rough starting and surging. flash update?
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New User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: texas
rough starting and surging. flash update?
my 2004 6.0 f350 has always started rough, idled rough and surges a little when first driving when colder than 60. other than that it runs great doesnt smoke or anything. this is my first 6.0 so dont know a whole hell of alot about them but i was told by a dealer mech. that it could be a injector. if that was the case then wouldnt it run like crap all of the time not just for a few minutes in the morning. also heard that there is a flash update that recently came out that fixes this. i just want to find out the facts of what it could be before i go to the dealer and they try and stick me with a bunch of repairs it may not even need.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: texas
so i would take it to a dealer to get it updated? i was also considering getting a programmer, would the programmer be able to update it and install the correct settings or does a dealer have to do this.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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If your talking about an aftermarket programmer, then no. Only ford tech's can re-program your FICM,PCM,etc. with genuine ford program updates. Also I would suggest not purchasing a programmer, they seem to cause more problems in the end. I've personally never owned one on my truck but there is lots of info here on the forum about them.
Also my truck does the same thing in the mornings if i don't leave it plugged in. When I keep it plugged in all night it fires right up in the morning no problems. From what I've read here on the forum, a failing injector (or more) is most likely the issue. Bad glow plugs and FICM's can also cause this. I'll be taking my truck in this weekend for some diagnostic work and most likely the newest flash update ( TSB 09-24-3).
Sixty9cougar
Also my truck does the same thing in the mornings if i don't leave it plugged in. When I keep it plugged in all night it fires right up in the morning no problems. From what I've read here on the forum, a failing injector (or more) is most likely the issue. Bad glow plugs and FICM's can also cause this. I'll be taking my truck in this weekend for some diagnostic work and most likely the newest flash update ( TSB 09-24-3).
Sixty9cougar
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Hello I have a 2003 and am having the same issues. It starts up and runs for 15 minutes and then we I take off in it it runs really ruff for almost 15 minutes then opens up and is fine. I was told I have injector 6 and 8 out and the FICM is bad? I hooked it up to the rotunda and it did not flash any codes for injectors or FICM? It starts much better when I plug it in. I was also told it may be the glow plugs. Please keep me updated on what is your cause as I will do the same with my problem. After it warms up it runs great but sometimes slugs slightly as I am on the freeway.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,956
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From: Abilene, Texas
The injector issue won't show up on a scan tool. The problem is injector sticktion or could be ficm. Do a search on here and you will find a lot of info on sticktion. There is also a post in the tech folder that tells you how to check check the ficm your self and there is one on how to repair it if it is bad.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: texas
got the new flashed installed at the dealer 2 days ago and its like a completly new truck runs even better than the day i drove it off the lot. the past 2 mornings it was below 30 here and went out to the truck and it fired right up and idled perfectly. took less time to heat up no surging and didnt have problems with the tran shifting. i was also having problems with it starting to shift hard even when hot and it fixed that and also have less turbo lag now. and maybe its just me but seems i have just a tad more power on take off. it idles when cold or hot better then when it was new. so if anyone reading this is having the same problems and you havent had a flash update since nov. 09 then i would recomend taking it to the dealer and getting this done it only cost me $90. i was told by two other dealers that i needed a couple injecters another told me injectors and glow plugs. i was about to end up spending a couple thousand dollars in repairs that i didnt even need. after they did the flash i told them to check out my glow plugs, injectors and computers and they said everything is working great nothing needs to be replaced. this falsh from what they told me also helps with ficm problems, apperantly the ficm gets to much power and over time shorts it out and this corrects that and also corrects something with a turbo problems and oil cooler failure
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Dundas, Ontario
I have put off the re-flash for 3 years because I read in this form that everyone lost fuel millage. I wasn't have any problems other than hard start on cold mornings if I didn't plug in the truck. I had the flash done yesturday but it was covered under recall. no charge. I would check with Ford customer service and see if you are covered also. Maybe you can get your money back.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Stevens County, WA
I could see how they could do it by programming the motor to defuel at a lower default temperature, avoiding superheating of the cooler.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Temple City, CA
It may prevent it because when the oil cooler starts to get plugged, which means the oil and coolant temp differential is too great, it will throw a check engine light to tell you something is wrong. Oil cooler plugging is believed to be a cause of egr cooler failure since the egr is in series right after the oil cooler. So a plugged oil cooler would restrict egr cooler flow, causing excessive heat and cracking of the egr cooler.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Taylorsville, UT
Question, with this new cel for the that is thrown for the oil/coolant temp, can the oil cooler be repaired? Or, is this just letting you know to get it replaced before it causes other things to go bad?
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New User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: texas
what they told me was that the oil cooler can get damaged from the oil changing temp. to quickly that if it changes even just a few degrees within a matter of time that it can damage the oil cooler and this flash helps prevent the change in temp occouring to fast.
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Well can't say I'm surprised. Took my truck in this morning to have the hard start and rough running when cold condition looked at. Turns out my FCIM was going bad. Had it replaced and (off course) reprogrammed with the latest flash. We'll see how it starts in the morning, going to around 10 degrees out tomorrow morning.