F250 PowerStroke died, no DTC reading

colnago

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My friend has a F-250 PowerStroke with 11K on the odometer. Last week, he (and family) was pulling his fifth wheel up to the Mammoth Mountain area (just north of Bishop, if anyone is familiar with the area). While chugging up the grade, the engine died. The engine would turn over when cranked, but it wouldn't start.

I showed up a few minutes later (in my Chevy Duramax; sorry, guys :oops: ). I have a generic DTC reader that I picked up from Kragen, and i plugged it in the OBD-II port. When I scanned for codes, it came back with an error reading the codes. I double-checked the reader on my truck, and it worked fine, but it would not read the codes from the PS.

The mechanic in Bishop replaced injector #5 and called it fixed, just to have it die ten minutes after picking it up. Then he replaced injector #6, and so far it is still running.

So, my question is basically centered around the code reader. I think that if it was really an injector (or all eight, for that matter), my reader would have come back with some codes. Another PS owner figures that one of the computers is on its way out, and preventing the reader from accessing the codes. So, is it possible that a reader would not be able to scan for codes, and the underlying problem with the truck not be a computer-related issue? An injector wouldn't cause problems with any of the data buses, would it?

My friend feels that his troubles are behind him, but I'm afraid that they have just begun. But again, I'm not a Ford guy, so I don't know the problems that the PS engine has (and yes, I'm quite aware of the issues that the Duramax has).

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. By the way, the outside temps were between 100 and 110 that afternoon, and his fifth wheel probably weighs in at ~10K, if this is an issue at all.

Thanks,

Joseph
 

DaveBen

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The code reader must be able to read the codes in CAN communications protocol. If not it will not be able to read anything in the Power Stroke Diesels after 2003. AutoXray and Autoenginuity are two that do.

Dave
 

colnago

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It's a 2005. I think he's had it about 1-1/2 years, and he bought it new. I don't know the date of manufacture, but mine was made in April '05, and his is older than that. On the code reader, I figured that a generic reader would get some of the basic codes (I know it won't read any "special" codes on the 'Max, but I unplugged my EGR, and it was able to see and clear those codes).

By the way, does the dealer use the Tech II for reading the codes? Just curious, since I think this is what they use for the Chevy.

Thanks again,

Joseph

P.S. Dump the 'Max? Yeah, my wife would be wild about me buying a new truck so soon! And I'd never live it down at work! :D
 

colnago

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DaveBen said:
The code reader must be able to read the codes in CAN communications protocol. If not it will not be able to read anything in the Power Stroke Diesels after 2003. AutoXray and Autoenginuity are two that do.

Dave

I'll have to check on that. The reader is an Innova 8100 (I think; I'm not positive about the model number, but it cost $100, so it's definitely not top-of-the-line). Is the CAN spec the same as the OBD-II spec? I'll have to pull the manual out and check; now you've got me wondering ...

Joseph

On edit, it's an Innova 3100. Their web site says that it can monitor the "New ISO 15765 / CAN Protocol". Is this what you were meaning, Dave?

Thanks again.
 
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Maxtor

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Bishop grade eats trucks.

Oh yes... that pull going north out of Bishop is a killer. If a truck has a problem, that grade will find it. After Ford fixes his truck, he should try that grade again. If Ford fixed it properly, then he should make it. If Ford did not fix the problem, then he probably will not make it to the top.
Good luck..
 

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