked it up, the truck drove like a dream. Later that night, I took it out and it started acting like it had no power again. The engine sounds like it is bogging down. I have to put it in low gear just to crawl up a hill.
It doesn't sound like it is slipping and the scan tool I have does not show any misfires. The OD light started blinking at on point, so I pulled over and killed the engine. When I cranked it back up, it ran fine and no blinking OD light. Shortly after, is started bogging down again.
Any ideas on what may be causing this?
Thanks
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,696
Likes: 2,618
From: SE Florida
If you read the codes you'd have a much better idea of what's causing this. When the OD light blinks it means codes have been stored in memory. They will stay there for about a month after the last time the light blinked.
The places that read codes free CANNOT read these codes. You need either Forscan (available free at www.forscan.org,) a good independent shop, or a Ford dealer to read these codes.
This certainly does not sound like a transmission problem.
The places that read codes free CANNOT read these codes. You need either Forscan (available free at www.forscan.org,) a good independent shop, or a Ford dealer to read these codes.
This certainly does not sound like a transmission problem.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 634
Likes: 16
You said it was sitting for a while, how long is a while? Diesel fuel gets a bacteria in it, it will make the fuel get dark in color, even black. It will still burn but it will plug up filters easily. If you pull fuel filter and it's sitting in clear fuel its probably ok, if it's really dark there's fuel additives to correct that. You might have to get it at a place thar repairs furnaces that burn fuel oil.
if your issue isn't fuel quality, and a new filter on engine doesn't get you going, you may have to drop tank and make sure filter screens in the pickup are not clogged up. There are mods to eliminate them and put a filter on frame near pump to save future tank drops.
odds are it's running out of fuel because of a dirty filter, in tank or on engine. Shutting it down, letting sit and restart sounds like it improves it for a bit, leads me to think it can't get fuel supply enough to run right. Fuel bacteria issue is less likely unless it's been sitting a long time.
if your issue isn't fuel quality, and a new filter on engine doesn't get you going, you may have to drop tank and make sure filter screens in the pickup are not clogged up. There are mods to eliminate them and put a filter on frame near pump to save future tank drops.
odds are it's running out of fuel because of a dirty filter, in tank or on engine. Shutting it down, letting sit and restart sounds like it improves it for a bit, leads me to think it can't get fuel supply enough to run right. Fuel bacteria issue is less likely unless it's been sitting a long time.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2021
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Problem Solved
We figured out what the problem was. Apparently, the fuel level sensor/pickup tube breaks down over time and the pickup tube breaks off. The truck was basically "sipping" fuel once it got below half a tank. I've kept the tank full for the last two days and it has run like a champ.
I appreciate those who offered suggestions. I know you have other things you could be doing.
Thanks for the help!
I appreciate those who offered suggestions. I know you have other things you could be doing.
Thanks for the help!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2021
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If you read the codes you'd have a much better idea of what's causing this. When the OD light blinks it means codes have been stored in memory. They will stay there for about a month after the last time the light blinked.
The places that read codes free CANNOT read these codes. You need either Forscan (available free at www.forscan.org,) a good independent shop, or a Ford dealer to read these codes.
This certainly does not sound like a transmission problem.
The places that read codes free CANNOT read these codes. You need either Forscan (available free at www.forscan.org,) a good independent shop, or a Ford dealer to read these codes.
This certainly does not sound like a transmission problem.
Thanks.
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