Hi All
Got an 03 6.0 350 4X with the dreaded electrical gremlins.
Got the truck as a mystery no start - no other details.
All of the "dumb" things are good ie. oil, oil pressure when cranking, 2 new batteries with good voltage, and the PCM PIDS are all showing ie. ICP pressure when cranking etc. - just not the FICM
Previous owner had replaced the FICM with what appears to be a re-man - got the Binder tag on it.
I've got no MPWR, LPWR, VPWR showing on my live data (Solus pro) I do have some old memory codes, but nothing new.
I do have voltage exiting the FICM relay and the LPWR fuse is good,, but..... when you turn the key off, the relay hangs on. If you pull the relay, it powers off and when you plug it back in, it does not repower until you turn the key back on. Tried another relay, by the way.

Confusing - Hell yes
Anyone with any brainwaves?
Thanks

 

It would really help to po a known good FICM on there to see what happens. It is possible that someone bought a brand new FICM and didn't have it programmed, won't run without programming from the dealer.

 

Bob
A known good FICM is right up there on my nice to have list, but not likely to happen anytime soon. Still... What's making the FICM relay hang on? That's the one that baffles me. Low voltage in the past to another relay - like the PCM relay? The bateries that were in it were totally screwed.
I guess I'll keep digging until I find an answer.

 

Have you tried manually testing the FICM voltage with a multi-meter? What scanner are you using? Are you getting FICM SYNC? It should just be a yes/no.

Where are you located? When you crank the truck are you getting any smoke out of the exhaust? No smoke means injectors are not firing, usually a high/low pressure oil problem, or the FICM more often than not. When you turn the key can you hear the injectors buzz? (key forward, but not starting).

 

MDUB
As first post says, scanner is Solus Pro (snap-on). No SYNC. ICP shows oil PSI as good. No volts out of FICM (key on engine off). Relay hanging on when key off. Proper trigger for relay (ground triggered). Proper volts to all powered points of relay. Relay will not power off when key turned off. If I unplug, it will, of course go off and when I plug it back in (key off) it remains off (key still off).
Checked all ground points. No injector pulse when key on or during injector buzz test.

 

Ok so the FICM isn't getting power, and you suspect the relay maybe? FWIW, I believe Ford has discontinued the relay for the FICM, it's a weird bugger, like a 70amp setup. Even Napa had 3 or 4 P/N's for it, but none were usable last I checked. I read somewhere that you can find them on older lincoln town cars and similar (crown vics) that had them for fuel pump relays. I found one in my local junkyard before for like $10.

You should read this link to understand what is needed for FICM SYNC. I've seen a few really strange things cause it. http://www.fordtechservice.dealercon...FICM_Guide.pdf

 

Looks like I need to clarify:
The FICM is getting power in. When I said the relay is hanging on, I meant that there was continuous power being delivered to the FICM even after the key was shut off.
The only way I can de-power the FICM/FICM relay is to pull the relay (key off).
I can re-install the relay and the power stays off.
No communication between scanner and FICM. I cannot command it to do on-demand tests like injector buzz. It does not show any of its parameters or activity on screen.

Yesterday's tests:
Tried removing the PCM relay with key off and FICM relay still powered - no change
unplugged the glowplug controller - no change.
When I remove the frontmost FICM plug with the relay hung on, the relay will let go and de-power. I have tried another relay.
Removed FICM and checked internals for "smoke" damage looked good, smelled good - not burned.
Removed FICM 2 bolt access cover and, although the scanner shows no volts, there is 48v on the pin closest to the left fender. The truck is an 03 with a 4 pin FICM (I thought that 03 was supposed to have a 7 pin FICM, but that's why I'm here).

 

03 should have 7 pin, just means someone has replaced it already. Ford didn't sell any new 7 pins, so if it's failed in the past and they bought a new one from Ford, it was a 4 pin. Shouldn't matter though, you can use any year FICM on any year 6.0.

All of the failed one's I've repaired, I've never had any smell burned or look damaged either. Even one that I shorted out myself and fried. No smell, no visible damage.

I am definitely not an electrical guru, so why it continues to have power after key off I'm not sure. That's intriguing.

It is odd that your scanner shows no communication even though the FICM is getting 48V. Sounds like an open or short in the system, but beyond that I'm useless with this kind of stuff.

 

I still think that it is possible the FICM isn't even programmed, if the owner bought a brand new/remanufactured unit it won't be programmed unless they paid a dealer to do it, most of them require you to have the truck there to program it.

 

I wonder if the remans are programmed or not? Hmmm. I know new one's are not. It could be possible Bob. I would think if you bought one from a dealer they would warn you it needs programming.