Keith Browning

The funny thing about all of this is that for the most part these glow plug busses tend to loosen up and pop out enough to cause an oil leak on many trucks. I will admit that I have had one or two cylinders stick a little but only enough to cause damage to the buss bar rendering it unusable. I find the tool helpful but with the lack of room to work in on the right side it's not foolproof!

That was a little off topic! I feel your pain though as I hear many guys can't make the hours they are accustomed to. If I told you what my productivity was you might feel better but that doesn't put food on your table. But then again, I do a little more than turn wrenches. Sorry to hear the bad news.

I just read yet another post over at TDS about codes displayed on the message center of the HEC on Super Duty trucks. Grampy made a nice reply which raised a question in my mind. They MUST mean SOMETHING! Perhaps someone "in the know" here could explain these DTC's that so many owners think are real. - OR - Some of us could drill the HotLine engineers when we have them on the line for something.

Wow, that bites. Let get this straight, you tried to remove the buss bar and in the process pulled the wires out and left the connectors in the head? Wow! Try a right angled drill and an easy out? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif

I have been dealing with P0488 on several diesel vans after a PCM update going back about two months. Some set the MIL on, some don't. The hotline has told me the code is OKAY to ignore as long as the MIL is not on. Supposedly engineering knows there is a problem and are working on it.

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif 2003 E350 5.4L, MIL is on, runs okay, customer reports that the Cats are overheating and getting red hot and glowing. Codes P0172 and P0175, both long term Fuel trims at -25%. Fuel pressure 80 PSI and wont hold during a leak down test and therefore WDS won't allow a relative flow test. Runs at around 65 PSI. Funny thing, if you shut it off and start the tests again you get completely different numbers! Well, after all was said and removed from the vehicle I can tell you that long term water damage screwed this guy out of 3 grand! New fuel pump, tank, filter, supply manifold, 8 injectors. There was so much rust in the injector supply manifold it was depositing at the regulator. Word to the wise, if you see erratic fuel pressure, remove the regulator and get a mirror and look in the manifold for rust. I have never seen anything like this! And yes, It took a while to figure out. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smhair.gif

I recently got one of these through the Rotunda Technician Tool Program and of coarse mine was one of the incompatible ones. So I called the # and it was the Tech Line to Tekonsha, NOT Ford. They took my info and gave me the address and a reference number. I printed up a UPS label and billed it to them and I will be handing it to my UPS dude at work! Easy.

2005 F350 6.0L reportedly stalling with ICP codes, I can't duplicate the concern. Anyway, checking the connector and harness with the engine running and PID monitor up on the WDS. .I disconnected the sensor and it kept running. What's even better is it started back up with it disconnected too. Default idle ICP was 875 and increased with the AP. When did this start? I gotta check the other years for this.

If you crank the engine with the regulator plug out I would think that oil should gush out. Did you pull out the regulator valve from the bore and remove the oil pump gears when you inspected them?

Has anyone noticed that the Excursion is not represented in the service manuals on the PTS web site for 2006? I have not heard anything official about the X but I do remember hearing quite a while back that 2005 was the last year of production. Can anybody confirm that?

Let's just say that the vehicle is now "gone" and you can't retrieve the original program. Am I really out of luck?

Rotunda Technician Tool Program Announcement 6562 Trailer Emulator Product Change Bulletin Date: July 7, 2005 Early versions of the Tekonsha 6562 Trailer Emulator are not compatible with the Ford 6C34-2C006-AD Trailer Brake Control. The trailer emulator can cause an intermittent false trailer disconnect when used with this version of the Ford trailer brake control. The 6C34-2C006-AD brake control started production (being installed in Super Duty Trucks) in late March 2005. Prior versions of the brake control, the 5C34-2C006-AH and the 5C34-2C006-AJ, should have no issues with this emulator. Changes to the emulator are complete to ensure compatibility to the 6C34-2C006-AD. The new part number for the emulator is 6562-A. The part number and the color of the “Handle with Care” label located on the end of the emulator can be used to differentiate the old version with the new version. The new label is gray and has the part number 6562-A printed on it, see Figure 1. The old label was blue and had the part number 6562 printed on it, see Figure 2. Figure 1. Figure 2. Cequent Electrical Products will replace, at no cost to the consumer, all 6562 trailer emulators sold and distributed through Rotunda Technician Tool Program (RTTP). To obtain a replacement emulator, call our Technical Service Hotline toll free @ 1-888-785-5832. A technician will ask for the name and associated dealership of the person wishing to replace the emulator. That person will be asked to ship the emulator back to our location (postage will be paid by Cequent). Upon receipt of the old emulator, a new replacement will be shipped back to the customer. Contact the Technical Service Hotline at the number above for complete return instructions. Recent purchasers of the 6562 having not yet received their orders, will be sent the 6562-A instead of the original 6562 ordered. Source: Rotunda Technician Tool Program email Announcement On the Net: http://www.tekonsha.com

I replace the cover now too. Once I spent half an hour drilling and trying different extractors but all they seemed to do was mill more of the brass from the plug. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banghead.gif Most of the time I find that white/grey build up in there anyway which is going to cause a problem anyway. I guess that stuff is water combining with something in the fuel but I don't remember seeing that stuff in the 7.3L fuel bowls! And... I am pretty sure the fuel manifold is only covered under the bumper to bumper warranty 3/36. I have checked with my warranty administrator several times and we keep coming up with that answer because we don't see it listed anywhere. Point me in the right direction if I am wrong - I would love to find definitive proof!

Nope, still like doing them. I can actually make a little time on these recalls too! But I will admit that replacing a few recalled parts is a totally different situation than repairing a unit that has burnt up and failed completely. I don't mind a total tear down and cleaning every single part, but that is time consuming and I tend to lose time on those. Fortunately there have not been a lot of those lately.

I would have to agree with that. The last time i used that tool I thought my forearm was going to split from trying to pull a vacuum on the axle. Even testing the hub takes quite a bit of pumping with the vacuum tool. In my opinion, this is another of those wasteful tools sent out by Ford. I simply don't see many vacuum related failures of this system at all and when I do it's usually a vac. line melted on the exhaust manifold or a defunct vac. pump. If you disagree I have a brand new, "never been used" camshaft position sensor tester I can sell ya! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rotz.gif

By the way, Thanx for the pictures! Are there new design head gaskets out yet for service or in production or is this still just a product of the rumor mill?

I just completed an article "EGR Servicing" with some good photographs showing the carbon problem and cleaning the ports. You might even find the diagnostic tip helpful. I am interested in any comments/criticism or additional thoughts you might have. Don't be shy!

The STST technician tests that were in a booklet were interesting. I would hardly call them training but since you were allowed to use the manuals they forced you to become familiar with the manuals and quickly I might add. I don't remember if there were any incentives or prizes. Heck, I don't even get paid to do the web based training anymore. Does anyone get paid for their training time other than going to the Ford training centers?

Though not the same failure, of the turbos I have replaced have seized or bent the shafts. What I mean is that I guess the bearings and the shafts get so hot that the turbine wheel actually start to separate and wobble until it either completely comes off and ends up down the pipe or ends up jammed against the housing. I replaced one today that looked like it was bent. The compressor and turbine wheels were bent downward in the same direction. The fun part is blowing out the three quarts of oil in the exhaust! HooHoo! I thought the Fire department was going to show up. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hitthefan.gif

Aft-axle steel tank with the integral studs that rust and seize and sometimes snap off then removing them. Does anyone know a successful and safe repair for one or two broken studs other than a new $900+ fuel tank??? I'm thinking about drilling a hole and threading it to install bolt from inside to act as a stud.

If you did not see it posted on FMC Dealer today, Emissions Recall 05S15 has been temporarily suspended until further notice. Apparently there is a problem with the flash for the affected vehicles that was included in the latest update. Who knows what the problem is. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif

I was talking about this very subject with a buddy of mine who pointed out that quick disconnects are too costly for production. Good point. I doubt we would ever see such a luxury EVER. With that said, just how many things do you think have been scrapped due to costs or changed to allow for faster assembly at the plant that made our jobs harder? I'll bet that if we pay attention to the vehicles we work on we can identify a few! Stick that in your tailpipe and smoke it!

I honestly believe that this type of person is just bad for business. You can spot them from the moment they open their mouth and know that you are not getting the real story. If they would just learn to be truthful and explain their concern or problem they would probably still get help. Unfortunately many of these types are just such a pain in the ass that they eventually get what they want anyway... and then many return again with the same attitude. I call these people "consumers" because they consume our efforts, usually our profits and almost always never give anything in return - sometimes a genuine thank you is more than enough! The rest of the crowd, the ones that communicate like adults, genuinely appreciate our efforts and return for service along with warranty issues, I proudly refer to them as customers. Welcome to the service business!

Ahh, that's it ! Somerville. I was given directions to take the "Tap" but I got lost. Somehow ended up on the Turnpike going south and traveled about 15 minutes before I could get turned around! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif Needless to say I was late for the first day of class and it cost me more in tolls too. To me it's less confusing to just use the GW bridge and hit the Henry Hudson North. At least its all one road from there though it changes it's name three times! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif

Does any one of you work on Cat engines and use the Electronic Tecnician / Workbench software? This is the PC diagnostics program for engines.