Diesel versus gas maintance

[davkir]

That feature has been available for about 15 years, many dealers are now stocking units with this and even more fleets are demanding it. MB, Cummins, International and DD all offer this feature on every engine. The time can be set from as little as two minutes to hundreds of minutes before the shut down. There are even "tamper-proof" settings to out-wit even the most determined operators from fooling the system and preventing a shut-down.

As fuel gets more costly and it will, expect almost every truck to behave this way.

I was helping a delivery guy unload today. It was a brand new Ford F450 with a custom bed. After 3 minutes of idling it shuts itself off. He said it's REALLY annoying.

 

[sandman2234]

I plan on tires every 35K. I have had 4 diesel trucks and maintain a few others and even with rotations every other oil change its just what I get. Granted, I do 90% pulling at or over max rating.

Chris

I was helping a delivery guy unload today. It was a brand new Ford F450 with a custom bed. After 3 minutes of idling it shuts itself off. He said it's REALLY annoying.

You get used to it, or you figure out how to get around it. I talked to my boss about me waking up cold and starting the truck, and it shhutting off before the engine warmed up. Since the computer told the whole story about my low idle times, he had the idle shutdoown disabled on my truck
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

Ok, just to add a little bit to my lack of knowledge, now that I have the truck...
Left the house, after 5 minutes of warmup, drove 2 miles, stopped for traffic at a light, and when I started to go, no go. The truck never left idle, "service engine soon" light came on, and since I was holding up traffic, I let the clutch out and it idle'd around the corner, and a 1/4 mile up the street before the light went out and the truck decided to "go". Up on startup the next day, as I started to go, and the light popped on, engine stayed at "idle". It did that "light on, idle only" three times yesterday. After the first time, I dropped by one of the local parts stores, and they brought their trusty tester out and checked for codes, but none were available. That either means their reader doesn't read diesel trucks codes OR the truck doesn't retain the codes once the light goes off.
Any clues on what types of code readers I need, or better yet, anyone have any idea what might be the problem. Things that run through my head are the throttle sending unit, or for some reason the CPS (isn't that the catch-all for 7.3???).
Thanks guys, David from jax

 

[Soundguy]

i think the cps would just leave you stranded till you grabed the 10mm wrench and spare part and changed it.

the ce lamp and 'limp mode' might be some sort of position sensor error reading the position of the foot throttle... dunno.. that's guess.

as for the codes. there are many proprietary codes per manufacturer, and plenty for a diesel. the regular code readers just read the common ones.

soundguy

 

[sandman2234]

What code reader will read a 7.3? If I am going to keep this truck, I might as well be prepared to buy what it takes to fix it.

Some of the CPS stories I read gave me the indication that "some" of the initial querks of the CPS was a couple of blips, then all out "call a wrecker" (or in our case, open the glovebox and get the wrench and spare part). That was one of the reasons I called the CPS a catch-all, is it gets blamed for a lot of stuff it seems, depending on the intelligence of the owner, or at least the mechanical ability.
David from jax

 

[Rhon]

Any code reader that will read OBDII should pick up any codes. Another sensor that can cause issues is the VSS sensor in the rear end. It went out on me hauling horses and I went from first to overdrive in about 10 feet. Besides a CPS, the VSS is another one I keep. Not sure if it could do what's happening to you but you never know.

 

[Soundguy]

the can/obd readers read the generic codes.. not the manufacturer specific ones. for those.. you need the super expensive stuff or so I hear..

soundguy

 

[LBrown59]

This is because off road and heating oil and on road are all the same. All though some areas are still LSD instead of ULSD but that vintage motor can run them all.

You are correct in what you posted. :thumbsup:

 

[56FordGuy]

What code reader will read a 7.3? If I am going to keep this truck, I might as well be prepared to buy what it takes to fix it.

Regular, cheap 'code readers' (like they have at auto parts stores)will not work on a 7.3 diesel. I've had 7.3 trucks since 1996, and have worked on more than I care to count. The least expensive diagnostic software that will work for your truck is AutoEngenuity, with the Ford Enhanced package. It runs between $300-400.00, presuming you already have a PC based laptop to run it on. It can do much, much more than simply 'read codes' though, so it's well worth the money.

If you have a Service Engine light, there should be trouble codes stored in the IDM (injector driver module). Check with Bob at dieselsite.com, he can set you up with the AE software. I'm not sure how far you are from Crystal Rivers, but he might be able to pull the codes for you if you're in the neighborhood. Tell him Blake from Tennessee said hi.

 

[sandman2234]

Regular, cheap 'code readers' (like they have at auto parts stores)will not work on a 7.3 diesel. I've had 7.3 trucks since 1996, and have worked on more than I care to count. The least expensive diagnostic software that will work for your truck is AutoEngenuity, with the Ford Enhanced package. It runs between $300-400.00, presuming you already have a PC based laptop to run it on. It can do much, much more than simply 'read codes' though, so it's well worth the money.

If you have a Service Engine light, there should be trouble codes stored in the IDM (injector driver module). Check with Bob at dieselsite.com, he can set you up with the AE software. I'm not sure how far you are from Crystal Rivers, but he might be able to pull the codes for you if you're in the neighborhood. Tell him Blake from Tennessee said hi.

Thanks 56,
Appears Bob has eased back on his working, now by appointment only, during the week. I might look for someplace closer that does Saturdays so that I don't have to take off from work. I don't mind spending a few hundred dollars to get the software, so that isn't a problem but I am working on another project that I have commited all my available extra funding to. As soon as that is done, I will probably give some software a whirl. Might be interesting to get into the brains of my truck, lol.
I probably should find somebody local that works on diesels regularly, just in case this problem gets worse.
David from jax

 

[Duffster]

i think the cps would just leave you stranded till you grabed the 10mm wrench and spare part and changed it.

I had a CPS that would do just as sandman explained. It would should down or run porly. Start it back up and run fine for sometime hours and sometimes days.

 

[Soundguy]

but did it put you in 'limp' mode specifically? i don't think a faulty CPS would do that.

soundguy

 

[sandman2234]

I had a CPS that would do just as sandman explained. It would should down or run porly. Start it back up and run fine for sometime hours and sometimes days.

When the light goes on, the truck goes to idle and nothing you can do will make it accelerate. It pulls fine at idle, and never actually shut down. I was in the middle of 5 pm traffic when it did it the last time, and I just idle'd about 2 blocks before the light went out and it started running fine again. I went right by a small shop that has 3 diesel duallys sitting there almost all the time, and almost stopped, just because I wanted to know what was causing it, but opted to go a mile up the road to the auto parts store I generally use, but their scanner definitely was lacking in the diesel catagory.
David from jax

 

[Soundguy]

deffinately sound slike an induced limp mode...

 

[sandman2234]

deffinately sounds like an induced limp mode...

What are the scenerios that would produce this "limp mode"? Just curious...
David from jax

 

[Soundguy]

i know if the ecu thinks something is getting too hot.. like trans, etc, it can kick into limp model. some trucks have a 'wrench' lamp that will come on which limits rpm and kicks out the turbo.. etc.

soundguy

 

[VTFireftr]

I had a 2001 7.3 and blew 2 CPS's. Both times the truck would not restart until the CPS was replaced. On our ambulances, same issue when the CPS goes away.

I'm guessing plugged fuel filter. Try replcing that. Pretty easy to do on the 7.3.

Could be you got some bad fuel that plugged the filter.

Again, I'm just guessing here.

Good luck.

 

[Soundguy]

same I've heard on the cps.. it's a stall / go / no go issue.

I keep one and a 10mm wrench in the glove box... taped together..

 

[56FordGuy]

same I've heard on the cps.. it's a stall / go / no go issue.

Sometimes, but not always. The CPS can create issues that seem completely unrelated to it. Keeping a spare CPS is a good idea, and it takes less than 5-10 minutes to swap it out. Wouldn't hurt to try it and just see what happens.

 

[Soundguy]

so you are saying the cps is putting him in limp mode?