Intermittent Stalling Ford F-250: The Real Fix
video description
Date: 2023-04-05
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 14
Stuart
Eric
yes I must concur that an intermittent fault is the very hardest to find, video one you did a solid diagnosis no question on that. when the job came back it was now a solid fault so now you have a solid fault to trace out well done.
my worst case of a fault was doing maintenance on a 400hz 208 3 ph vac IBM mainframe PDU supply, it was the changeover switch the cables were about 1 inch in dia flexible and two foot long ( note I am metric minded so rough translation) well it worked for five years after a dust out one phase down? traced it to one cable two foot long with crimped on ends, this is NOT possible in my mind tested with a 1000 volt mega still open, visual inspection showed the end of the said cable had been in contact with the nut on the connection, so I cut off the lug split it in half the factory had left the mylar clear sheath on before crimping hence a insulated joint. mainframe was down for 50mins while it was sorted new cable installed very expensive as it was one of a UK Banks mainframe
reply
Eric
yes I must concur that an intermittent fault is the very hardest to find, video one you did a solid diagnosis no question on that. when the job came back it was now a solid fault so now you have a solid fault to trace out well done.
my worst case of a fault was doing maintenance on a 400hz 208 3 ph vac IBM mainframe PDU supply, it was the changeover switch the cables were about 1 inch in dia flexible and two foot long ( note I am metric minded so rough translation) well it worked for five years after a dust out one phase down? traced it to one cable two foot long with crimped on ends, this is NOT possible in my mind tested with a 1000 volt mega still open, visual inspection showed the end of the said cable had been in contact with the nut on the connection, so I cut off the lug split it in half the factory had left the mylar clear sheath on before crimping hence a insulated joint. mainframe was down for 50mins while it was sorted new cable installed very expensive as it was one of a UK Banks mainframe
reply
Jonathan
I recently ran into an intermittent problem that drove me a bit insane. Had an issue with the A/T relay on our '04 Eclipse that I swore would be a short to ground (20a fuse blown that controls A/T relay, but when I tried to find one I couldn't. What I did find was the shift solenoids had a higher then spec resistance to them, and I had (wrongly) assumed that they were pulling to ground a short, blowing the fuse. Replaced solenoids, thought all was well, then a little later same issue! It wasn't until after the solenoids were replaced that it finally stopped being intermittent and I was able to trace it to a wire that was rubbing against the thermostat housing from a harness that the plastic had broke, causing the entire harness to sag/drop.
I think I speak for a lot of though that we learn a lot from your videos, as I don't think I'd have traced this fault as well if I wasn't watching so many SMA videos lol.
reply
I recently ran into an intermittent problem that drove me a bit insane. Had an issue with the A/T relay on our '04 Eclipse that I swore would be a short to ground (20a fuse blown that controls A/T relay, but when I tried to find one I couldn't. What I did find was the shift solenoids had a higher then spec resistance to them, and I had (wrongly) assumed that they were pulling to ground a short, blowing the fuse. Replaced solenoids, thought all was well, then a little later same issue! It wasn't until after the solenoids were replaced that it finally stopped being intermittent and I was able to trace it to a wire that was rubbing against the thermostat housing from a harness that the plastic had broke, causing the entire harness to sag/drop.
I think I speak for a lot of though that we learn a lot from your videos, as I don't think I'd have traced this fault as well if I wasn't watching so many SMA videos lol.
reply
interstate
Hey Crap happens! I honestly was wondering why you didn't look at the signal input more just to be sure. As I recall you did a get job. Way beyond my patience level. I have sold trucks and cars with less problems because My Patience level was maxed out. I also thought you were sickin that vid too. Thank you For sharing Your Fantastic Electrical Skills. This by No means discounts your Great ability to Fix these new Rats nest wiring fodder cars and trucks. and yes FORD IS THE Worst for short changing logical connectors and putting a mess of connectors on top of each other. so you have to undo 4 feet of wire to get to the plug in the middle that was assembled wrong. I'm going over board Sorry Later Thanks again and Great Job!
reply
Hey Crap happens! I honestly was wondering why you didn't look at the signal input more just to be sure. As I recall you did a get job. Way beyond my patience level. I have sold trucks and cars with less problems because My Patience level was maxed out. I also thought you were sickin that vid too. Thank you For sharing Your Fantastic Electrical Skills. This by No means discounts your Great ability to Fix these new Rats nest wiring fodder cars and trucks. and yes FORD IS THE Worst for short changing logical connectors and putting a mess of connectors on top of each other. so you have to undo 4 feet of wire to get to the plug in the middle that was assembled wrong. I'm going over board Sorry Later Thanks again and Great Job!
reply
Thatdave
First video you were sick
It came from another shop, saying it needed a new fuse box
As I watched you, I kept saying, pull the fuse box out pull the dam fuse box, as your previous videos have shown the hidden green or broken wires. I'm although you did the process of diagnosis and found something, maybe your gut approach would have let you pull the fuse box early in the job!
Just one wire, one power source can have a detrimental effect on all othe systems, can't it?
What the concern is, which wire is next to go?
Don't give up though, you've got thousands of views to teach and pass on knowledge.
Mr O, he's only Human
reply
First video you were sick
It came from another shop, saying it needed a new fuse box
As I watched you, I kept saying, pull the fuse box out pull the dam fuse box, as your previous videos have shown the hidden green or broken wires. I'm although you did the process of diagnosis and found something, maybe your gut approach would have let you pull the fuse box early in the job!
Just one wire, one power source can have a detrimental effect on all othe systems, can't it?
What the concern is, which wire is next to go?
Don't give up though, you've got thousands of views to teach and pass on knowledge.
Mr O, he's only Human
reply
South
Looking back on my first video I think our testing was solid. Fact is, touching the relay disturbed the box (making the connection) and gave us a false sense of the repair. THE GOOD NEWS is we had solid testing so when the vehicle came back we knew what we did previously and exactly where to begin. If there was no testing performed previously we would still be flying blind at this point. This is why I try to stress to you folks to carry out the best method you can and be minimally invasive when dealing with an intermittents. As I proved, touching something can hide the real issue. Hope it all makes sense in the end.
-Eric O.
reply
Looking back on my first video I think our testing was solid. Fact is, touching the relay disturbed the box (making the connection) and gave us a false sense of the repair. THE GOOD NEWS is we had solid testing so when the vehicle came back we knew what we did previously and exactly where to begin. If there was no testing performed previously we would still be flying blind at this point. This is why I try to stress to you folks to carry out the best method you can and be minimally invasive when dealing with an intermittents. As I proved, touching something can hide the real issue. Hope it all makes sense in the end.
-Eric O.
reply
William
One handy trick to checking pin fitment issues, is to cover the contacts of the fuse/relay with black (or blue) permanent marker, then insert the fuse/relay back into its socket, then pull out. If most of the ink is gone, then it s not a pin fitment issue, but if little (or no) ink is removed (by friction, then either the pin is worn out, or the socket terminals have lost their springiness. Just make sure your marker s ink is soluble in acetone, IPA (isopropyl alcohol, or even brake parts cleaner (make funny noise when pulling out the brake parts cleaner, or the Internet will claim you re not a real mechanic)
reply
One handy trick to checking pin fitment issues, is to cover the contacts of the fuse/relay with black (or blue) permanent marker, then insert the fuse/relay back into its socket, then pull out. If most of the ink is gone, then it s not a pin fitment issue, but if little (or no) ink is removed (by friction, then either the pin is worn out, or the socket terminals have lost their springiness. Just make sure your marker s ink is soluble in acetone, IPA (isopropyl alcohol, or even brake parts cleaner (make funny noise when pulling out the brake parts cleaner, or the Internet will claim you re not a real mechanic)
reply
smiles76
I'm with everyone else. The problem was intermittent and moving things around fixed itself. Just had a comeback myself from a coolant hose on a Cruze imagine that! Dang quick disconnect gave out on the thermo housing. Its a bad feeling but we are human and we make mistakes. Not saying you did anything wrong but I know the feeling. After being in the business for so long and having all these people online lift you up, your going to feel invincible. Don't forget to take a deep breath, you can't please everyone, and take a dang vacation if your feeling burnt man. Love what you do here, keep up the great work!
reply
I'm with everyone else. The problem was intermittent and moving things around fixed itself. Just had a comeback myself from a coolant hose on a Cruze imagine that! Dang quick disconnect gave out on the thermo housing. Its a bad feeling but we are human and we make mistakes. Not saying you did anything wrong but I know the feeling. After being in the business for so long and having all these people online lift you up, your going to feel invincible. Don't forget to take a deep breath, you can't please everyone, and take a dang vacation if your feeling burnt man. Love what you do here, keep up the great work!
reply
Quickwrench-Tool
Is what it is! Us rust techs have these issues all the time Bottom line ya fixed it I have seen that same issue before on same type a vehicle Wondering if somewhere in manufacturing either harness or truck do they cause a pinhole in wire? Over time it rots and fails I am sure that's what causes a failure like such. Work outside Metro Detroit so see many of those fords and had to do same pain in ya know what repair Fuse box is a real pain Also had other green wires under there also. which caused other issues. Have to love the rust belt Great Video as always Keep on going on my man.
reply
Is what it is! Us rust techs have these issues all the time Bottom line ya fixed it I have seen that same issue before on same type a vehicle Wondering if somewhere in manufacturing either harness or truck do they cause a pinhole in wire? Over time it rots and fails I am sure that's what causes a failure like such. Work outside Metro Detroit so see many of those fords and had to do same pain in ya know what repair Fuse box is a real pain Also had other green wires under there also. which caused other issues. Have to love the rust belt Great Video as always Keep on going on my man.
reply
Norman
I went back to the first video. The initial diagnosis was correct. The truck did need a new fuse box (which wasn't available) because most mechanics wouldn't want to invest the time and energy that it ultimately took to determine what the problem was within the fuse box. That is the problem today. Most mechanics would rather replace than determine what the cause of the problem actually was. In this case it was a disconnected wire inside the fuse box. I'm glad that you got it working and saved the day for the customer.
reply
I went back to the first video. The initial diagnosis was correct. The truck did need a new fuse box (which wasn't available) because most mechanics wouldn't want to invest the time and energy that it ultimately took to determine what the problem was within the fuse box. That is the problem today. Most mechanics would rather replace than determine what the cause of the problem actually was. In this case it was a disconnected wire inside the fuse box. I'm glad that you got it working and saved the day for the customer.
reply
Josh
Hey Eric. I ve work on these quite a bit up on the Alaskan oil field. The best way that I ve found to access the bottom of the box is by dropping the wheel liner and then you can have it hang low enough to work on. I had this very ckt rub through behind the left headlight housing. Too late now but easier next time. Thanks for posting the vids even though you were ticked about it. It is super lame that Ford doesn t make it serviceable or even easy to access for that matter.
reply
Hey Eric. I ve work on these quite a bit up on the Alaskan oil field. The best way that I ve found to access the bottom of the box is by dropping the wheel liner and then you can have it hang low enough to work on. I had this very ckt rub through behind the left headlight housing. Too late now but easier next time. Thanks for posting the vids even though you were ticked about it. It is super lame that Ford doesn t make it serviceable or even easy to access for that matter.
reply
Darin
The reason you think GM trucks are unreliable is because you see more of them than other trucks. However the reason you're seeing more of them is because they are sold at a much higher rate than other trucks in your area. Why are they sold at a higer rate? Because people have better experience with GM trucks and repeat buy them. If you think Dodge and Ford trucks are more reliable than GM, you're just wrong. Sorry to have to critique you like this, but somebody has to.
reply
The reason you think GM trucks are unreliable is because you see more of them than other trucks. However the reason you're seeing more of them is because they are sold at a much higher rate than other trucks in your area. Why are they sold at a higer rate? Because people have better experience with GM trucks and repeat buy them. If you think Dodge and Ford trucks are more reliable than GM, you're just wrong. Sorry to have to critique you like this, but somebody has to.
reply
Aaron
If memory serves, you did check all of that! I think the wire was still conducting intermittently. Solid fix. Don't worry about it. You're the most thorough, honest mechanic I've seen in my life. I don't even trust oil changers. I mark the filter before going in the old days. I just change my own. I've even diagnosed an alternator problem on my truck using your methods, checking voltages etc. Bought an alternator rebuild kit and back up and running!
reply
If memory serves, you did check all of that! I think the wire was still conducting intermittently. Solid fix. Don't worry about it. You're the most thorough, honest mechanic I've seen in my life. I don't even trust oil changers. I mark the filter before going in the old days. I just change my own. I've even diagnosed an alternator problem on my truck using your methods, checking voltages etc. Bought an alternator rebuild kit and back up and running!
reply
DouglasH
Hi Eric and the lovely Mrs. O, Well well, so you are human. In the last video you tried a relay and said let him run it and see what happens, well looks like you didn't misdiagnose anything. You said first thing it's probably in the fuse box. You deserve more credit than you give yourself, but I guess that's why all these shops send you their problems because you're the best and humble. Great job buddy!
reply
Hi Eric and the lovely Mrs. O, Well well, so you are human. In the last video you tried a relay and said let him run it and see what happens, well looks like you didn't misdiagnose anything. You said first thing it's probably in the fuse box. You deserve more credit than you give yourself, but I guess that's why all these shops send you their problems because you're the best and humble. Great job buddy!
reply
InsideOfMyOwnMind
I came to the comments to see people going Oh, Eric, you're so good, bla bla bla.
No. Poo happens. The difference is you handle it honestly, suck it up, deal with it and move on.
No magic folks. It's why we come here. If you never made a mistake assuming this was one we would know nothing about your character. It makes for one of the most telling videos you post and in a good way.
reply
I came to the comments to see people going Oh, Eric, you're so good, bla bla bla.
No. Poo happens. The difference is you handle it honestly, suck it up, deal with it and move on.
No magic folks. It's why we come here. If you never made a mistake assuming this was one we would know nothing about your character. It makes for one of the most telling videos you post and in a good way.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
