Truck: 2003 F350 6.0L Diesel w/140k miles, Superchips Performance tuned I took my truck to a professional to have the new Viper 5901 remote starter/alarm installed. It would constantly start up and shut off on it's own when I used the remote starter function. I took it back the next day, the installer made some changes and it still did the same thing. I called back and he instructed me to hold down a blue light on the Viper after it was running. It seemed to start and run fine for a couple days.

Then one morning (about 4-5 days past initial installation) I remote started it from within my home, went out to the truck 10-15 minutes later and pulled away. When giving it fuel it started to buck and sputter then shut off. I started it 5 more times to get it back to the parking spot. It leaked all the oil out of it nearly instantly. Plus the starter would grind for nearly 10 seconds before the engine started.

Long story short, I checked the DTC's and this (along with basic exhaust codes) came up:

P2291 INJECTOR CTRL PRESSURE TOO LOW - ENGINE CRANKING

I took it to Ford and they tell me the ICP is dead and it melted all the wires, etc. Bill is $950 so far, it's still in the shop at the time of this thread.

My question is, is it possible the remote starter installer did something wrong and this is the source of all my new problems?

<img src=http://www.e-imagesite.com/Files2/IMG_20117067015.JPG>

 

I can't answer your question directly about whether the remote destroyed the ICP, but I can see where constant starting cycles would generate some heat.

Ask your remote installer what kind of sensing they set for "Engine running". Mine was doing the same thing, started, ran for 10 seconds and shut off, wait 20 seconds (glow plug delay), restart, run, shut off. . .

I had them change the voltage sense from high to low and that cured the problem.

I would have preferred that they use rpm sensing as it is more reliable, but all the installers for the different brands said they can't use rpm sensing because the data is digital on the 6.0L and nobody has cracked the code yet.

 

It's sounds to me like they don't have a good tach source,that's probably why the engines shutting off.

 

I got the truck back and all seems to be running fine. Except this morning I walked into view of the truck and remote started it. There was a 30 second delay for the plugs (normal) then it started to crank for a good 5-7 seconds (seems extremely long but it was also 50 degrees out) and failed to start yet lots of white smoke was coming out of the pipe. Then it tried again and started this time but blew a cloud of white then black smoke.

I hope it doesn't have anything to do with the ICP dying, the mechanic said it didn't... but another $950 to fix it will break the bank.

 

The first issue I would say is the fact that it's a viper starter. Now before anyone jumps down my throat, Viper USED to be fantastic, and I have one in another vehicle. I've been an Installer for almost 10 years and viper was always the system of choice but about 2 years ago they purchased another company to use their remote technology(cheaper then paying for rights) and since then they are garbage. I have an '03 PSD and I installed the viper 2 way LED system in it and had the exact same problems you are having. I called viper tech support and got the schematics for the internal ignition wiring hookups and went to ford and got the same for the ignition switch. After ensuring every wire was powered up exactly like with the key, I still had the same problem.

I literally went through 7 different units including replacing the same one and upgrading through the models. In the end I replaced it with a compustar 2W8000 Carstarter/Alarm combo and have never had a problem since.

Since doing this I've found that compustar has all the features offered by Viper(or any DEI branded system) plus ALOT of very cool features not offered.

Lastly as far as tach is concerned, under no circumstances should he be using voltage sensing on that truck. Right above the parkbrake there are a bunch of wires with the ends capped off and one of those is a Tach lead from the computer(I think it's Green/white)

Hope that helps,
Beene