Keith Browning

Holy shit I CAN'T stop laughing! This is right up there with the 7.3L Econoline I had that would not start - it had new air filters installed with the plastic wrappers still on.

Unfortunately most people are not savvy enough or feel confident enough to replace their operating system. After all, computers work on PFM. (Pure Fucking Magic) but in the end they are just machines. Right? It really is not that hard to do so if you think you are capable of trying then I offer some advice from someone who has some experience with OS upgrading and PC hardware repairs. You can take your computer and reformat the hard drive and install Windows 7. BUT, Having done this many times on older computers you cannot depend on Windows to have all of or the right device drivers available during installation. My experience is it is best to have everything ready before you begin the process. Upgrading from an older version of Windows often brings compatibility issues with your peripheral devices like printers and scanners rendering them useless. I would not be concerned about this going backward, though I can see the possibility of there being issues with the computer's hardware being compatible with an older operating system or the required device drivers. FYI: In computing, a device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that inside of or is attached to a computer. A driver typically communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects. There is always a possibility something may have been specifically designed to work with the latest version of Windows so there is always the possibility that something like the touch screen (if equipped) or the sound not working for example. Most of the time this is not a problem or there are workarounds. Have an original recovery/installation disk for the computer "just in case" - Many manufacturers like Dell no longer include the actual disks that used to ship with their PC's. If you ask them they will send you one. My last purchase I got some disks for the add-ons but not one for Windows 7. Dell sent me one gratis after I contacted them. Understand that if you buy an operating system, i.e. Windows 7, that is all you will get. Any additional software that came pre installed on the computer will be gone. This is no big deal in my opinion as most of that stuff is useless trial software anyway. If you purchased extra software when you bought it like a word processor or office suite you should have an installation disk. If not, ask for it and get it so that you can install it. Go to the PC's manufacturer's website, and look up and download the DEVICE DRIVERS for that specific machine as Windows may not be able to find and install them during setup. Pay attention to the available files as there may be choices for the drivers regarding which operating system they are for. If there are choices make sure to only download the one's you need - for Windows 7 or Windows 8. Save these files onto a CD/DVD-ROM or even easier, a USB thumb drive. Be patient. This process can take some time as reformatting a large hard drive can take time as can installing and setting up the operating system and hardware. Do not walk away and assume that the computer will just automatically perform this and finish on it's own. There will be times when it stops and asks you to make choices, choose settings and so on. Once the Windows install completes you must then install all of the aforementioned device driver files that you downloaded for that computer onto the hard drive and run the install files one by one. Verify that everything work as it is supposed to like the sound, video, optical drives and so on. Install all your other software and devices like printers as desired. Verify that they work as well. Good Luck!

The secret is to have a big fan pointed at your face giving you fresh air while doing this. Fortunately I remember having this pleasure once so far.

I borrowed the one I just used and it was a Snap-On. Snap-On Tap, Metric, Plug, Right Hand, M12-1.25 Stock#: T1212M

Good thought. Been a while since I have heard of a good meltdown.

I think train horns in a Fiesta would be hilarious but where would you mount them, the tank and compressor?

The phone rang twice today. We have two more of these coming in on a hook. Both were run. One, was on the highway doing 65 MPH when the check engine light illuminated and the suddenly and quite abruptly stalled. Now it wont crank. Ut oh!

I am thinking compression that low would easy to find the cause of. If the rings were that bad I doubt the engine would have run and would have been hard to start for a long time.

A couple of weeks ago I had a F-Series where some knucklehead misplaced a stud in that same position. Is it that hard to remember where the studs go? Marking the positions with a paint pen or even a Sharpie will fix that! Also, I have worked on a couple 2009/2010 ambulances where the harness looks like engineering made some changes... there are some new connectors that add locks to the hardshell making them that much more difficult to disconnect. I suppose this re-route over the bolt is an improvement?

I have seen more than one button screwed onto the dash. One truck even had a new horn out of a Volvo with that obnoxious sound they make. Sounds hilarious coming out of a F550

Sure I'll comment. 0867 - HORN CONCERN FOR SOME 2001-2007 F-SD VEHICLES SOME 2001-2007 F-SD VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE HORN AS A RESULT OF THE HORN SWITCH LOCATED WITHIN THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. THE HORN SWITCH CAN NOW BE SERVICED SEPERATELY WITH SERVICE KIT P/N 6C3Z-13B802-B. REFER TO SECTION 413-06 OF THE ON-LINE WSM AND SSM 19926 FOR THE REPAIR PROCEDURES. IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY TO RESOLVE HORN CONCERNS ON THESE VEHICLES. (issued in 2008) The part number now changes to 3C3Z-13B802-C... List price at my dealership here in NJ is $350.55 USD which converts to $361.66 Canadian dollars. I have sen them for less on ebay. For the record its a thin plastic peice with two copper plates and I can't imagine how Ford can justify the price for what it is. As a matter if fact, A LOT of Ford part prices are outrageous these days.

21432 2008-2010 F-SUPER DUTY EQUIPPED WITH 6.4L DIESEL- EGT SENSOR REMOVALEXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE (EGT) SENSORS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE DIESELPARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) ON 2008-2010 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. TO AVOID DAMAGING THE HEX ON THE THREADED EGT RETAINER, CUTTHE WIRE JUST ABOVE THE SENSOR, APPLY HEAT TO THE SENSOR MOUNTING BOSS USING A OXYGEN/ACETYLENE TORCH, AND USE A 6 POINT DEEP WELL SOCKET WITH A BREAKER BAR TOLOOSEN. IF MOUNTING BOSS THREAD CLEANING IS NEEDED, A 12MM X 1.25 BOTTOMING TAP CAN BE USED. WHEN CLEANING THE THREADS WITH THE TAP USE CAUTION TO AVOID DAMAGING THE EGT SENSOR SEALING SURFACE LOCATED INSIDE THE MOUNTING BOSS.EFFECTIVE DATE: 26-JULY-2010

I had an early build truck come in with the heater leaking. Only needed tightening but it is behind the starter.

The coffee Table Book states:"The engine block heater is standard on every engine. The power cord is an optional accessory."

I cooked a DPF on a road test once. it was really loaded and would not go into regen so i put the trans in 2nd and drove around the block floored to try to clean it out a ittle. . It shut down just outside my ay door where i left it to cool down. Man the cat was cherry red! It went into regen after that.

Does anyone know if all the 6.7L engines come with block heaters installed from the factory like the Navistar engines did? Someone asked me if he needed to only buy a cord or a cord and heater element.

As I read up in the products available most do claim a 7% to 9% improvement in fuel economy. Aside from other benefits that lone should be incentive for all diesel owners to use a good fuel additive. I can't see the point of using just a lubricity product alone. Perhaps this is why the PM-15 is only listed for use as a break-in protectant for 7.3L injectors and not as a daily use additive. After all, the PM-22 and PM-23 have lubricity covered too.

I think you are probably right Bruce. As I go searching fuel additives I see that all of the manufacturers offer several different products without having one "do-all" formula however the Stanadyne Performance Formula comes close and it does lower the pour point sot it gets my stamp of approval. I personally like to see at a minimum, a cetane improver combined with a lubricity additive along with demulsifiers to help remove dispersed water so it can be separated and removed. Here is a list of the more prominent additive brands I found and there are many more lesser known brands that do this or that or promise your truck will run like new or proclaim "this shit fixes injectors." http://www.powerservice.com/default.asp http://stanadyneadditives.com/ http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/fuel-additives/diesel/ http://www.ezoil.com/ http://www.powerstrokediesel.com/index/407 http://www.hotshotsecret.com/ Since we are talking about Motorcraft diesel fuel lubricity additive, I find it interesting that it is not highlighted or even mentioned in any of the Ford websites I looked at. Since the introduction of ULSD fuel lubricity has become a prominent topic. Aside from that, the Motorcraft Anti-Gel & Performance Improver does contain a lubricity additive so I can't see why anyone would purchase this PM-22 alone for regular use... then again, people do stranger shit like dump ATF or 2-stroke oil into their fuel systems. But that is another whole discussion in and of itself.

If I recall you were concerned about your students being engaged in learning - how is that for you with several semesters behind you now? A nice environment that is properly equipped will do wonders for student moral and interest too. Looks good though and I am happy to hear it's working out. What is the course you are teaching?

I am not sure but I think we still have some black bottles on the shelf too. To be honest, I don't understand why Ford has three SEPERATE products for diesel fuel. Any of the top respected brands have diesel fuel additive products that offer all of the basic additives in one product and sometimes more. In this case, Ford could simply make one diesel fuel conditioner that is a cetane booster, anti-gel and lubricity improver.

It used to come in a black bottle. The product was released with TSB 03-21-31... attached for your convenience. tsb03-21-31.pdf

Yeah right? 85 degrees never sounded better.

It was 98 degrees and humid in Morristown today. I hear rumors of breaking the 100 mark tomorrow.

If you replace the engine ideally you would WANT to reset the "Engine Hour" meter.

I always thought it was in the cluster.