FTE of the famous 7.3 - good morning from the holiday inn. i wanted to share a few thoughts before i learn the status of my family beloved ‘great (snow) white’ …
active duty CG driving from kitty hawk NC to Petaluma, CA for holidays.. truck is loaded with many personal items spanning military career..
trying to arrive in bay area for christmas as my in-laws are there so my wife can meet her two newest newborn niece and nephew..
battery light illuminated in sayre, OK and we limped it to Doug Grey dealership where we got a helpful jumper tool from the awesome service guys there.. thanks daniel!
back on I40 the battery light quickly appeared and we died one more time just outside shamrock.. got it limped to shamrock - then had it flatbed towed to Gene Messer dealership here in Amarillo (thanks to Brian at Irish Road Service in Shamrock!)

sayre told me batteries are good
(red tops from 2016)
sayre told me both alternators are good
sayre mentioned GEM (fuse panel) not sending signal to alts to charge batteries..

truck has some water intrusion that does interfere with fuse panel.. rust in body..

gene messer team here in Amarillo (JC and Arthur) working to install two new alternators and go from there..

truck is an ‘02 F350 4x4 CC LB SRW
445K miles.. owned it for 14 years now.. really having a hard time potentially parting ways with it.
- looking at all sorts of options to keep it, should the two new alts do the trick today
- looking at all sorts of options for parting with it:
- scrap
- sell
- trade in
- store long term

i’m on my iphone with limited connectivity and will keep you updated as things unfold from my end. thought about posting this in the TX chapter - but figured it get more visibility here..
if anyone is local and interested to maybe buy this truck - please let me know. clean title, two owner history - would love to see it go to good home if i have to part ways with it.

if you’d like to reach out - text message is best for now. *breakbreak* 'edited' removed text on 1/21/23.

otherwise, wishing you all the best this holiday season! its been a very moving experience to a part of this signature vehicle community!!

cheers,
blaize potts

 

Your truck is a 2002? If so, you have a VSM, not a GEM. The VSM is located behind the stereo and the GEM would be located behind the under dash fuse box.

If there was water intrusion in the fuse panel, you may have found the source of your issues. Corrosion can cause some insane electrical gremlins. The alternators not receiving a signal to send a charge to the batteries is a real thing and could be a primary symptom of your problem.

You have dual alternators it appears, but I might suspect the connector on the alternator.

Have the shops checked the positive connection block under the air box? This block can corrode over time and make for a poor connection. Check the main PCM fuse, it should be a 30A fuse under the dash, but I am not sure which position it is on a 2002 MY.

Is there anything else you can tell us like does the stalling happen immediately after hitting a large bump or seam in the road? Hopefully you are not being hit too hard financially by the dealerships you have been to visit.

 

Sous - thank you for the input/reply.

yep, truck is an ‘02.. and good copy on VSM vs. GEM location.

dealerships havent hit hard - Sayre didnt charge a dime (but we tipped mechanic) and tipped tow driver $100 - used AAA membership for tow


dealership here in Amarillo quoted $1450 - w small AAA discount -

i get a little uneasy going back and forth with mechanics in their shop.. if / when i get the truck back, i’ll certainly check items you mentioned..

agreed that water intrusion could be the primary smoking gun -

hope to know a little more in the hours ahead.
TYS!

V/r,
b

 

Please check it right away before spending more money. This commonly happens on the 02-03 trucks and has caused people to waste a lot of time and money before figuring it out. If this connection is bad nothing will work, no power to the fuses. It's the little square plastic box that I am shining my flashlight on in the pics, right on the fender well behind the air box. You have to pry it open to see the connection inside and it's a cheap and easy fix.

 

bigb56 - much appreciate the quick reply w/ photos to help.

as soon as i get hands back on the rig - i’ll scope out this connection.

making a small list of items to get at parts store for remainder of trip (if able to keep going)..

’tweet-in-a-can’ (lectro wash)
wire brush
spare fuses
small meter

THANK YOU for lending the digital helping hands.
this is exactly why i love this truck… great people!

to be cont’d…

V/r,
b

 

Often that connection will be completely broken apart with the ends rotted off. If that is the case it can be put back together with a split bolt wrapped in tape. Note that the two gray wires are fusible links and send all the power to the fuses.

 

@bigb56 , thank you so very much for posting a picture and providing much more detail than I could earlier. I was on my way out the door, so was on limited time.

Appreciate you sir.

@bdpotts , get back to us when you have time and a bit more information and we will do our best to help you out.

 

No problem, as a 2002 owner it's right in my ballpark.

 

Ok I'm an optimist but hear me out:

You mentioned water intrusion. Have you been driving in the rain? A leaky windshield seal can drip water on the fuse panel by your knees and electric gremlins start to party. Dry up the fuse panel with your GFs hairdrier hanging off the steering wheel for a couple hours. Slobber RTV on windshield seal/rust holes for now and get on down the road.

Good luck buddy!

 

Subscribed and hoping for best results.

I was in Amarillo earlier this year on a 7.3 rescue mission.

 

aawlbernin - great tip about the hair dryer! i will keep that ace up the sleeve for next time! and also the silicone.. the corroded cab hotspots need to be addressed w/o a doubt.. in rain i always get the drips on my left foot down there..

skyski - thanks for tuning in and giving some encouragement.

and to Sous and bigb56 - thanks again for quick input earlier yesterday.

we got the truck back from the guys at Gene Messer ford and the battery light is extinguished.. the truck runs great and purrs like a kitten. we settled up our $1414.14 bill w/ ford and strapped into our seats.
hit 70mph and cruised all the way to flagstaff… got here just after midnight..

passed thru Tucumcari and grabbed some essentials from auto parts store - havent needed yet.

we’re aiming to finish the drive today.. and get the rig safe and stored to the bay area.. and more importantly, the mrs. to her family for christmas celebration.
lotsa rain on the horizon once we arrive, but ghe truck will be in secure storage w/ a full car cover..

gents, THANK YOU for all the help!!
i owe some immediate reps!! (lemme get to a computer first so i dont have to complete it via cellphone)
you guys help keep the flame lit for driving this beast into the future! sure do appreciate your time and consideration.

Very Respectfully,
blaize

 

Outstanding news that y'all are back on the road and will be arriving to your destination soon! We hope you and your family have a great holiday season Blaize!

 

Expensive, but completing the mission is worth it. Glad you’re on the road!!

They got rid of ‘rep’ system. Now you can thumbs up a post by clicking the thumb at bottom of post.

 

reps are gone?!?! well, those were the good ole days.. also shows how much i’ve missed in awhile..

rosie and i switched drivers here in kingman, az..
another 10 hrs or so to bay area.

tow from Shamrock to Amarillo (thanks, Brian!!)

batts died w/ Sayre dealership temp fix.. glad the generator limped us along into Shamrock..

yesterday along I40… who doesnt love trains?

western NC during start of trip…

a couple hours ago..

 

Too bad your truck'n probably up the 95 az side at night...the canyon run up to Vegas is priceless with Hoover dam to your right just before you crest into boulder