V10 Eng, desperate in need of help

STBRetired wrote:
Ford has a box that plugs into the OBD port on your vehicle. It sits on the floor and records everything the ECU sees and does. When you have the issue, you push the button on the box and it locks in the previous 10 minutes worth of data. My BIL is a Ford service manager.. That is what they use for intermittent problems.

We are talking about a 17 yr old vehicle with 17 yr old "technology".

2003 that is actually OBD1 with OBD2 port connection, in essence it is a "hybrid", OBD2 readers can connect and they can read codes, however with the OBD1 system it is connected to has very little diagnostic information that is monitored and reported.

As long as there is no CEL or MIL light, there is no "codes" stored and most likely no "pending" codes since OBD1 has a lot less sensors to report on. Even "live" Data is pretty sparse on vehicles of this age making trouble shooting a lot harder.

Even on OBD2 vehicles you should NEVER fully rely on the codes or live data and just randomly throw parts at it..

As far as a local Ford dealer trouble shooting a 17 yr old vehicle, yeah from my experience plan on spending north of $4K and multiple trips and lots of parts thrown at it AND STILL NOT FIXED!!!.. That comes from experience with a 2006 5.4 which does have full OBD2!

I ended up fixing the original problem (not the same as the OP) with a CAN OF THROTTLE BODY CLEANER AND A RAG! Got tired of NPF (No Problem found) and $4K poorer I did an internet search of the syptoms and found out the throttle body was gummed up.. In the mean time the dealer damaged a cat converter, changed fuel pump, changed plugs and darn near cost me thousands more when I discovered a LOOSE PLUG!!!

My advise to the OP, IF you love and are attached to your truck, you will want to fix it yourself, otherwise I will recommend saving your sanity and a lot of money and buy a NEW truck.. The 6.2 V8 gas engines are awesome and from what I hear, the new 7.3 gas is even better..