Dead 7.3 in 2000 F350 - can't seem to fix it...

[towmotormatt]

had missing issues, replaced CPS, no change, found IPS leaking oil through sensor. Replaced, problem went away for a few weeks. Missed hard a few times driving to a friend's place. died on way back. Restarted and drove a few miles before it gave up the ghost. Towed it home.

Let it sit a month or so while christmas came and went, et al. Borrowed a nice scan tool from my wife's uncle and tried a buzz test. 4 faint beeps was all my wife could hear (i am deaf as a post) and got the 1668 error message, no PCM-IDM communications.

Checked fuses, all tested out OK except the power point 12v cigarette lighter, which had been dead for a while now. checked harness for 120V from IDM, nada. checked harness wiring and found orange wire had rubbed on valve cover and shorted out to valve cover (wore through insulation to wire core). Figured that had fried the IDM good as the orange wire is the 120V high voltage DC feed to right bank injectors if i recall.

Ordered reman IDM off ebay, plugged it in. Either it was DOA or there is something else wrong.

checked HPOP readings with scan tools and they are within spec, fuel press regulator seem to be fine from what i see in scan tool readings but not 100% sure.

Looking for ideas on what it could be. Batteries are weak but they were charged up and it was cranking at over 100 rpms, which should be enough. Gotta test some more things, maybe buy an autoenginiuity tool as much as I'd hate to bite that bullet.

Your help is appreciated.

Cheers

Matt