Help!

[chefmatthew]

I have searched and read just about every thread possible in the last couple of days and can't find an answer. I am here because everyone on this site seems to really know their stuff. Here Goes--- I have a 2000 7.3l SuperDuty, I live in Florida, My truck doesn't like mornings.

Every once in a while I turn the key and no wait to start light. I have checked fuses and gpr relay, all is good. I come home after taking the motorcycle to work and it will act as if nothing is wrong. Today I watched the tach and oil pressure guages while turning the motor over and they did not move. I also decided to hook up the Bully Dog and try to read the codes. I got an error message saying that it could not recognize the vehicle. I have another cheap code reader that I have used on the truck before without any problems and it also gave me an error message telling me to check connections and try again. After about 7 hours I got in the truck, turned the key, got the light and it fired right up.

Tomorrow I will check some wiring. Any other thought or should I just look for a new ECM? Maybe it is just a lazy Florida truck that wants to sleep in. It only happens in the morning....

[f250ghost]

Where in Florida are you located?

[chefmatthew]

North Lake County, at the border of the Ocala National Forest

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Check your fuse for the cigarette lighter. If it is blown, the scan tools will not work. Usually when you get no "wait to start" light, it is an indication of a shorted fuel heater in the fuel bowl which blows fuse #22 under the hood. (30a Maxi fuse) Since your light comes on intermittently, then I doubt that is it but you could check it anyway.

[NoRalPh]

You've got to have a poor connection somewhere. Do you have a chip? If so remove it to test.

How's the PCM connector through the firewall? I'd pull the PCM and take a careful look, make sure it's tight (10mm bolt on engine side - NOT too tight ).

The no WTS and inability to connect with the PCM means it's not running (the truck will NEVER start...) You've got to figure-out why it's going in/out on you. Since it is an intermittent problem it IS more likely a connection issue than a fuse but the fuse is a connection too

There are several that supply power to the PCM, look in your owners manual and check 'em all (btw, on a 2000 the Fuel Htr is in the cab #30) as well as ALL connections going to ground under the dash, around the fuse panel area.

How's the wiring overall? Does it look good & clean? No "green stuff" around? (especially on Grounds?) The fuse connections all look good in the fuse panel? Any evidence of water up there?

When the PCM is dead (no WTS) check to see if the related fuses are too, to determine if the problem could be before/after the those fuses.

[chefmatthew]

Thanks for the help guys! I think I found the problem. Somebody had used the fuel heater fuse location to wire up something else at one time and there was enough wire left in there to keep the fuse from seating all the way. I cleaned it all out and haven't had a problem yet. If something happens again with it, I will let you know.