My 2008 F450 update.

[brain55]

Well, I bought this truck 4 months ago yesterday and it had performed near flawlessly up until last Thursday. I had put just shy of 12,000 miles on it in that short period, most of that towing my 17,000 gn trailer, that is my mobile shop. It started having loss of power and turned on the check engine light. If I pulled over, turned the key off and waited a bit, and restarted it, it would be fine for awhile until it would do it again. It didn't seem to matter loaded or unloaded.

So I took it to the dealer today. They called late this afternoon to let me know the high pressure fuel pump was failing. Good thing I bought that 3 yr/36,000 mile warranty. Luckily I will have no out of pocket expenses for this repair, and my rental car is covered too. I should be getting it back on Friday.

It sucks that it failed, but happy I'm only going to be without it a few days.

Brian

 

[jocww]

Is this due to a bad fuel filter?

 

[brain55]

Is this due to a bad fuel filter?

Not likely. I changed both of them over the weekend and they were quite clean.

Brian

 

[Dmace]

Be sure to ask them how it failed. I have seen a few 6.4's where the cam gear and high pressure fuel pump gear became mis-aligned and started creating metal shavings from wear. Those metal shavings can easily end up in the cylinders.
Luckily, it's a quick turn-around. That's a cab-off repair.

 

[Powerhorse]

Good luck with your repair. My 2008 f250 with the 6.4L had an egr cooler leak antifreeze into the intake and melted 4 pistons. The truck had 18,700 miles on it when this occured. It was never the same after this, three times it went back after the repairs to have the cab lifted off and more work done. The dealer told me Ford would only allow a rebuild of my engine and not a replacement. My service advisor offered to take pictures of the engine torn down but conveniently lost his camera phones memory card......I was not happy. Three weeks ago I traded that truck for a new F150 with the Ecoboost engine, I still have a 2003 F350 6.0 L for heavy trailers and work.

 

[tractorboy5500]

Well, I bought this truck 4 months ago yesterday and it had performed near flawlessly up until last Thursday. I had put just shy of 12,000 miles on it in that short period, most of that towing my 17,000 gn trailer, that is my mobile shop. It started having loss of power and turned on the check engine light. If I pulled over, turned the key off and waited a bit, and restarted it, it would be fine for awhile until it would do it again. It didn't seem to matter loaded or unloaded.

So I took it to the dealer today. They called late this afternoon to let me know the high pressure fuel pump was failing. Good thing I bought that 3 yr/36,000 mile warranty. Luckily I will have no out of pocket expenses for this repair, and my rental car is covered too. I should be getting it back on Friday.

It sucks that it failed, but happy I'm only going to be without it a few days.

Brian

Alot of times the dealer will look at the service history of a vehicle, but you had yours for 4 months, no trouble there. First thing the dealer wants to blame a pump failure on if they can is the history of changing the fuel filter, Dodge says mind needs to be changed every 15k miles, but I change it at 10k miles, that way I dont have to listen to that BS they give alot of people, I have seen this alot on some of the early 2000's model cummins, I have the 6.7L 2008, so far no trouble with 29500 miles. good luck with your truck.

 

[TheGoose]

My Dad's 6.4 had the exact same problem. Cab off repair too.

Hope you get your truck back soon and it runs great. Thanks for the update.

 

[Peacock]

Seen the fuel pump drive wipe out the entire bottom end on these things.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well that stinks. Seems like Fuel Pumps are major issues on diesels. My uncles 6.5L Suburban is on its 3rd and I know many others with pump problems on Cummins powered trucks. Seems like it is also common on the 6.4L Fords but not the older stuff.

Hope it gets fixed quick and runs as good as new down the road.

I would not sweat the Cab off Repair. Ford and GM both require them for many items. Dodge does not yet. Its routine to a good tech now days and gives them good access and a clean work environment to do the job. It can be a time saver in the long run.

Chris

 

[brain55]

Well I got my truck back Friday morning, all seems to be working well. I am completely impressed with how quickly my dealer handled the repair and how little effort was required on my part. I dropped the truck off Tuesday morning without an appointment, they had it diagnosed Tuesday afternoon. I picked up a rental car Wednesday morning at no charge. They called Thursday afternoon with a status update as promised. They called by 10:00 Friday morning to let me know it was ready. No hassle and no charges. The smoothest repair I have probably ever had with a dealer so far.

I made a 100+ mile unloaded round trip with it, and then a 65+ round trip towing my 17k lb trailer, both without a problem. I let you know if anything developes down the road.

Brian

 

[Dmace]

No matter what make of vehicle you buy, NOTHING beats a good dealer. :thumbsup:

 

[Lt CHEG]

No matter what make of vehicle you buy, NOTHING beats a good dealer. :thumbsup:

Amen to that!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, sounds like you have a great dealer. I have had both and life is sure easier with a good one.

 

[magicheater]

Well that stinks. Seems like Fuel Pumps are major issues on diesels. My uncles 6.5L Suburban is on its 3rd and I know many others with pump problems on Cummins powered trucks. Seems like it is also common on the 6.4L Fords but not the older stuff.

Hope it gets fixed quick and runs as good as new down the road.

I would not sweat the Cab off Repair. Ford and GM both require them for many items. Dodge does not yet. Its routine to a good tech now days and gives them good access and a clean work environment to do the job. It can be a time saver in the long run.

Chris

The fuel pump on my Cummins went at about 70,000 miles. I replaced with the same style and that lasted 25,000 miles. Might be location with too much heat or under designed pump. Went with a frame rail mount aftermarket pump which is what I should have done in the first place. If Dodge replaces they put in an in-tank pump. Maybe they all should of had those to begin with?.....

 

[QRTRHRS]

Cab off repair? Great if you have warrenty coverage but for someone like me who does as much of my own repairs as I can, it sounds like poor engineering.

 

[brain55]

Cab off repair? Great if you have warrenty coverage but for someone like me who does as much of my own repairs as I can, it sounds like poor engineering.

I disagree with this. it is engineered to remove the cab when making this type of repair. With the twin turbos, the EGR cooler, the fuel cooler, the intercooler, there is really no way to do anything to the engine or powertrain with the cab on. So you engineer the cab to be easily removed now you can get to everything. Will the back yard mechanic be able to work on his own vehicle? Nope, 99% of them likely don't have the skill set anyway. I have the skill set and willingness to buy the tools but would never do this type of repair because I lack the experience, factory support, and the time.

Brian

 

[tlbuser]

I disagree with this. it is engineered to remove the cab when making this type of repair. With the twin turbos, the EGR cooler, the fuel cooler, the intercooler, there is really no way to do anything to the engine or powertrain with the cab on. So you engineer the cab to be easily removed now you can get to everything. Will the back yard mechanic be able to work on his own vehicle? Nope, 99% of them likely don't have the skill set anyway. I have the skill set and willingness to buy the tools but would never do this type of repair because I lack the experience, factory support, and the time.

Brian

Poor design or designed to help dealers profit margins. I'd being willing to bet there exists a whole lot of shade tree mechanics with the proper skill set and equipment. Some of them are even smart enough not to buy a p/u where the cab has to be removed for maintenance.

 

[deerefan]

Poor design or designed to help dealers profit margins. I'd being willing to bet there exists a whole lot of shade tree mechanics with the proper skill set and equipment. Some of them are even smart enough not to buy a p/u where the cab has to be removed for maintenance.

While I agree it is not the best design, the choices out there for 3/4 and 1 ton diesel truck where this does not have to happen is 1 (Dodge) but come 2013, it will be just like the other 3. Doesn't leave folks a whole lot of choices. In your last sentence, it seems as though you are implying the op was not "smart enough" and bought a truck where this is required. I take offense to this as I have owned 2 of the "cab off" trucks. I, fortunately, did not have the cab removed for anything and have since quit farming so no longer need a truck of this size. Knowing what the op does for a living, he does not have a choice and is quite capable of doing the repair himself. With him, time is money and he cannot afford to spend time fixing his own truck. It seems he has found a needle in a haystack in finding a good, reputable dealer. If the work is done right and priced fairly, I have no qualms about lifting the cab.

 

[JESSE1]

Only certain types of repairs require the cab to come off. I've seen a truck being worked on with the cab off and the techs don't think it's a big deal. Pull the truck into a stall, remove all necessary connections and use the lift to raise it straight up. Gives unobstructed access to the engine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Funny thing is guys complain about the cabs coming off a pickup but would not bat a eye and 2/3 of a excavator coming off to do the same job. Same thing with large modern ag tractors or any big piece of equipment.

Chris