??? for FORD diesel service tech

t500hps

Charter Member
??? for FORD diesel service tech


I've had a 2007 F350 dually 6.0 diesel for a couple years but have only put 10,000 miles on it.....the alternator has quit but I'm at 38 months of a 36 month warranty on that item :angry-smiley-038:. Is there a fuse/circuit breaker anywhere that could have tripped? I can't find any info in the owners manual about it and wanted to know before I buy a $400 alternator.
Also, It appears I do not have an engine block heater.....is that something that can be added? Seems it would have the "base" components already installed or maybe not. If nothing is already in there I imagine it would be a B I T C H to add now.

Thanks for any help you can offer
 
Have you talked to your dealer? I have found mine to be remarkably flexible regarding warranty. Also check your delivery mileage when new, the 36k warranty should be added on to that.

As far as the block heater goes, I have been told that all 6.0's have the heater element installed, but not all have the cord.

Found this thread with some good info http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/698953-6-0-block-heater.html
 
Have you talked to your dealer? I have found mine to be remarkably flexible regarding warranty. Also check your delivery mileage when new, the 36k warranty should be added on to that.

As far as the block heater goes, I have been told that all 6.0's have the heater element installed, but not all have the cord.

Found this thread with some good info http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/698953-6-0-block-heater.html

I called 2 local dealers and asked about warranty coverage considering age....neither one seemed willing to work with me (over the phone anyway). Considering I show up once a year for an oil change and state inspection they don't exactly know me either.
I checked for a block heater too...I have the block heater but not the cord...apparently they are a little over $100 bucks for the cord but then I'm in business.
 
I called 2 local dealers and asked about warranty coverage considering age....neither one seemed willing to work with me (over the phone anyway). Considering I show up once a year for an oil change and state inspection they don't exactly know me either.
I checked for a block heater too...I have the block heater but not the cord...apparently they are a little over $100 bucks for the cord but then I'm in business.

what do you need a block heater for anyways? You live in Richmond, and I thought the truck was basically a tow vehicle anyways?
 
I'm going to make some calls this week. My 2004 6.0 started laying down on me and occasionally blowing grey (fuel-ish) looking smoke when it does. It's got 70k on the clock and had a new turbo under warranty at 30k. I love the truck, but pretty silly that a diesel that's supposed to run 250k plus is coming unglued at under a 100k.
 
what do you need a block heater for anyways? You live in Richmond, and I thought the truck was basically a tow vehicle anyways?

It is, but they don't like to sit all winter so I try to drive it once a week or so......usually put 300-400 miles on it through the winter! :)
 
Little known fact...

Ford severed all ties with International concerning this engine due to the problems with it. This happened in late 2008. Between the two of them they quit taking care of any issues out of warranty on this engine when this announcement was made.

Around March or April of 2009 Ford issued a program to go retroactive on any previously known issues with this engine. In other words, just because the truck/engine was out or warranty it didn't mean you automatically weren't covered.

How do I know this?

My 2003 went in the shop this past spring with blown head gaskets. Odometer showed around 60k at the time. Mileage wasn't an issue with the warranty, but it was about 5 yrs and 7 months old. Initially I was out of luck. Service manager asked me to lay low for a week knowing that Ford was getting ready to announce a new plan helping owners of this engine. In short, I paid $800 out of pocket for what was initially going to be about a $5,000 job.

I didn't like the fact that I was dealing with it on a truck with 60k miles on it, but I did like that they stepped up knowing it was an inherent problem with this engine.

Food for thought...
 
It is, but they don't like to sit all winter so I try to drive it once a week or so......usually put 300-400 miles on it through the winter! :)

IN all seriousness, I have never plugged mine in. When we have colder weather like we have lately I let the wait to start light go out and then wait an extra 5-20 seconds depending on how cold it has gotten - never had any problems and I am within a couple hundred miles away of the 100k mark.
 
I have a diesel/truck mechanic in Richmond that I like Russ. Let me know if you want the contact info.
 
I'm going to make some calls this week. My 2004 6.0 started laying down on me and occasionally blowing grey (fuel-ish) looking smoke when it does. It's got 70k on the clock and had a new turbo under warranty at 30k. I love the truck, but pretty silly that a diesel that's supposed to run 250k plus is coming unglued at under a 100k.

EGR recycling valve.

On the alternator. I lost one at 35,900 miles and got it covered :rolleyes:

.
 
Alternator: Not too many things can truly go wrong and especially not at those low miles. However, given the age there may be some corrosion-related open circuit condition present. Also, check the voltage regulator.

Dude,
I'm 99% sure that your issues are EGR-related. And that's an emissions component which means that it's covered even out of warranty and you don't have to pay the $100 diesel warranty deductable. How do I know? I've been through two of them (before my EGR connector somehow fell out of its socket).
 
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I just stuck a $300 EGR valve in one of mine with that common EGR set of symptoms. Did nothing. I've been pulling my hair out on this one looking for the problem. I dread dealing with the dealership. But sometimes you gotta.

On the alternator- fix it. It's either a regulator or a diode. Fields and stators rarely go bad. They either fail right away or work forever. I have a local electric shop that does the R&R and a complete rebuild with those two components and a set of bearings for $120.
 
Have you talked to your dealer? I have found mine to be remarkably flexible regarding warranty. Also check your delivery mileage when new, the 36k warranty should be added on to that.

As far as the block heater goes, I have been told that all 6.0's have the heater element installed, but not all have the cord.

Found this thread with some good info http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/698953-6-0-block-heater.html


Wobble he is out of months not miles....truck only has 10K on it but is 38 months old.
 
Thanks guys... EGR is one of the things I'd seen on the diesel forums. I've got to try to get it in this week. Just a pain since my only other options as far as having something to drive is to stick my wife at home and take her Tahoe or drive a big block Camaro on slicks...
 
Sure yours isn't the head gasket? Mine is in the shop now for the second set. Dealer thought it might be the EGR. Egr and head gaskets have very similar symptoms. This time the dealer is putting in the head studs i bought and should solve any future problems. The only time it showed weird smoke was when the truck was very cold in cold weather, after it hit normal operating temps there were no signs other than losing coolant under high loads and high boost.


I just stuck a $300 EGR valve in one of mine with that common EGR set of symptoms. Did nothing. I've been pulling my hair out on this one looking for the problem. I dread dealing with the dealership. But sometimes you gotta.

On the alternator- fix it. It's either a regulator or a diode. Fields and stators rarely go bad. They either fail right away or work forever. I have a local electric shop that does the R&R and a complete rebuild with those two components and a set of bearings for $120.
 
Good point, ZBO.

Coolant loss at high load/boost is usually the heads.
Consistent coolant loss (accompanied by a horrific smell) is usually the EGR cooler. There's a recent TSB out on this.
 
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