I went camping this weekend with just my wife and my dog and to catch up on some fishing. And I don't pay to go camping so we're back in there a ways. Well we get to the campsite in the rain and in the dark, so I let my truck idle with headlights on while we set the tent up. After about 10 minutes my truck acted like it missed and then died. I could not restart it. I tried again 1/2hr later and it started, but only ran for about 4 seconds, missed and died again, but this time I saw the tach go to zero before it died. I know what you're thinking and I was too...CPS. The next morning my wife and I hike out almost 12 miles to get cell service and get my dad on his way with a new CPS. My dad is 2hrs away and had to finish up some things before he came.
This is what we did the rest of the weekend:
Checked oil, was low, but truck was on an incline. We added oil to the low line, but no start.
We replaced the CPS, no start
Checked ALL fuses and relays, still no fire.
We check the fuel filter, somewhat dirty. We cleaned it out with starting fluid and mouth to filter resesitation. Put the filter back in, still no fire.
Replaced filter, still no fire (noticed fuel pump was not pumping)
Used jumper cables to make fuel pump work to fill filter bowl - No fire.
Charged the batteries.
Disconnected the battery for 1/2hr. Reconnect - No start.
Made sure High Pressure Oil Res was full.
Towed truck 5 miles out to a tow-truck accessible location.
Ran diagnotics on it, but snap-on scan tool would only connect on occasion.
Fuel pump working again.
Scanner shows enough Fuel and Oil pressure to start truck, but no fire.
Traced power wiring to computer and it seemed that either a wire somewhere was broken and moving the wire made the connection or my computer is toast.
I had to have it towed to a dealer 2.5hrs from home and have a ride come to pick us up and take us home.
Come to work and have someone say "you know what FORD stands for doncha?"

Any ideas?? I have 58,000 miles and am praying it's covered under engine warranty.

Thanks!

J.D.

Oh and I never got to even wet a fly.

 

You might try unplugging the fuel heater on the back of the fuel filter canister. Something to check......since you've done all the correct troubleshooting checks. Good job, by the way.

 

What does that do? My truck is now 2.5hrs from me so I have to trust the dealer to treat me right, but I will be calling them today to see what they say, or to find out they haven't got to it yet.

J.D.

 

I've read that if it shorts......some of the symptoms you've described do occure. It was just something that wasn't on your list......that's why I mentioned it. You had already checked all of the major components. And right now, you dealer is rechecking them again. I am surprised that as deep as you went into it, that you didn't find something. The only real long shot would be the PCM going bad. But as I said......that doesn't happen very often. Another is the IDM.

 

I'll be calling the dealer this afternoon and ask if they have unplugged the heater. You never know, but when we were working on it, we just kept spinning our wheels.

J.D.

 

You did everything that I would have done.....and more. Sometimes you eat the bear.....sometimes the bear eats you.

 

LOL, I wonder how I taste?

 

HeeHeeHee!.....me too!

 

Kinda fuzzy
Any word on that fuel heater?

 

In the power distribution.....the fuel heater is in parallel with the power going to the PCM. (bad design) If it shorts.......no more power to the PCM. The PCM is protected by the PCM diode, but the PCM is no longer powered.

 

Nope, just called. They have't had a chance to look at it. Seems I am second inline. It's at a small town and they probably only have one diesel tech. Thank God I bought a commuter a few months ago. Otherwise I'd be up a smelly creek without a paddle.

J.D.

That's interesting touchofgrey, because it seems if we moved wires down near the harness for the computer, the scanner would connect, but never consistantly. Would the fuel heater short even when the truck was just idleing and after a 2 hour trip?

 

The heater is kinda far away.....and goes through that big multi-pin connector on top of the valve cover. Just under the air intake tube. The connector may be loose or dirty going to the PCM. It is normally greased to guard against moisture, so don't clean it off. But I would unbolt it, and re-seat it. Once you've got the connector in hand......gently pull on the wires.....see if a pin might be unlocked, and moving up and down. And of course.....there is always the dreaded broken wire inside the insulation. That's unlikely with stranded wire though. If there is a broken wire, it's going to be maybe a bad crimp at a connector, or a pushed pin that isn't locked in the connector.
Getting back to your question.......there is vibration any time it's running. Bad connections have shown up many times when a vehicle is just sitting at a light etc. So, yes, it can happen just that way. Hope this helps.

 

Did you try tightening the the 10mm bolt that holds that connector on? That would explain a great many things if the PCM harness got loose.

 

Yep, we removed the harness and inspected it and replaced it. Still nothing. I don't know when that dealership is going to get to it, but I sure hope it's soon!

J.D.

 

Did you get a chance to deprogram the SCMT before the dealer got it. There is a good chance that they will stick you with the bill when they discover the aftermarket programming.