Lacks power in mountains
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 38
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Lacks power in mountains
I have a '04 F350 Dually SD. I have done no performance upgrades (yet). On my last trip down to South Carolina through WVA & VA (using Tow Haul) power on some of the hills seemed to be lacking. I did not notice this in prevuious years. It was shifted down to 3rd or 4th (not sure) gear and I had the accelerator to the flr. It got as low as 45 mph and and I didn't seem to be able to shift any lower. I am pulling a 33' HR 5th whl camper (12000 lb empty & I figure about 14500 loaded). I also have had a problem for several years with a high pitched whistle when the fan comes on & off. It appeared to be doing this more this year and power does seem to cycle when this is happening. Does anyone have any ideas. I hate to just start adding exhaust, tuner, etc unless I have a good idea that this will help. I am also consdiering going to a perfomance specialist for a diagnostices, as I am not real keen on the delaer being able to come up with anything other than my $$$.
The turbo has been replaced once.
The turbo has been replaced once.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: El Cajon, CA
I have a '04 F350 Dually SD. I have done no performance upgrades (yet). On my last trip down to South Carolina through WVA & VA (using Tow Haul) power on some of the hills seemed to be lacking. I did not notice this in prevuious years. It was shifted down to 3rd or 4th (not sure) gear and I had the accelerator to the flr. It got as low as 45 mph and and I didn't seem to be able to shift any lower. I am pulling a 33' HR 5th whl camper (12000 lb empty & I figure about 14500 loaded). I also have had a problem for several years with a high pitched whistle when the fan comes on & off. It appeared to be doing this more this year and power does seem to cycle when this is happening. Does anyone have any ideas. I hate to just start adding exhaust, tuner, etc unless I have a good idea that this will help. I am also consdiering going to a perfomance specialist for a diagnostices, as I am not real keen on the delaer being able to come up with anything other than my $$$.
The turbo has been replaced once.
The turbo has been replaced once.
Also here's this: HP LOSS = (Elevation X 0.03 X HP @ Sea Level) divided by 1000
When we travel up the coast routes our fuel milage is better.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Denison, Tx
Mine had the high pitched whine AKA whistle etc and after dealership replaced FICM and did latest flash it is now gone..I have thought it might have been the power transistors in FICM going bad or weak..
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
I go to the eastern sierras pulling the 5er in sig. and don't notice any of these anomalys. Maybe I'm lucky, don't know??
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
first off saying bad things about the dealer's in not always the right way to start out in a thread, when you looking for help that the odds are it would be supplied by a dealer tech.
keep in mind most of the information on the net about this or anyother drivetrain issue comes for the guys that work on them.
so this puts my at an impass of weather to help or not help.
but anyway enugh of my soap box.....
you have a failed belt and most likly a tensioner, along with that check the flat side pullies for the black paint being worn off from were the belt rides. if the black paint is gone the flat pullies (including the water pump pully) should be replaced
keep in mind most of the information on the net about this or anyother drivetrain issue comes for the guys that work on them.
so this puts my at an impass of weather to help or not help.
but anyway enugh of my soap box.....
you have a failed belt and most likly a tensioner, along with that check the flat side pullies for the black paint being worn off from were the belt rides. if the black paint is gone the flat pullies (including the water pump pully) should be replaced
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 255
Likes: 6
From: San Mateo, CA
Thanks cheezit, I am one that would never take my truck to anyone but a dealer if I was to have someone besides myself work on it. Yea they can be more expensive but no one has more expierence than the people that work on these trucks and only these trucks every day.
So would the pullie issues also be responsible for the lack of power during this? Its always on a steep grade pulling a trailer after the fan kicks in. What is the normal service life of the belt? Or does it vary according to conditions? My truck only has 34k on it but most of it is all pulling a trailer....
So would the pullie issues also be responsible for the lack of power during this? Its always on a steep grade pulling a trailer after the fan kicks in. What is the normal service life of the belt? Or does it vary according to conditions? My truck only has 34k on it but most of it is all pulling a trailer....
first off saying bad things about the dealer's in not always the right way to start out in a thread, when you looking for help that the odds are it would be supplied by a dealer tech.
keep in mind most of the information on the net about this or anyother drivetrain issue comes for the guys that work on them.
so this puts my at an impass of weather to help or not help.
but anyway enugh of my soap box.....
you have a failed belt and most likly a tensioner, along with that check the flat side pullies for the black paint being worn off from were the belt rides. if the black paint is gone the flat pullies (including the water pump pully) should be replaced
keep in mind most of the information on the net about this or anyother drivetrain issue comes for the guys that work on them.
so this puts my at an impass of weather to help or not help.
but anyway enugh of my soap box.....
you have a failed belt and most likly a tensioner, along with that check the flat side pullies for the black paint being worn off from were the belt rides. if the black paint is gone the flat pullies (including the water pump pully) should be replaced
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
belts are somewhat random. now finding a tech that will replace the pullies may be a challange. but thats whats going on.
it is possible that you are getting sometype of derate going on depending on temps. but I tend to think you may have more then one issue going on.
check the cac boots (blue boots) from the intercooler to the turbo for cracks and such.
it is possible that you are getting sometype of derate going on depending on temps. but I tend to think you may have more then one issue going on.
check the cac boots (blue boots) from the intercooler to the turbo for cracks and such.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
it is possible for a ficm but thats a little off for your concern.
some techs either dont know or dont belive that " missing paint" is a sign of anything more then just that. when in fact it leads to the belt losing traction.
some techs either dont know or dont belive that " missing paint" is a sign of anything more then just that. when in fact it leads to the belt losing traction.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,241
Likes: 3
From: Other side of the sunrise
This may have nothing to do with nothing, but I also have had that damned whistle sound while towing up steep grades in hot weather for quite some time. I recently had a problem with my truck (towing 12000 lb 5th wheel) up a grade on a hot day, when my long time whistle got really loud and the truck lost power. It shifted down and just didn't have much umph. My stock temperature gauge went up quite a bit, almost to the hot line. I took it to the dealership, while still under extended warranty and the tech said that my truck compensated for overheating due to oil cooler problem and that was why my truck lost power. Once in to the oil cooler replacement job, the tech found that the EGR cooler also needed replacement. I have had no problems since, except the whistle that is still there (though a bit quieter now and the tech says the whistle is the fan clutch). Oh yeah, I also did an EGR delete just after this to make sure I will not have the failed EGR/Oil Cooler problem (hopefully) ever again.
I hope this helps, Tim
I hope this helps, Tim