took my 03 F-250 6.0L to the dealership (A C Collins Ford) to do some front end work. They did that and it is fine. Well, they said it had a factory recall so they had to re-program it. Well, now that they have done that, it runs BAD! I don't have any power, it takes forever just to get up to 50mph, it's like its starving for air. Then when I do finally do get up to speed and have to slow down, there's a real loud noice under my hood sound like a jacobs brake. Something is VERY wrong. I went round and round with them on Friday and they told me to bring it back in on Tuesday for diagnostics. My problem is that I never authorized them to do any "reprogramming" and now that they have done so, they are causing major problems with my engine that I will most likely have to pay for. I told them to just reverse the re-programming and they said they could not do so because it was against the law. Any of you know anything about this. Is there a programmer I can buy to re-program my module so it runs back to normal, or better? Or am I gonna have to get stuck with another bill from the dealership?

 

Not sure why it would have the truck running like crap, unless they half way fried the computer. Did they tell you anything about what the recall was?

 

That was likely the inferred EBP calibration. Is the check engine lamp on?

 

They didn't tell me what recall it was...but to answer your question, yes, the check engine light was on.
But I think that was a different issue...you see...I had an EGR problem about 6 months ago and I had a friend of a friend replace the EGR. It ran great after that, but he did not have the equipment to clear the "check engine" light. So that is why it was displayed.

It just runs really bad. I lose power on any incline, and it takes forever to get going after a complete stop. Cars are behind me honking for me to get out of the way. It also makes a real bad sound under the hood when I finally do get it going and I have to take my foot off of the accelerator...it sounds like a real loud rumbling under the hood...almost like a jacobs brake or something. It just flat out has no power and takes forever to get over 30 mph.

 

Sounds like maybe the egr is hung partway open, or the VGT business in the turbocharger is sticking. Get the codes out of it, and post them up here and I will likely be able to help you out.

 

Hey Big Angry Hillbilly,
I just got a call back from the dealership. They are saying that the ICP or is it IPC sensor is what most of the problem is. Does that sound correct? They said that will get them started and then they will go from there and let me know any other problems they encounter. I still say its got to be something with maybe them not doing the reflashing correctly...because my truck never had an IPC or ICP (whichever it is) sensor problem before the reflashing. Not only that, but the IPC sendor is $850 to replace and they still sound like thats just the beginning. What are your thoughts? Thanks again...Im really stressing!!!

 

It could be an ICP issue...did they tell you what is wrong with it?

If it's an 03 - the ICP is kind of rude to change, it's under the turbo at the back.

 

Big Angry Hill Billy,
they just said it was going out. They said something about back pressure or lack thereof or somehthing like that. My response was that I didn't have this issue before the reflash, and now since they did the reflash..all of a sudden I have this issue...an $850 issue (and they said that's the first thing they need to correct) sounds kind a expensive...I personally think they are doing " exploratory diagnostics". I just need them to get the truck back the way it was before they cracked the hood. They had no business even opening the hood...they were just supposed to do ball joints, front end allignment...and now this is turning into a nightmare. Sorry for complaining...I appreciate all of your advise. Do you think they are possibly correct with the ICP issue?
Thanks again,
Joe

 

Really hard to say from behind a keyboard.

I'd like to know what codes/pressures/issues they are having, then i'd be able to help you a little more. ICP can very well cause the symptoms you are describing, so I wouldn't rule it out.

 

Big Angry Hillbilly,
I took the truck from the dealership and took it to an independent shop, they ran codes and the only one that came up was the ICP sensor...I had them replace it along with the harness. The truck still runs in the same bad condition after the flash. (I knew this was going to happen).

I pulled up some info on another board and they said that in some of the 03 models that the flash did not take correctly as it did not give the correct info or any info to the FICM. They said that in some cases the PCM & TCM would accept the flash, but the FICM would never communicate.
This sounds like my problem because it seems like someone has put s restrictor plate on my truck and it won't get up and go. Anytime Im trying to get on to an "onramp" to the freeway, it won't speed up enough...in fact it is so slow that I have cars behind me honking for me to get out of the way. It feels like someone has put a restrictor plate on my truck or something. Then when I finally do get up to speed and have to slow down and take my foot off the accelerator, it sounds real muffled under the hood...and it feels like its making the transmission shift really hard. Too much pressure or something. I think the FICM is my problem and that it didn't take the flashing info. What do you think?

I've also heard of aftermarket FICM's...do you think that may be the way to go...maybe get mine reprogrammed somewhere and just do away with the dealership? What's your opinion?