Bruce Amacker

I'm assuming the vehicle came in for a no-charge condition, in which case the battery will probably be low on charge. Did you put the battery charger on it while you were installing the alt? If the bat is super low the alt will be working its ass off to fill up the battery. I'd check the charge rate at the battery, it should spike up to 70-150 amps just after starting but settle down under 10 amps within a minute or so. If the battery is shorted it could stay excessively high, which could cause diode noise from the alt and short alt life. A really healthy and happy battery will settle down to about 2-3 amps within a minute of starting the engine.

Yes, but I'm paranoid about fuel quality issues and adamant about doing fuel sample tests because I've been burned so many times. Also, without a doubt, failure to properly check fuel pressure is the #1 thing techs overlook doing a diag. Did you take a sample from the HFCM and visually inspect it?

Kinda sounds like a fuel system concern, aerated fuel or drainback of some sort. Did you check FP? I like pulling a return line and checking return flow. You can have good FP but no return flow and air bubbles will not be flushed/washed back through the return line to the pump/tank. Could also be fuel gelling if the quality is crap. Drain a sample and put it in the shop freezer for a few hours and see what it looks like. Just thinking out loud....

IPR should be 9-11% at a hot idle. On these older 7.3s when I see HP oil problems I always suggest to start with base oil pressure, tap it at the reservoir plug on top and go for a ride to get the engine good and hot. This one sounds like a classic case of HPOP oil starvation. Start with the a LPOP check and let us know what you find. Good Luck!

Is the butterfly being commanded closed or is airflow closing it? I'd look at IDS pids for command and figure out why it's closing. Maybe replacing the plate assy would not fix your concern.... Does it have the latest flash? Have there been any relative parts replaced lately like PCM or throttle? I'm trying to figure out why the PCM would close the TP all the way.

Some '03s have a "male" hex rather than a "female" hex on the puck, and I'm not sure if the o-rings are the same listing.

This tool is what is listed in the IH book, but it is wrong- it fits a DT466EGR, not a VT365 (6.0 PSD) jpg]

Lmorris, I'm not remembering that. Brandon, if the two power wires to solenoids are reversed that's what will happen, IIRC. Good Luck!

Ouch- learning the hard ways sucks......

Or they check 4 tires three times forgetting there's five sensors.....

Ditto, that's your problem.

Nice case study. This looks like the case studies that trainers do at national conferences.

Speaking in very general terms, 3/4 of IH Allison problems are harness related. Good Luck!

Seems a little light in my book.....

Keith, thanks for the plug. Mike: I have a 300 page color book and 2 DVD training video to help you with advanced diagnostics on the 6.0. The website price is $249, I'll do it for you as a DTS member for $189. I guarantee you will be satisfied with them. See my feedback on Ebay, also. http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...eedbackAsSeller Good Luck!

I've got good pics of these parts but short on time right now, will look later. The oil pump passage is probably going to screw you up.

It's running just shy of $4.00 here, way more than premium gas.

I have had many students tell me that their local Ford dealer refuses all diesel warranty work, period, due to politics and "numbers". This applies especially if the truck was not purchased at the dealer in question. It's a damn shame if you ask me.

Lots of things can cause this, but I'd start with checking FP. Oil aeration or ICP/IPR problems can also cause it. Good Luck!

Yep.

+1 on all accounts.....

Yea, I remember them. Wasn't the pump on the lower right with the frame rail wrapped around it? I think you're right on the numbers. Were those the Brazilian engines? On another note, for a laugh, behind me new shop the landlord has an 8.2 Detroit laying in the weeds from a similar vitage F600ish truck. I said, "What are you saving that for?" He said in case he needed a core. I responded it was not worth any more that it's weight in shit and no rebuilder would want it......

IIRC, the software will be automatically installed with the Dec. IDS release. It sounds like they've done their homework and there will be a relatively seamless transfer. (I hope!)

Just wrapping up a few days here in Vegas. I'm a bit disappointed at Ford's booth at Sema since they had nothing new there for the trucks (like there's anything new to report) but worse, they had absolutely ZERO product specialists to answer tech questions, which is highly unusual. Generally they have very informed people on the floor to talk tech with attendees. I asked several guys if there were any changes in the 6.7 for 2012 and I got the "deer in the headlights" look. The Motorcraft booth guys at Aapex had all the info I wanted- top shelf guys. One's name is Matt Monroe, whose card reads, "Rotunda Diagnostic Program Specialist, Technical Support Operations/SEO", Ford Customer Services Division. If he can't answer your question, you're in deep shit. See my post about the VCM2. Sema is too much chrome and customized cars for my tastes. It's at the LV Convention Center, which is three HUGE frigging buildings, each bigger than Cleveland's Convention center. ONE of those buildings is dedicated to chrome wheels and tires- I can't even walk in there. I go to the Ford booth and tour the Tool/Equipment area, and that's it for me. I spend 80% of my time at the Aapex show, which is mostly tools, equipment, and training, which is what I like.

Just wrapping up Sema/Aapex in Vegas. The Motorcraft guys said the VCM2 is likely to be released in either January or March. The hardware is done, they're polishing the software. They will be "keyed" or registered to a dedicated laptop but that registration will be easily transferred if the laptop blows up. They claim support will continue for the original VCMs through 2014 which makes me happy since I have 2 of them.