Found On Road......Dead - Diesel Forum

ford_x_3 · 03-10-2003, 01:39 PM

Started up truck this morning let it run for about 5 minutes.Strange noise coming from engine compartment like a belt squeal but didn't change with acceleration.
Pulled over 6 blocks later shut off engine went to restart and..........
Nothing!
No crank and don't think I hear the fuel pump either.Batteries are lighting up everything else.Wondering if the remote starter has anything to do with it.It's a Pursuit.Do remote starters come with their own start solenoids?
Waited 3 hours for a tow to dealer.Tow truck driver loads it up the ramp of the flat bed and *POOF* goes his hydraulics when he tried to draw the bed up with the truck on it.Hydraulic oil everywhere.That's when he turns to me and asks "How much does this thing weigh???"
Starting to get reallllllly sorry I bought this thing. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

JADFPE · 03-10-2003, 02:50 PM

Sorry to hear about your trouble but I would not be sorry you that you bought because of a breakdown. Keep us posted on the outcome. As far as the tow truck, he must have had a bad line. Those trucks tow that weight often.

Hope your day goes better.
John [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

ford_x_3 · 03-10-2003, 04:02 PM

If this breakdown was the only thing I wouldn't feel sorry for buying it.I'd just chalk it up to a minor failure.My feelings come from much deeper issues.This just caps it all!
Just got done dropping $330 into the suspension with probably another $350 to go just to get this thing to ride like it should have
from the factory.That doesn't even touch the vibration issue from the garbage Firestones they throw on it.Which'll cost a good $400 to get rid of THAT problem.
Next is the fuel sucking underpowered pig of an engine they stuck in it.Now I have to spend upwards of another $6-700 to goose another
couple of horsepower and MAYBE another 1-2 mpg out of it?So that maybe I might stand a chance of passing someone on the highway with out getting creamed because of it's lack of power?Oh no wait..........
maybe I'm unfairly accusing the engine of being the culprit there..........maybe it's the transmission that doesn't KNOW it's supposed to downshift unless you stomp the pedal thru the firewall and into the pavement.
Then again,maybe you're right........maybe I shouldn't condemn this truck for some silly little problem that left me stranded for over 3 hours in 10 degree weather.
After all,what should I EXPECT for a measly $40,000??????????
Don't get me wrong buddy,I'm not P.O'd at YOU,but you can't SERIOUSLY tell me you think this truck is a good design.......CAN YOU?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

I will say this though, it IS big!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

RoyC · 03-10-2003, 04:31 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Wondering if the remote starter has anything to do with it.It's a Pursuit.Do remote starters come with their own start solenoids?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was wondering if you had not customized it if you would be having this problem? When you find out, let us know!

RoyC

ford_x_3 · 03-10-2003, 04:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Wondering if the remote starter has anything to do with it.It's a Pursuit.Do remote starters come with their own start solenoids?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was wondering if you had not customized it if you would be having this problem? When you find out, let us know!

RoyC

[/ QUOTE ]
I haven't customized anything other than the suspension.The remote starter was installed by the dealer.I told them I wanted the factory Remote Starter.They told me they ALWAYS put in this aftermarket.
Other than that,there have been no drive train mods............yet.
Although,the next one could be a lit match.Betchya THAT'd burn the diesel pretty efficiently! Heck,it might even smoke a little less!

A Rusch · 03-10-2003, 05:40 PM

Which 'fuel sucking pig of a motor' do you have?

coldair · 03-10-2003, 05:50 PM

sell it or trade get a chevy they are much better!!! we took my brother's truck out hunting on sat up near milestone and he bent the bed in and broke the front valance off hitting 6 to 9" deep snow. you would like the chevy much better I heard from the salesman that its the most perfect truck built in America today

dmftoy1 · 03-10-2003, 06:28 PM

Keep us posted as to what you find out. Could be that the guy who put in your remote starter didn't connect something solid.

Have a good one,
Dave

A Rusch · 03-10-2003, 06:29 PM

Sounds like you didn't do enough research before you bought your pig..... Surely it rode and drove the same when you test drove it!?!? Did anyone claim that it would get better mileage than you are seeing? I assume it was obvious it had Firestones before you bought it?

I guess I would agree with you - $40,000 is a bunch to spend on something you aren't happy with........... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

ford_x_3 · 03-10-2003, 07:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like you didn't do enough research before you bought your pig..... Surely it rode and drove the same when you test drove it!?!? Did anyone claim that it would get better mileage than you are seeing? I assume it was obvious it had Firestones before you bought it?

You're right. I didn't do enough research when I bought it.
Had I known I would have to dump another $2,000 or so into it just to get it to where it MIGHT drive something like a new vehicle should(not a white knuckle hang on for dear life ride.Noticed you did the suspension fix yourself!) maybe I wouldn't have bought it.I just might have reached further into my pocket and gone for the Suburban.Don't get me wrong,I'm not heralding the Chevy as "The Most Perfect Truck Made In The USA"But I find it hard to believe that it's THIS bad.Matter of fact,I've driven and owned Ford trucks and cars
for 15 of the last 20 years.So please don't let's get into the whole Ford VS. Chevy thing here.I've never owned a Chevy in my life.
Listen the sales figures say it all.The sheer number of them versus us on the road says it all.The fact that Ford will discontinue it says it all!There IS a reason you know.
As far as the claim of better mileage goes?You show me ONE SINGLE place where the factory even ALLUDES to it.It's not even on the darn sticker!!Answer me this,why'd YOU buy the diesel?Because of it's MASSIVE power?Notice you've got an SCMT,3.5" exhaust,K&N.
Yes it was obvious it had Firestones but I've been driving on Firestones for the last 11 years!I never had this problem with THEM.Guess what kind they were?Radial ATX'S!!!!That sound familiar?Who knew these would feel like your driving on a rumble strip once you hit 55?
My test drive was done on local roads,not on highways there were none close by..Know what though?a test drive of 4-5 miles isn't enough to judge a vehicle by.The best way to judge a vehicle in my opinion is in a forum just like this and I didn't know this even existed 'till I got some miles (700 to be exact.Not the 4-5 mile test ride!)under my belt,realized that something was WAY wrong with the suspension in this vehicle and was pointed to it by someone else.
Thank GOODNESS I was pointed to this forum(I know YOU might not think so right now LOL).Because without the help of all the others in this forum that have already Xperienced this wonderful vehicle and figured fixes out on their own we'd ALL be SOL!!
Sorry,I know the rules about soapboxing here and I HAVE had a bad day.But please,don't pretend to defend this truck.You've sunk a ton of money into yours too and I'm sure you aint too happy about parting with the money it cost you to do it either......If you stopped to think about it.
By the way,mine has 6,000 miles on it.

ford_x_3 · 03-10-2003, 07:57 PM

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Which 'fuel sucking pig of a motor' do you have?

[/ QUOTE ]
7.3 PSD

beagdog · 03-10-2003, 08:20 PM

Lay off the caffeine man. If you are so miserable with the thing, cut your losses and GET OUT! If you wanted it to ride like a Cadillac, accelerate like a Viper and handle like a Lamborghini, you should have bought one of them. This is an 8,000 pound, towing,hauling and working machine.

Before you go off again, yes, I have an '01 No Boundries, 4x4 PSD, 16000 miles, never been in the shop. Averages over 17 MPG at around 70 and there is nothing that I have ever owned that is better to travel in (and I have owned a lot of vehicles).

If you got a lemon, follow the procedures to get it taken care of, if you are just unhappy that you didn't buy GM, cut you losses and TRADE!

A Rusch · 03-10-2003, 09:22 PM

Sounds like you think you know my truck.... the dealer replaced the front springs FOR FREE under warranty - the rest of the mods were done to make it closer to the performance of my sportbike - done by me, for me, with my money. I chose to do them because I didn't want to buy the other 3 vehicles that this truck is made of - I am quite happy with mine, and will continue to 'personalize' it as I see fit. None of my mods were done because it was a junk pile like yours - I say sell yours and shut up. If you want to whine and complain about your poor choice of vehicle, ***** to someone who can help - I for one will continue to enjoy the best truck I have ever owned. The fact that you cannot be happy with yours is only something YOU can fix - its called 'attitude' - change yours or buy something else [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

I bought the PSD because it is a truck motor - not the mileage - if I wanted mileage, I would have bought a car.

Mileage? I would say that a four ton beast getting 19 mpg is plenty good for any sane person - again, if I wanted mileage as the main benefit of a vehicle, I would get a car.

ford_x_3 · 03-11-2003, 12:07 PM

ok I give,you win. I won't ***** anymore.You're right about the *****ing,it doesn't help my situation and obviously it really ticks off others.My apologies to the members.
Maybe I got a lemon and you all have wonderful examples of the fine engineering that went into this truck.My mistake.I promise it won't happen again. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

PSDExcursion · 03-11-2003, 12:33 PM

Um, the 7.3 really isn't that much of a 'fuel sucking pig' as you describe. I get 21-22 mpg on the fwy, and 16 in town. Not too bad for an 8,000# truck. The reason you don't see milage posted on the window is because it is a 3/4 ton truck. You won't see milage on a F-250 or F-350 either. The Gov't doesn't require it, so Ford doesn't post it. 250 hp, 505 ft-lbs stock isn't exactly what I'd call a 'pig.' You've got to remember that you are pushing 4 TONS of steel through a 70 mph wind. She ain't gonna accelerate exactly 'briskly.'

3/4 ton trucks do not, as a rule, handle extremely well and accelerate like a bullet. Neither do they ride like Caddys. If you were expecting this, you bought the wrong vehicle. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

However, with a moderate chip you can have 325hp and 630 ft-lbs of torque. Yes, additional cost, but tell me where you can buy a SUV stock with those numbers?

Here's to hoping you get some better luck!

Michael