[Bobthebiker]

Hi y'all! Let me start off introducing my self, I'm Bob, a professional automotive technician. I just bought myself an 03 F250 crew cab after realizing I need a pickup, and absolutely HATING my Jeep (they're crap, I know)

My truck is a pretty respectable looking 2wd shortbed, someone prior racked up some considerable miles on it too, around the 348k mark or so. From the service history my service manager in the shop could pull up, she's had a LOT of routine maintenance dating as far back as 2005, no major issues, trans flushes and preventative stuff regularly. She's got a few issues to be sure, like when you turn the key off the radio and windows still have power for whatever reason (something I'll be diagnosing soon as I go in and find wiring schematics to trace what's powering all this) and a caliper issue I need to address. But, zero blowby, pulls just like I expect from a well cared for truck.

I'll try and get a few pictures up sometime tomorrow or whenever I take it to work to fix the small issues it has going on. So far as a truck man, this has given a VERY positive impression as a pickup. Minor issues, as one expects from a 20 year old truck with 350k almost, but nothing that I can't fix, and she's a CLEAN truck underneath.

 

[Alaskanfun]

Welcome aboard from Alaska. Pics are definitely a plus.

 

[SuperCrutyPS]

@Bobthebiker - Welcome to the ORG! Great to have you!
I'm in CA!

 

[Calif250]

Welcome! I believe the radio and windows should continue working til you open the door? I want to say that's how the 99 f350 was... it's been a while though.

 

[SuperCrutyPS]

On my '01, the radio goes off @KO, but the windows still work for about 30 seconds or until I open the door. Since your truck is an '03, it may be that they both work until the door opens. We had a 2000 TransAm - the radio/windows would work for ~5 mins then shut off or the doors opened.

 

[Bobthebiker]

Welcome! I believe the radio and windows should continue working til you open the door? I want to say that's how the 99 f350 was... it's been a while though.

This was my first thought also. but when I open the door, stuff still has power. I'm investigating a little and suspect a short at the fuse block under steering wheel to be a culprit. I'm investigating this tomorrow and finding the culprit.

 

[Heavy_GD]

Just remember someone could have modified the wiring, so confirm what you have before you start troubleshooting.

 

[Bobthebiker]

Just remember someone could have modified the wiring, so confirm what you have before you start troubleshooting.

Also a valid point. I'm going to investigate and find what's going on for sure. The trusty DMM and some diagrams will find me some clues. I suspect something with the fuse block though because I noticed moisture damage on the manuals in the glovebox. Not severe to suggest a flood truck, but like maybe windows for left open and rain got in. I'm not sure just yet. Thus far, no indications of flood, no suggestions of severely molested wiring, but I'm sure when I pop the radio out and look I'll discover something there.

I will say the stereo and speakers are quite good, and a WHOLE LOT nicer than expected. Something about Ford's stereos just hits different for me.

 

[Heavy_GD]

I said that too until I heard the stereo in the Denali.

 

[Spirit]

I think the whole truck buying experience really boils down the how good the stereo is…possible blown heads and all that stuff just becomes “background music”...I always bring along some AC/DC for the pre-purchase inspection...lol...,j/k...

 

[Vice_II]

Soundtrack for you guys that have had multiple 6.0 and 6.4's..... Quick edit: Welcome to the forum!

 

[Bobthebiker]

Well, as an update, I now suspect an ECU fault to be the culprit here. I have a B1342 code that is recurrent in the overhead console module, which is also inoperative, although a fuse panel may also be a culprit somehow too. I'm not clear precisely which yet until I pull it out and evaluate further.

 

[Jeffrey7.3]

i have the same thing in my truck, haven’t fixed it yet because it’s not a big deal for me. radio and windows still have power for around 9 min after truck is shut off. i have a bad door ajar switch in my driver side door so the truck doesn’t know when i open the driver door(which would normally cut power to these accessories). an easy way to know this is if the dome light comes on when you open your doors, test each door one at a time. if the dome light does not come on for one of the doors, then you have a bad door ajar switch in that door causing accessories to stay on.