My son just bought a 08 f-350 and is driving home from AZ. Ran the truck very low on fuel looking for a station. The green wrench light came on but never quit running. Filled up and is still driving home. He said the ck. light is on and has low power.

What do I tell him to do.

Thanks,

Low power meaning limp mode? If in limp mode he's gonna have to take it to a dealer ASAP to run dtc on it an see what's causing the wrench to be thrown.

Assuming the truck is still stock and he bought it from a reputable dealer I would use my 30 day return policy and send back to dealer.

If private seller I would again take it to the closest dealer and have then hook up the computer to see what's going on.

Our trucks do not do well low on fuel. The high pressure fuel pump is very sensitive and as they get low on fuel sometimes the junk in the tank gets past the fuel water separator or gets stuck in the reservoir clogging fuel lines.

Regardless get a certified diesel mechanic from ford to take a look at it. Our fuel systems are like sensitive women and could cause permanent very expensive damage if the wrench means serious business.

Hope that helps.


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He's telling me the green wrench came on as the diy was telling him 0 miles to empty. He still had a couple miles to fuel. After he filled with 38.6 gal. he got back on the freeway and was running 75+ mph on cruise and it shut off and the ck. light came on. He says it wont run up past 74 mph but feels good up to. I told him to slow down.
Truck has 70k miles.
Thank for the help guys.
Mike

 

With out knowing what the code is it's impossible to give you a good solution or even let you know exactly what's going on. The fuel being ran low and some debris making it's way to the HPFP could be the cause. Or the code could be an unrelated issue and be something else that just happened to pop up at the same time. If he can get the code read by a dealer or a autozone and you post it up we can point you in a better direction. Good luck hope it's nothing serious.

 

With out knowing what the code is it's impossible to give you a good solution or even let you know exactly what's going on. The fuel being ran low and some debris making it's way to the HPFP could be the cause. Or the code could be an unrelated issue and be something else that just happened to pop up at the same time. If he can get the code read by a dealer or a autozone and you post it up we can point you in a better direction. Good luck hope it's nothing serious.[/QUOTE

It has 2 codes

P0088
P0488

Thanks guys

 

P0088 Fuel Rail/System Pressure too high
P0488 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Throttle Control Circuit A Range/Performance

 

He left the battery's disconnected over night and ck. light still on today. The truck after driving 15 miles seemed to come out of limp mode. It is back to full power, but ck. light is still on.
Thanks,
Mike

 

What should he do.

 

The P0088 code is indicative of an issue with the HPFP going bad, there's a number of reasons as to why it goes bad. If the truck has not had the TSB service for it that re-flashed the ECM to raise the parameters then it could be as simple as that but most likely it won't. If it does end up needing a HPFP that's not a cheap fix at all. Cab has to be removed and the part itself is around 1k

 

^^What he said. A guy I worked with had the same problem.

 

Also I would really try and avoid driving it as much as possible until repairs can be made. If that HPFP grenades it will take the injectors with it as well as a few other things. In short a a whole new fuel system could be needed.

 

One thing I would do is change the fuel filters. Make sure that he goes through the proper bleeding procedure (at least 6 KOEO for 30 seconds). Possibly something got knocked loose during the low fuel situation and hopefully the engine bay filter caught it.

Make sure he never runs a common rail (any brand) that low on fuel again.

 

What is low on fuel mean to everyone? Sounds like a stupid question but sometimes I get 50 miles till empty alert. Is this to low?

 

I know for my truck when the low fuel light comes on and I stop and fill back up it only takes between 22-24 gallons meaning I still had 6-8 gallons left since I have the 30gallon tank on mine. I assuming that to low would be running it down to only a gallon or 2 left. Rarely do I let it get to the low fuel light I always try and fill up when I'm at 1/4 left

 

Another reason why I really sway from newer trucks, I run my truck low a lot unfortunately. I hope the OP's problem isn't something too bad! An 08 with 70k...yikes! Not cheap


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Unless its an extreme situation I don't get the mentality of not fueling up at 1/4 and I certainly cant for the life of my understand why people drive beyond the light.

 

Some people have a gallon or two remaining on E, in the case of my wife's truck...I had it buried on E going x-country due to no avail stops, ran it until I assumed it would quit, got to station and topped it off...only held 28 gallons...it's a 34 or 36 gallon tank


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Not sure if there's any truth to it...but I do remember reading somewhere that the lower you run your tank....the more chance of small air bubbles being entrained in the fuel from the tank, which is also not good on the hpfp.

 

I grew up in rural country and I drive distance, so I get it, I really do, but I also learned to keep my tank topped off even if it meant I had to eat PB&J that week.

Its even more important with new(er) trucks being so sensitive, so dont ignore the idiot lights.

 

Code P0488 is what caused the wrench light to come on & put the truck in limp mode; P0088 will only cause a MIL (Malfunction indicator light)

P0488: (Wrench for Both F250/F350 and F450/F550)
Activated during Continuous operation
EGR -Throttle Position Control,Range/Performance

This error occurs when there is an error in throttle position
vs. desired position, high temperature condition and throttle
not returned to open position when commanded, faulty
input signal detected, or broken return spring detected.
Software Parameters Required to Set Code:
THROTTLE_STATE is low > 3 sec.
Possible causes:
Wiring, EGR TP, PCM

P0088: (MIL For Both F250/F350 and F450/F550)
Activated with key on engine running or continuous operation
Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too High

This error will be set if the fuel pressure in the rail is too
high and the controller cannot regulate it to the set point.
Software parameters to set MIL
20 % “overposition” of the PCV [% PWM]
3% deviation of the fuel rail pressure to the fuel rail pressure set point.
Possible causes:
Low pressure system, wiring to VCV and PCV, FRP sensor, Hi pressure pump

The above is from the Diagnostic code listing for the 6.4.
There was also a factory authorized (dealer) reflash that changed the parameters that set the P0088 code so it would not set as easily.
One other possible cause for High rail pressure not listed is combustion gas leaking past the injector seat into the high pressure fuel rail. This one doesn't seem to be to common.

 

Any updates?

 

The truck came out of limp mode on the way to the shop on Monday. They pulled the codes. They cleared the check engine light, and only drove it around the block. Then started on the 8" lift, new wheels and tires. Color matching front bumper, grill shell & RBP style grill. New video and audio system. He hopes to have it back next week.
We'll see how it runs then I guess.
Thanks for all the help.
He was thinking all his troubles were behind him with a 6.4 after the 6.0.
Sounds like it's just another set to deal with...
Wish he could of swung a new truck.
Mike