2 Issues, 1 trip. Need some advice
 

Hello again. I embarked on a 200 mile trip today for Easter and had a couple of hiccups. Was gonna see if I could get some opinions and advice. '01 F250 4x4 Ext Cab AT, 7.3L.

Issue #1:
This one has happened before, and only happens at a certain part of this trip EVERY time. It happens when I am going thru this small town with 1 red light, but a long stretch of the road is 30 mph. I guess the road is slightly up hill because I have to give throttle barely above idle to keep at around 30mph / low RPM. The truck doesn't like it and will act like it wants to shut off. If I stop at the redlight, and then give it the throttle, it will jerk a little and act like it wants to die again. It didn't cut off on me today, but has before. Once I get going about 45-50 again, there is no repeat. Only happens in that one small stretch of road.

Issue #2:
I got behind someone going a little below the speed limit and was going to pass them. This was the 4th or 5th vehicle or so I passed on the trip. I gave the truck full throttle from a cruising speed of about 50 mph, and began the pass. About the time I got parallel the other vehicle, still on full throttle, it just seemed like I wasn't gaining any speed or RPM. I was at about 62 mph. Then a big puff of blue smoke is what I saw in the mirror. It didnt continue to smoke, and the check engine light came on. 5 minutes later the light went off. This has never happened before. Any suggestions?

Did you by any chance replace ICP sensor at some point? Was it aftermarket? Look for the tinnerman nut on the rear of your IPR, it sounds like it may have fallen in the valley.


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I have had the truck for about a year. 340k on it now, with me driving about 13,000 of those. I have done a lot of replacement on the mechanical suspension and steering, but only changed one sensor. EBPS. I havent touched the other sensors.

Issue #1 sounds like RF interference...(nothing new). Have you replaced the cps, icp sensor/s lately?

Issue #2,.. You may want to invest in the Bluetooth dongle(elm 327..etc read the TORQUE PRO thread) and torque pro app and start monitoring the sensors...

Only sensor I've replaced is the EBPS and the issue #1 was going on before and after replacement.

As for issue #2, we took it out for a spin today. We simulated the same situation. Cruising along at around 50mph, floored it, got up to about 65 mph. Check engine light came on. Blue smoke. Truck wouldnt go any faster and was kind of sputtering. I don't know if the two issues are related or not. I'll try to get to a code reader Monday. The light went off again around 5-10 minutes later.

Sounds like it could be a fuel pressure problem. Could be tank related or pump. When the last time you changed the filter?

About 6-7k on the one above the block. If there is another one somewhere I havent changed it since I have had the truck.

In tank filters also. That's what the hutch mod with the frame rail filter's are all about. They remove the in tank filter's and add one on the frame rail.

Agree check that in line filter sounds like the tank has some corrosion which is common if original tank.

Issue #1 agreed with Rich, sounds like a cheap fleabay ICP sensor having seizures at a specific location with strong RF signal. Can you post a pic of it, especially of the base? Is the harness connector dry and free of oil?

Issue #2 I could see that related to either a crapola ICP, or fuel starvation. So I'd knock down issue #1 before addressing #2.

Well, the plan was to get her home today and check the codes tomorrow. Also in the plans was a fuel pressure gauge and a bluetooth OBD2 (Just bought Torque Pro). If I had poor pressure was going to clean the tank screen and move onto a the Hutch / harpoon Mod. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Long story short I came home and the F250 didn't.

I loaded my trailer (single axle, 6x10) with an ATV, a couple boards. I put another ATV in the bed of the truck and got ready to come home. Keep in mind I live in Georgia, the flat part. I got about a mile from the house and was ready to get above 45 mph after leaving the country roads. I got the throttle up to 60 mph and set the cruise. A few very small hills, and the truck began running rough similar to when I passing the day before. Before I could get over a couple hills the truck down shifted and wouldn't climb over 2k RPM. Service engine light came on. I pulled off about 4 miles away from home, put it in park. I rev'd the engine to 3k RPM no problem and the light soon went off. I decided to turn around and take another vehicle on my trip back. Those 4 miles were the longest 4 miles I ever driven. Truck wouldn't get over 45 mph, and slowly tapered off. Soon I wasn't able to get over 1.5K RPM or 15-20 mph. Tried manually shifting gears just to limp home. I made it home barely and the idle was rough. Before I went on the trip I idles fine for an extended period loading the truck.

So now the truck is 4 hours away, no scanner near by, and my dad is not a diesel mechanic. I am not either, but I have been able to fix a lot of issues reading tutorials here. I have read a lot of posts and have asked him to track down a scanner. I have a lot things we can trouble shoot based off the posts I read. I will send him a fuel filter and tell him how to drain the bowl. I will send him a OEM ICP sensor. I will also tell him to check the IPR for 10.2-10.6 ohms, take it out and clean it, and make sure the tin nut is on. I plan on telling him also how to check the pressure at the bowl for 60+psi at idle and 50+ psi at throttle. Hopefully I can get the truck home soon. I needed it for a trip in 2 weeks! Does that sound like good procedure for starters? Any other suggestions given what happened today?

Whoa... nice dad. If my son came over to ATV for the weekend and leave me with a broken truck, I'd be a little more "We'll get right on that when you come back to join in." I'm mean that way.

There might be somebody nearby to help you scan the truck, you can click the B.E.S.T. map to find out.

Before buying all the sensors I'd check fuel pressure. Then drive it and check again. When my first pump went out it would drive 15 or 20mph but that was it. New pump and down the road. And it don't hurt to blow that line out either, good insurance.

Absolutely. I ordered the fuel filter since mine will be coming up soon and and the bluetooth OBD2. Sent them to my dad and he said he is going to drop the tank and check the screen. I let him know where to hook up the gauge to test pressure, how to service the IPR valve, and sent him an ICP sensor just to be safe. They had 1 OEM one left on eBay for a low price so I jumped on it. I'll keep everyone posted.