Help! Can anyone give probable cause?
2002 F350 2wd SD dually 7.3, 101k miles

Yesterday I was headed to have the fuel filter (22k) changed, and was down to about 1/8 tank of fuel or less. All of a sudden loss of power and engine light came on steady, engine running VERY rough. I coasted into a garage where they tried to read the code but their reader didn't register anything, and same symptoms were still present and light was still on. I looked in owners manual for causes and suspected out of fuel maybe due to inaccurate gauge (?).

Ten minutes later, doing nothing, I started it up and was it ran fine and no light. Put in 4 gals from local station and put another 20 miles on the truck with no issues and then filled up completely elsewhere, and drove another 10 miles home. (had also tried to get fuel filter changed but guy didn't have a tool to remove the FF cap - so that's still not done).

Three hours later at home, thinking problem was solved with sufficient fuel, started truck and it immediately had same symptoms upon starting. Used wifemobile.

This morning, started it, and it was fine. I shut it down and purged the fuel canister thinking water may have been present. Started, still fine until test drive 3/4 way around the block. Same thing. Shortly it was okay, then bad again. Purged FF again. Still bad running and light.

The CPS is about 15K old, but I do have a spare. Could that cause this?
I'm not sure what to do and whether I can even get it someplace safely without damaging anything.

Please help. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!

Regards Guys.

 

You could have air in the fuel system that is still trying to work its way out, especially if you didn't cycle the key a few times to fill the bowl after draining it. Drain bowl, replace filter, cycle key a few times to fill the bowl with fuel, drive for a while and see what happens.

 

Loose UVCH.

 

I agree with Chris.

 

I agree with Chris also, but really unless you have the codes read properly we are only guessing.

If the UCVH plug came unplugged there will be a code. Along with that you will have a raw fuel smell present with whitish blue smoke exiting the exhaust pipe. Most likely a romp at idle as well.

This could be ICP sensor or IPR sensor related as well. Cam sensor a possibility. Check the codes and it will help narrow the issue down.

Diane

 

I also say its the UVCH, what you describes sounds just like what happened when mine popped off. I would find some one with a scanner and determine what side it is before you dig into it.

 

Ding, ding, ding... We have a winner. At least that's what I think anyway.

My 02 did the exact same thing over the past 1 1/2 years. VERY, VERY intermittent actually. Just like yours. SES light came on, ran like hell, and lost power one night out of the blue during the winter of '07. Pulled over and shut it off, then started again with no SES and running smooth. Get 1/2 mile down the road and it does it all over again. Repeat process and then I have no more problems. A few weeks later it does it all over again but stopped before I could even get it pulled over. Never once had another problem until late April '09 when heading up the driveway I noticed the light and running like crap. That time it never got better. Pulled the v/c's and the pass side was coming unplugged. Got the little retainer clips from ford to fix it. Or you can do the 50 cent mod.

 

Will a Scangauge read the codes? If not, what are my choices to get the codes read?
Thanks all, for your replies.

 

FWIW thats exactly how my truck ran last month when the CPS went out.
Its an easy job, might try there and see how it works for ya.

 

My fuel pump went out last week so I had no codes to tell me whats going on. Prolly nothing with the fuel delivery itself. Easiest thing to do is get those codes read and go from there. If you have the spare CPS go ahead and change it but I wouldnt go far from home without the tools to get at the UVCH.

Im not sure on the scangauge tho. Never used one and never read anything about it before. Worth a shot! Good local diesel shop can read them cheaper than Ford. Ford would be my last shot($$$$). AE, Superchip Tuner....

 

The round one from Terminator Engineering will (there is another product called a Scangauge as well). AE is a good option too, but $$$

 

You might as well get it over with and pull the valve covers off.
They come loose from the inside and then it will run bad with no pattern to when it will do it.
All it costs you is the two quarters that you have to shave off to make it fit, once it is reseated in the plug.
Here is the pictures that I took when I fixed mine a long time ago.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...or-wiring.html

 

Sorry to be short earlier, I got sidetracked and had to go.

I'd agree with Dan. Go ahead and pull the valve covers. Odds are that's where your problem lies, and it's worth doing if for no other reason than re-torquing the injector bolts and rocker arm pedestal bolts. Here's the quarter shim and torque specs https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post6900483

 

I was able to finally change the CPS (wasn't easy!) and it made no difference, so I guess the UVCH is next.

Everybody I spoke to wants 90 bucks to just put it on a scanner (Ford and another Diesel guy).
So, is there any trick to taking the valve covers off? I don't have alot of experience, and seem to get myself in more trouble way too often. Please walk me through it. Do I need to replace the VC gaskets? I really don't want to take this in to a shop.

 

Pretty straightforward from what Ive read about it. Chris will be the best one to walk you through it. Im sure hes got a link to a post about it. Take a few things off, lots of bolts, few are tricky, and the gaskets are reusable. You can definitely do it yourself. I plan on doing it soon.