wrench light - 2008 6.4 F-550 - Page 2 - F-Series & SuperDuty Diesel Forums

opcom · 12-15-2011, 06:35 PM

so far, still running! I got an issue with the midships tank filler, nothing anyone did -in fact it's a artifact of the aftermarket CM flatbed, but it goes straight in then down so the fuel backs up and the pump clicks off making it hard to fill the tank faster than a trickle. something else to deal with.. a mod to lower the filler mount and angle it down.. but there's a big weld there to the flatbed so it'll have to be cut off. Oh well I do want to 'customize' the truck.

opcom · 12-18-2011, 08:57 PM

Trouble again!!

Got the wrench light again Saturday night. The truck parks on a slight inclined driveway as can be seen. The truck was not started for about 25 hours.

I noticed the electric pump humming, because I listened for it. When the key is turned on, It runs a while ans shuts off if the truck has not been started (key not turned).

I let it do this cycle twice and then started it. Ran all night an started Sunday morning fine.

This tells me air is slowly getting in the system after some 24 hours, and running the pump clears it up. Therefore the problem is not completely fixed. Does that sound right?

Monday morning will take to the dealer for code reading.

opcom · 12-26-2011, 03:54 PM

A lemon F-550?

Parked last night at 8 PM
Tried to use the truck today at 2:45 PM.

Wrench light came on again, no start, same exact thing as before. I did bleed the fuel after unsuccessfully trying to start it, but maybe not enough, or it didn't seem to help. I didn't notice any air in the fuel but was told it does not take much. Is the 6.4 ford f-550 a lemon or what?

During this bleeding of the fuel, I was able to discern that when the fuel pump is off, and one presses the bleeding valve atop the fuel cooler, it will such air in, and then upon turning the ignition (pump) back on, it promptly pushed the air back out followed by a stream of clean fuel. Could it be therefore sucking air in from the top of the engine fuel plumbing somewhere? I thought there was a check valve.

But wait, I already paid $1500 plus $300 towing plus $250 for a rental for the problem, whatever it may be, to be -found- and fixed. Last time, they said they'd bled it but good and after that it was running fine but couldn't guarantee it would stay that way, and told me of the above issues necessary to fix the problem.

I don't care too much what was found or what I was told, if it's doing the same thing, the repair of the wrench light issue, which is what I paid for, then the right repair was not done. They found -other- problems but did not -find- the -actual- problem. yes or no, black or white, one or zero.

The thing in common with these major problems is cool weather. Each time, it was cold in the 40's. But it has also started in cold weather OK.

I hope I will not see another obscene $2000+ expense on this vehicle. Just the fact of having it towed and having to rent something is an automatic $500 expense, before the broke-... truck is even touched. I have never, ever had a vehicle, new or used, that just jumped right into my pocket and gobbled up this much in shop cost, lost time, and other expenses.

Makes me start thinking about an older, pre-emissions pre-electronics mechanical diesel or even going back to gas, and also about staying away from Ford. My Chevrolet had 175K on it and there was not anything really wrong with it, I merely wanted a bigger truck. I know for a fact the 1970 diesel 5-ton military truck in my driveway will start if I just go out and push the button. Interestingly, I did just open the cocks on the heater core yesterday while doing monthly checks on it.

What happens next will determine the future. This is, as the game is playing out, strike two.

opcom · 12-26-2011, 06:40 PM

It was hinted that there is a check valve that keeps the fuel fron draining back to the tank. The vehicle is parked with its nose about 3-4FT higher than the tail. There is no changing that.

opcom · 12-27-2011, 07:08 PM

When the wrecker came yesterday, I rolled it down the driveway into the street. No easy task without the power steering. Once sitting flat in the street, it was not at an angle the wrecker could get at it so I let it crank so I could use the steering while he winched it. The second time, it started.

I still had it taken to the shop because I want the problem fixed. Verdict is that when the tank is not over 1/4 full and the truck is parked overnight on a normal incline of a driveway (in this case the front wheel 3 FT higher than the rear), that the low pressure pump will suck air.

Workaround is the truck ought to be kept as full as possible and parked flat or nose down. Its nose down now. I do not like it nose to the street in this bad neighborhood as I do not wish to be questioned by the police for protecting my own property nor to pay insurance deductibles for damage or vandalism.

The dealer investigated this scientifically by raising the front up and found that for whatever reason, the 1/4 full tank is not enough at such an angle, there is no engineering fix from Ford, and was kind enough not to charge, but there was still an expensive wrecker bill and a day's rental.
There is no blame on the dealer's repair shop. It's a design defect of the truck. The tech said he bled it and it started so I obviously have not bled it properly. I will call him and ask his advice on how to do it myself.

So, here we have a 4X4 working truck that will not run after being stopped for several hours on an incline unless the tank is fairly full. It is really an engineering design problem. What if I am on a job or off the pavement and the truck has been run close to empty? Now that I know about this, I can try to live with it by keeping the tank full but it is something I want to talk with Ford engineers about because it simply ought not to happen and there really ought to be a mod for it.

It's very disappointing and had I known of this problem I would never have bought the F-550 under any circumstances and now I am stuck with it for a couple years anyway until it can be paid off.

It could use an aftermarket low pressure fuel gauge maybe? Would be helpful if this happens again?

I think my opinion about it being a design defect is correct on a 4x4 work vehicle. Is my opinion unreasonable?

Dogman · 12-28-2011, 11:03 AM

Have you tried parking with the nose going down the drive and see if it starts??

opcom · 12-29-2011, 06:14 PM

Did that yesterday evening, started OK, and I'm doing that now. It will sit for almost 24 hours.

opcom · 01-12-2012, 08:54 PM

Result is that with the truck nose-down and the tank kept 1/2 to full (they said >1/4), there has been no further issue. It runs like a scalded dog and is not bad on fuel for a 2-ton truck. Even so, I can't accept engineering buffoonery of this level. I'm going to pay it off and buy a pre-emissions diesel truck. That way I can, myself, add an accumulator so the thing won't suck air first thing. I have a 5-ton military truck with a Cummins NHC-250 (800 cubes), it does not have any such issue.

opcom · 02-01-2012, 09:12 PM

so far no other issues. I guess it is:

"beware parking the 2008 F-550 nose-up with less than 1/3 tank of fuel"

104K miles - Just had the engine and fuel coolants changed, differential serviced, and engine oil changed. running fine!

I also tallied up average fuel cost on this monster.. $550 per month as I drive 70 miles round trip 5 days a week.

I bought a 1974 Dodge Dart with a slant six. I'll drive that when I don't need the F-550.
'74 was a good year for the dart:
up-sized factory air cond.
no catalytic converter (til '75), and only an EGR + PCV for emissions.
23MPG highway.

12-28-2011, 11:03 AM	#16
Dogman Dogman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: tampa,FL Posts: 1,331 Thanks: 2 Thanked 104 Times in 90 Posts	Have you tried parking with the nose going down the drive and see if it starts?? __________________ 2008 F-250 All stock so far...LOL 1999 Jeep TJ play toy on 32" tires custom bumpers by me

01-12-2012, 08:54 PM	#18
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Result is that with the truck nose-down and the tank kept 1/2 to full (they said >1/4), there has been no further issue. It runs like a scalded dog and is not bad on fuel for a 2-ton truck. Even so, I can't accept engineering buffoonery of this level. I'm going to pay it off and buy a pre-emissions diesel truck. That way I can, myself, add an accumulator so the thing won't suck air first thing. I have a 5-ton military truck with a Cummins NHC-250 (800 cubes), it does not have any such issue. Last edited by opcom; 01-12-2012 at 08:59 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-15-2011, 06:35 PM	#11
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	so far, still running! I got an issue with the midships tank filler, nothing anyone did -in fact it's a artifact of the aftermarket CM flatbed, but it goes straight in then down so the fuel backs up and the pump clicks off making it hard to fill the tank faster than a trickle. something else to deal with.. a mod to lower the filler mount and angle it down.. but there's a big weld there to the flatbed so it'll have to be cut off. Oh well I do want to 'customize' the truck.

12-18-2011, 08:57 PM	#12
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Trouble again!! Got the wrench light again Saturday night. The truck parks on a slight inclined driveway as can be seen. The truck was not started for about 25 hours. I noticed the electric pump humming, because I listened for it. When the key is turned on, It runs a while ans shuts off if the truck has not been started (key not turned). I let it do this cycle twice and then started it. Ran all night an started Sunday morning fine. This tells me air is slowly getting in the system after some 24 hours, and running the pump clears it up. Therefore the problem is not completely fixed. Does that sound right? Monday morning will take to the dealer for code reading.

12-26-2011, 03:54 PM	#13
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A lemon F-550? Parked last night at 8 PM Tried to use the truck today at 2:45 PM. Wrench light came on again, no start, same exact thing as before. I did bleed the fuel after unsuccessfully trying to start it, but maybe not enough, or it didn't seem to help. I didn't notice any air in the fuel but was told it does not take much. Is the 6.4 ford f-550 a lemon or what? During this bleeding of the fuel, I was able to discern that when the fuel pump is off, and one presses the bleeding valve atop the fuel cooler, it will such air in, and then upon turning the ignition (pump) back on, it promptly pushed the air back out followed by a stream of clean fuel. Could it be therefore sucking air in from the top of the engine fuel plumbing somewhere? I thought there was a check valve. But wait, I already paid $1500 plus $300 towing plus $250 for a rental for the problem, whatever it may be, to be -found- and fixed. Last time, they said they'd bled it but good and after that it was running fine but couldn't guarantee it would stay that way, and told me of the above issues necessary to fix the problem. I don't care too much what was found or what I was told, if it's doing the same thing, the repair of the wrench light issue, which is what I paid for, then the right repair was not done. They found -other- problems but did not -find- the -actual- problem. yes or no, black or white, one or zero. The thing in common with these major problems is cool weather. Each time, it was cold in the 40's. But it has also started in cold weather OK. I hope I will not see another obscene $2000+ expense on this vehicle. Just the fact of having it towed and having to rent something is an automatic $500 expense, before the broke-... truck is even touched. I have never, ever had a vehicle, new or used, that just jumped right into my pocket and gobbled up this much in shop cost, lost time, and other expenses. Makes me start thinking about an older, pre-emissions pre-electronics mechanical diesel or even going back to gas, and also about staying away from Ford. My Chevrolet had 175K on it and there was not anything really wrong with it, I merely wanted a bigger truck. I know for a fact the 1970 diesel 5-ton military truck in my driveway will start if I just go out and push the button. Interestingly, I did just open the cocks on the heater core yesterday while doing monthly checks on it. What happens next will determine the future. This is, as the game is playing out, strike two.

12-26-2011, 06:40 PM	#14
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It was hinted that there is a check valve that keeps the fuel fron draining back to the tank. The vehicle is parked with its nose about 3-4FT higher than the tail. There is no changing that.

12-27-2011, 07:08 PM	#15
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	When the wrecker came yesterday, I rolled it down the driveway into the street. No easy task without the power steering. Once sitting flat in the street, it was not at an angle the wrecker could get at it so I let it crank so I could use the steering while he winched it. The second time, it started. I still had it taken to the shop because I want the problem fixed. Verdict is that when the tank is not over 1/4 full and the truck is parked overnight on a normal incline of a driveway (in this case the front wheel 3 FT higher than the rear), that the low pressure pump will suck air. Workaround is the truck ought to be kept as full as possible and parked flat or nose down. Its nose down now. I do not like it nose to the street in this bad neighborhood as I do not wish to be questioned by the police for protecting my own property nor to pay insurance deductibles for damage or vandalism. The dealer investigated this scientifically by raising the front up and found that for whatever reason, the 1/4 full tank is not enough at such an angle, there is no engineering fix from Ford, and was kind enough not to charge, but there was still an expensive wrecker bill and a day's rental. There is no blame on the dealer's repair shop. It's a design defect of the truck. The tech said he bled it and it started so I obviously have not bled it properly. I will call him and ask his advice on how to do it myself. So, here we have a 4X4 working truck that will not run after being stopped for several hours on an incline unless the tank is fairly full. It is really an engineering design problem. What if I am on a job or off the pavement and the truck has been run close to empty? Now that I know about this, I can try to live with it by keeping the tank full but it is something I want to talk with Ford engineers about because it simply ought not to happen and there really ought to be a mod for it. It's very disappointing and had I known of this problem I would never have bought the F-550 under any circumstances and now I am stuck with it for a couple years anyway until it can be paid off. It could use an aftermarket low pressure fuel gauge maybe? Would be helpful if this happens again? I think my opinion about it being a design defect is correct on a 4x4 work vehicle. Is my opinion unreasonable?

12-29-2011, 06:14 PM	#17
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Did that yesterday evening, started OK, and I'm doing that now. It will sit for almost 24 hours.

02-01-2012, 09:12 PM	#19
opcom SDD Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	so far no other issues. I guess it is: "beware parking the 2008 F-550 nose-up with less than 1/3 tank of fuel" 104K miles - Just had the engine and fuel coolants changed, differential serviced, and engine oil changed. running fine! I also tallied up average fuel cost on this monster.. $550 per month as I drive 70 miles round trip 5 days a week. I bought a 1974 Dodge Dart with a slant six. I'll drive that when I don't need the F-550. '74 was a good year for the dart: up-sized factory air cond. no catalytic converter (til '75), and only an EGR + PCV for emissions. 23MPG highway.