Got a problem....need a little help from the experts!

First, let me say that I have searched and read several threads, but my situation is just a bit different than what I read about, so that's why I am posting this.

As background, my truck is a 2000 F-350 Dually Crew Cab 4x4 PSD, 115K. I have the SuperChips tuner set in the tow safe mode. I have already been down the CPS and UVC Harness (driver side, harness only, not the gasket) replacement roads, so I know about that stuff.

Now....for the first part of the problem. For the past couple weeks, my truck has developed a little "hiccup". I can be tooling down the Interstate at 70+ and the thing will just heave or jerk slightly. Most of the time it just kept going. Once, at a much slower MPH (turning into my driveway), it coughed, stalled and lit the service light. However, I fired it right back up and kept going. It threw up the P0344 code at this point, which I know has to do with the CPS. After some reading here, I suspected the CPS or the UVC again.

Since I had already replaced the CPS, I kinda ignored the initial recall notice about it. As luck would have it, I received a second notice about it last week, so I went ahead and made an appointment at my dealer to have it changed, hoping this would solve my problem. Today I put the truck back into "stock" mode, and at 12:30pm I took it over there. By 1:15pm I was on my way. The truck ran fine afterward. I left it in "stock" mode and went to do a hauling job - 1728 16-oz bottles of drinking water. Everything went fine and I delivered the load, then went to meet my family for supper. At about 4:45pm I was almost to the restaurant. I slowed to turn into the parking lot and the truck died, and would not start back. I tried several times to restart it, but to no avail. I noticed when cranking there was no movement in the tach. Luckily I was on a slight downhill incline which allowed me to coast onto the shoulder of the road. When I got out of the truck, I noticed a fairly strong smell of hot/burning electronics. I had the truck towed to a safe place and I checked the codes again and found only the P0603, which I assume is from when they changed the CPS today. My thoughts at this point are leaning toward a burnt valve cover gasket connection or something similar. However I do find it odd that whatever happened happened only a couple hours after the dealer guy worked on it. I wondered if the mechanic might have left the wire loose on the new CPM. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, so this is about all I know at this point. I am a little puzzled that there are no error codes (keep in mind that I can only check the codes that show up with my tuner). Am I headed in the right direction? Any help/direction will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for patience with such a long post....

 

Does it seem like it is running out of fuel? Might need to get another cps and see if it doesnt change things. When is the last time the fuel filter was changed, did you get feul from someplace that you normally dont? The hot electrical smell has me wondering as well. Do any of your wires look burnt, or close to the manifolds, downpipe etc.?

 

New computer and IDM (injector Drive Module) $800.00

 

Keep the superchips handy to check for codes. Another reason the P0603 code shows up can be a PCM re-set, which is what happens when there is a short to ground in a wiring harness. I had a similar issue with my truck sputtering or stalling. My problem was the main engine wiring harness. Check where the big harness comes up and over the drivers side valve cover below the square box with a bolt in the middle (42 pin connector). Also check the wires coming out of the back of this box. If one of these wires has been rubbing against metal and the insulation is worn thru, it can cause the symptoms you're describing.

Also check the wiring harness over the top of the drivers side front shock for the same issues.

 

Mine did the same thing. I was pulling a hill with a 1967 Mercury Cyclone GT in tow on my transporter in the middle of Virginia and it just died going up a hill. At the time I was running a SuperChips chip so I removed it and still nothing. I checked the tachometer while cranking the engine and the tach jumped as I cranked. A sign that the CPS was good. I opened the water drain on the fuel filter a fuel just gushed out when the key was turned on. A sign that the fuel system was good. I called the local Ford dealer and had the whole mess towed to the shop. $800 later I had a new computer AND a new Injector Drive Module. I still say it is the computer and the IDM.

 

Thanks for responding, everyone!

First thing I did was to consult the dealer. The guy there was nice enough to give me another CPS to try. I switched it out yesterday after work, but it didn't help.

My next step is going to be a search for burned wires/connectors. Then, when I start looking at the computer/IDM....I suppose the first thing I need to know is where these things are located and what they look like. Looks like I may get to learn about another aspect of my truck....

Again....thanks for the help!!

 

I crawled around on/under the truck today after work, but I didn't really see anything suspicious. I will tear into it further later.

I did notice a couple things. These might not mean anything at all. After grinding the starter for a few turns, then releasing the key, the windshield wipers will cycle one time. The wiper switch is off however. Also, I noticed the starter was very warm after I tried cranking it a couple times. Perhaps this is normal. The starter labors a lot more than normal when cranking now....

 

How charged are your batteries since you been cranking it. The windshield wipers is definatly wires touching somewhere. Might want to jiggle harnesses and check for burned spots where Chris described. The computer is down on the drivers side kick panel under the dash, IDM is behind drivers side wheel well, I think.

 

Took a look at all the fuses and relays....nothing found there. Still looking....

 

Have you had the wind shield replaced? Has it been raining when these things occur?

 

The truck is a rebuilt wreck victim, but I have driven it for 80,000+ miles since I acquired it. I've never had the windshield out, but I did recently notice that it has developed a windshield leak on the passenger side. I talked to a couple glass guys about replacing it, but I haven't made it to them yet. I am interested to see where this line of thought goes....

 

Did you ever go through and carefully inspect the wires for chaffing? When the wipers did their thing, did the gauges sweep too? Sounds like you're truck is acting like the batteries have been disconnected. A short to ground in a wiring harness or a PCM issue can cause this. Of course, so can loose or corroded battery cables.

 

I have looked at all the wires I can find and haven't seen anything odd yet. When the wipers cycled, I did not notice if the gages did anything or not. Gonna keep looking....


THANKS FOR THE HELP!!!!!

 

If the wind sheild is leaking water down the inside of the firewall, it will cause all kinds of goofy things like that if your fusebox is getting wet.

 

So what happened? Did you fix it?