looking at a 09 superduty 6.4L powerstroke

[Builder]

I guess the thought never occurred to me that it might be a vacuum pump. The cylinder could well be a motor and the lines do look suspiciously like vacuum lines. Do the brakes on the PS models need vacuum for a servo or not ?

Westcliffe,
It's the vaccuum control for the auto hubs if you have them or the HVAC mode control motor.

 

[dstig1]

I was thinking the same as Builder. It looks like the vacuum solenoid for the auto-locking hubs, but I wasn't sure. Not knowing a ton about the diesels, I believe they actually have an electric vacuum pump since diesel engines don't generate enough vacuum like gas engines do (anyone feel free to correct me if this is wrong). On my gasser is it just a solenoid that switches engine vacuum to the hubs, but it's over on the pass fender. But it's a different year (05) and engine.

 

[Soundguy]

To change the battery in my wifes 97 Venture was a job that took more than half a day and cost most of my knuckleskin... The air filter box and PCM had to come out to allow the battery to be changed...

.

my mom has a caddy srx.. an dthe batery is in a ridiculess spot that requires some aprts to be removed to get at. I'm sure it is a revenue generator for the dealer..

soundguy

 

[dgl24087]

One of my friends has a Chrysler Sebring, front tire and inner fender liner must be removed in order to replace the battery.

 

[Soundguy]

sweet! gotta love that..

soundguy

 

[Duffster]

One of my friends has a Chrysler Sebring, front tire and inner fender liner must be removed in order to replace the battery.

Sounds like doing fuel filters on a Dmax.

 

[deerefan]

The contraption starts with the steel bracket to which the fusebox is mounted. On the front side (front of vehicle) of the bracket is a captive nut for 1 bolt that holds the outboard end of the plate to which the actuator is attached with 2 or 3 seperate bolts. The on the Inboard end of the bracket (after wrapping around the bottom of the fusebox) is a tab about an inch wide which has a slot in it. The plate under the actuator has a tongue which inserts into the slot and is then secured with the single bolt mentioned previously.

The way the thing has been made, it would probably have taken 100k or more of tooling to make the stamped parts and then the captive nuts (3 or 4 of them) have to be projection welded onto the different plates, and then someone has to be paid to assemble the whole mess.

Looks to me like it was something that was forgotten or added at the last minute and Ford decided ***that*** was the best place to put it.

To change the battery in my wifes 97 Venture was a job that took more than half a day and cost most of my knuckleskin... The air filter box and PCM had to come out to allow the battery to be changed...

I guess I will have to figure out what the device does and look for a better place to put it. There surely has to be a better place than right above the fusebox. Many people may never blow a fuse, but for the time that someone does, it is a real PITA. The other thing that I learnt was that about 3 different geometry of fuses were used, so I had better get a few spares to cover me while out on the road.

I have to admit, though I liked my 06 F250, everytime I popped the hood I found some other "engineering marvel." I like to service my own vehicles (oil, battery changes, headlight changes, etc) and only bring it in for big stuff or if it is under warranty. On my new truck, 2011 silverado, it was nice to pop the hood and be able to actually see the engine. Heck, I can even get to all 8 spark plugs. I did a tune up on my 97 F150 with the trition 4.6 and I had to disassemble the fuel injector system just to get to the plugs. Bet the new TT V6 will be a real pleasure to service.

 

[Duffster]

tampa is pretty south.. but I assure you it HAS seen below 30. and even in central florida just 1.5 hours north of holiday. I have had water freeze inside an oil sump on a tractor I had brought in to work on... it does get cold enough and stay cold enough for oil to get thick and water to freeze in florida.. despite popular belief. I had 2 risers in my pasture freeze and pop to prove it..

zero? can't say that I ever remember even single straight digits.. but 20's and low doubles are not even rare in florida.. we've already seen those the last week of december..

soundguy

Yesterday FL was the onlt state that didn't have snow on the ground.

 

[Soundguy]

had ice all over my windshield this am.. still there by 7:45..

soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you think "doing fuel filters on a DMAX" is tough, then you are VERY mechanically challenged. :laughing:

I do them with ease. Maybe just another negative DMAX internet story you read? :confused2:

I agree with you here. I had one and take care of my neighbors and the filter is easy. Not as easy as my 6.0 but I can do the job in 5 minutes. Just have a flex handle filter wrench, a 4' piece of fuel hose to drain it with first, and some oil to lube the O-Rings before it goes back in. Not a hard job and just like the Ford you can do it while standing.

I have only done this on 05, 06, and 07 Dmax but on them none had to have the inner fender removed.

By the way stay away from the Napa/Wix filters. I have had 2 in the last 5 years where the plastic threads were damaged. They are just made cheap. 2 bad ones out of maybe the 10 I have changed is just not acceptable. I went back to Fram and OEM on this one. Its a much better made filter.

Chris