E550...same o same o problem

[guzzle]

The PCM does control the trans shift points, so that problem also points back to the PCM.

The new PCM may very well cure the problem, but then again, it could be something else. If it were mine, I think I would pay the dealership the charges to scan the PCM, it may only need an upgraded flash to get everything back to normal. Once you buy a new PCM, no returns on electronics......so if it isn't the PCM, you're gonna be out the $800.

If your mech has the same diagnostic tools as the dealer has (somewhat doubtful in my mind) and has failed to reflash, then the dealer would most likely run into the same problem and you would still need the new PCM.

Choices, choices.... isn't life challenging!

[howardtm]

They tried, according to Greg, several times to reflash or reprogram the PCM and retest it but it always (or so he said) went back to the same 0605 error and wouldn't accept or hold the new "flash". Then, when querried about just what the PCM controls, a little light bulb (albeit in my case a somewhat dim one)went off in my mind.The only thing that has me wondering about this chapter in the "My Truck, the Lemon" book, is why this particular code didn't show up before. I'm just wondering if sometimes they just don't code out until the fat lady finally sings(ie it finally goes Kaput!). It just seems that if this really is a "gone South" PCM, and that it had been slowly heading that way for some time, perhaps that would be the reason for the SES light to come on (frequently at times, at others seldom-I think you mentioned before that it also controls fuel pressure)?? What about turbo wastegate. Would seem that if the turbo started dumping air when under a load, ie climbing a grade, but the injectors were being told to "pour it on", based on, say, throttle position sensor, that would give me the flooding problem I seem to get when I lose power. Again I'm a simpleton when it comes to Diesels and turbos and such. Do you know, off hand, if the PCM controls the turbo as well? I've read posts here mentioning something about "overboost". I am assuming that if the PCM controls turbo function as well, if it interpeted a signal from a sensor as turbo pressure being too high, it would instruct the "wastegate" to dump the excess...which would result in way too much fuel and not enough air...hence flooding and loss of power. I don't know the frequency of PCMs going south, but it would seem that with all the little, and not so little, problems I'm having with this truck, to have a lot of sensors, relays, ipr, naacps, fbi's, cia's etc..etc...etc, go wrong all at once, or closely timed, though not entirely impossible, is highly improbable. While having one item, that controls all the others, go bad, would be more probable. According to Greg, a faulty PCM CAN fire off a false P1211 code, but not vice versa, so maybe the PCM is throwing out the false 1211 code when in fact there isn't really a problem with that system at all?
Sorry for all the long winded oratories here, but I'm trying to pick as many knowledgable brains as possible..."to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed". I have a feeling I'll be bankrupt at some point because eventually this thing gonna be fixed (and fixed right) at which time I'll get to jump up, wave my arms wildly and shout "BINGO!!!" (at which time I'll probably owe everyone here Pizza and beer for life)

[~CrazyDiesel~]

Howard, where are you located?

It's a long shot, but I'm hoping you'd be close to north carolina.

As far as I know, although the 2002-2003 7.3Ls may have it, there is no wastegate on your turbo. You should be hearing whistle from your turbo. gentle throttle, you should hear a whoooooooOOOOOO increasing with engine rpm, moderate throttle, to heavy throttle, it should sound very similar to a big rig(although not as loud as a screaming caterpillar, lol) with the high pitched whistle. Take the cowl off the mototr(i'm sure it's already off)

take the intake hose off of the turbo, and grab the impeller, and spin it, it should spin for several seconds. Then, grab the impeller, and move it in and out, should have barely perceptible play, and no up and down movement at all. Also, inspect the condition of the fins.


How does the engine itself idle, run, does the van shake at all? Is it smooth?

Whoops gotta go, more later!

[guzzle]

Well, I guess I have been a little confused. I read over the postings again, and I think I am now reading that your mech is infact and Ford dealership. I don't know why I though he was with an independent shop.

All of the sensors/controls that you mentioned in your post are either read or controlled by the PCM . I guess if you trust your shop, a new PCM would be the way to go. It just drives me crazy to see someone pay a stealership $800 for a $380 part.

link to an F350 pcm but I can't believe the E550's are much different.

Powerstrokeshop.com

[howardtm]

Crazy... I'm in Pittsburgh. and yep, I often get down NC way..stop often at JR (I77/exit 50 in Statesville) cheap smokes and some real good glazed pecans...which don't last long around here. And ah..well, I'm afraid I don't hear anything that sounds like its coming from the turbo, no whine, whistle or whooosh. As for how it idles...like a kitten. no shaking rattleing or rolling, but until this thing warms COMPLETELY up in the mornings, it will barely pull up a small hill at full throttle

Guzzle...I trust these askholes about as far as I do a politian(sp)but when you're stuck between a rock and a hard spot what ya gonna do. In my case, bend over, spread em and hope for at least a kiss afterwards. I'm sick of paying for parts I don't need that doesn't fix the problems-like 2 hours labor to replace a cps sensor that didn't need replacing...until the askhole broke the o-ring (which they didn't have another and wouldn't for 3 days.) Most independant shops around here don't have the facilities to work on 20' box trucks..so...I'm stuck with Allegheny Ford...oh...joy...

[howardtm]

Just for my own information and clarification, on a 2003 7.3 just WHERE is the HPOP located (this is in my E550) I seem to gather from other posts about that its "easily" accessable, Dealer says its INSIDE the engine and a major expense in labor to change it. If it is indeed located outside the engine, and needs to be replaced, how hard/easy is this to do. I have basic skills and tools although I don't really enjoy mechanic work anymore I would rather do it myself if possible than pay the dealer 1200.00 in labor. I also gather that these are rather spendy little items so if theres someplace out there in Powerstroke Land that sells them reasonably priced..I'm all ears. Thanks.

[guzzle]

HPOP is external of the engine, just in front of the fuel filter. The rectangular part is the HPOP reservoir, the pump in below it. The only tricky thing about changing it out is having the right tools to remove the oil lines.

The LPOP is internal, behind the dampener, not real hard to get to either. Now if a problem is with the LPOP pickup tube, that's a nightmare!

[howardtm]

Thanks Guzzle...I had a feeling the Ford dealer was giving me the ol mushroom treatment. Would seem to me I might be better off , should I need to replace it, to buy the hose disconnects and do the job myself. On a scale of 1-10, with moderate ability, how hard a job is this?

[~CrazyDiesel~]

Howard,

Because of the comment the dealership made "Dealer says its INSIDE the engine and a major expense in labor to change it", makes me wonder what engine you actually have, as in 2003, for a short while, both the 7.3L and the 6.0L were available.

This is all hypopthesis... and out my rearend, but..... I really am wondering.

Remember when he had low power, and black smoke? That is a possible symptom of stuck vanes on a 6.0L VGT turbo. Again, talking out my butt!

How about you get us the VIN# and get someone to run an OASIS on this thing, to see what has REALLY been done to it.


Anyway, problem at hand.

I am looking for a picture of the HPOP location for you on a 7.3L

This is the rear of a 7.3L Diesel, note turbo location, and "style" (6.0 is different, you likely do not have the wastegate however (little goldish motor looking thing with red hose coming off of it)

This is a view of the top of the engine, i have pointed out the HPOP, the ICP and a couple of other things.


Hope This helps!

---

Last edited by ~CrazyDiesel~ : 01-21-2007 at 11:53 PM. Reason: adding picture links

[howardtm]

Crazy...according to the Dealer, it is in fact a 7.3, however there are some differences between it and the photos above, the Power steering and vacuum pumps are on the drivers side and the alt. is on the passenger side. This might be because its in a "van" rather than a regular pickup and there seems be be just enough room to open the hood and spit. When I first looked at this truck, it was advertized as being a 7.3 "Navistar". Allegheny Ford (not who I bought if from) said it was the same as a Powerstroke just made by International. All things considered equal here, I think the tech at Allegheny Ford is about half a notch above "Moron". STILL could not (or would not, after 3 visits and about 2000.00) fix an oil leak at the front of the engine. Last time, (and about $500.00) I was charged 2 hours labor to change a cps sensor that wasn't broke. Had a nick in the O-ring, or did after he removed it. Of that 2 hours, he spent 40 minutes looking at the seal on the oil dipstick. Which I told him was NOT where the oil was leaking from. I may have just got off the idiot boat...but not Yeasterday..LOL. Greg (again @ Allegheny Ford) gave me a basic cost of almost 2500.00 labor only, to replace the HPOP and re O-Ring the injectors, and this was about 3 or so months ago. Personally...I think I'd be better off just to install a new engine and start fresh rather than pay that kind of money to fix an engine that has 260k miles, no guts and lousy mileage. Anyway, I assume that you either have your own shop in NC or work at one, if that is the case, let me know...ya just might see me down there sometime in the near future. I am more inclined to trust someone here at this site than a local dealer. OH and by the way...the web site where ya got those pics from...I called and their number had been disconnected...crap!
PS...an Oasis??? I have the VIN# at hand