Took my 7.3 L diesel van into the dealership this morning for a few issues and I figure it's about time to see if there's a better shop out there. If anyone knows a shop that knows wtf they're doing and isn't out to screw me, I would be most appreciative.

I live in South Tampa and work in NE St. Pete, so I'm ideally hoping for a place reasonably close to either so pick up and drop off is a bit easier. But regardless, any recommendations at all would be great.

I cant help you out with finding a repair shop, but I might be able to help you with the issues you are having since I own a 7.3 Super Duty. A good website is www.thedieselstop.com for ford stuff, let me know whats going on with the truck and Ill do some research for ya. - John

i could use this info too as i also have the 7.3 i have used gator ford since moving here. took it once to the ford dealer on 19 in clearwater and they broke more shit than they fixed.

I cant help you out with finding a repair shop, but I might be able to help you with the issues you are having since I own a 7.3 Super Duty. A good website is www.thedieselstop.com (http://www.thedieselstop.com) for ford stuff, let me know whats going on with the truck and Ill do some research for ya. - John


I know about the diesel stop and posted a question in their forum - no good response as of yet.
My van started acting up bad 2 weeks ago. I managed to get it into the dealer, who told me that the PCM was going bad and needed to be replaced. OK, no problem, we replaced it and it ran fine. But ever since then, it's like the batteries are going bad. Not cranking as fast, cranking very weak, etc. Some mornings I can barely get it started. Hey, I don't know, maybe they just needed a lengthy run to recharge - but I drove to Lake Wales and back this past weekend, 1 1/2 hrs each way, and the problem didn't magically resolve itself, so that ain't it, either.
I took it back to the dealer today and they told me that the batteries are bad and need replacing. The batteries had plenty of power before I took the van in - no problems at ALL, they cranked hard and started the van easily. I get it back and I have problems. Just seems like an awful big coincidence. Problem is, I don't know near enough about this shit to reasonably argue with the guy. Common sense just tells me that the problem is related to the service trip.

btw - the batteries in question are 2 Interstate batteries that I bought just over a year ago, so they should NOT be going bad so soon. On the plus side, if they are bad, they're still under warranty.

Paul,

I used to manage a fleet of trucks for a company I worked for and they all had 7.3L engines. When I had tough problems, I sent them to Pinellas Diesel in St Pete with good results. The owner, Jeff I think, really knows that engine.

This goes back several years, but I am sure he is still around. Not a big fancy shop, but even the dealerships I worked with sent him the tough ones. Certainly worth a call.

James

You can take it to Autozone or one of the parts stores and they can check to see if your batteries are bad. First thing I would do is take the cables of the batteries, clean the terminals with a terminal post cleaner (steel bristles) and reattach the cables firmly. They should have disconnected the batteries if they replaced the PCM and may not have tightened them enough. Majority of battery problems end up being a ground and if it is the ground, it won't get a full charge. The powerstrokes or at least mine seems to get loose and need cleaning every once and a while. I get a "death buzz" when mine are acting up. If it isn't the batteries, or the terminals, then it could be the glow plug relay.

James - thanks for the info! I'll see if I can track him down.

Dusky - also, thanks. it doesn't hurt to check, at the very least. From some of the research I did on the diesel stop, it sounds like the glow plug relay would not suck the batteries down. I'll check the terminals regardless. I checked the one under the hood and it looked fine and the cables appeared to be attached pretty good. The 2nd battery is about halfway down the frame right under the sliding passenger door and is a real pain in the ass to remove or even check, so I haven't tackled that one yet.
Of course, if there was a place that they would half-ass something, that would be the place.

What year is the van? Does your battery light on the dash light up? Does the truck ever not start, or is does it just turn over slower than normal? When driving, do you notice anyhitng strange like lights dimming with A/C on, ect?

As was mentioned, check your grounds - if your grounds suck, the batts wont get a full charge. Has anyone checked your alternator? You should be getting somewhere around 13.6-14.0 volts coming off the alt. Check the plug on the alt as well and make sure the pins are clean of corrosion or crud. Ill let you know if I can find anything else to check.

Also forgot to ask, does it crank slowly immediately after running, or does it only do it after being shut off for a while?

The van is a 2001.
The dealer actually still has it and is working on something else - I can ask them tomorrow if they checked the alternator
It hasn't NOT started yet, but each morning it seems pretty close. It's not so bad when I start it up at lunch or after shorter periods of sitting. Overnight is definitely the worst.

All the symptoms tell me bad batteries. What I REALLY question is why I didn't have this problem until after I got it back from being serviced.

Thanks

Sounds to me like something is drawing on the battery while it sits. You could always dc the battery after shutting it off, and then reconnect when you wake up, and see what it does. I would be willing to bet something is drawing the battery though from what you describe.

I just read something about a guy who was having a similar problem but it wasnt a powerstroke. He said it was his starter that wasnt working properly. You might ask around to see if it would be a good idea to have it tested as well.....just a thought. Hope you figure it out man.

Paul,

Telling if something is drawing the batteries down while sitting is an easy test. Disconnect the neg side of one of the batteries, and install a test light between the cable and neg post of the battery. Is the test light lit up? If so, you have some more checking to do. You may get a little light even if there is not a problem, due to the keep alive memory of the radio or maybe something else similiar. You can also use a multi-meter to do the same thing.

James

Thanks, James. I'll give that a shot. Sounds like I need to go to Advance auto for some new toys.

Just heard from the dealer about the other stuff they're working now. They're done and are charging me next to nothing and taking care of my rental car - basically because it's something that they should have fixed when I had it in last week.
I also asked them when I talked to them at lunch and they verified that they checked out the entire charging system and it appeared to be working correctly.