Automobile / Ford / F350

Question: 2001 Ford F350 Mileage: 73,000.  My truck has a 6-speed transmission. On occasions, I have pulled up to a red light and sat at the light with the clutch engaged while waiting for the light to change. All of a sudden, the truck started taking off even though I had not let off the clutch. After taking off, the clutch went back to working properly but then the same thing happened about four hours later. The clutch itself does not seem bad. It does not slip or do anything unusual when driving.

Answer: We suspect that your clutch master cylinder is occasionally bypassing the internal seals. Rebuilding or replacing the cylinder is the only solution.

Question: 2002 Ford F-350 mileage: 27,000:  What is the problem with the automatic locking hubs? They worked once and that is it, this is the second set. What is the fix?

Answer: We have found that dirt and water entering the automatic locking hubs for the 4-wheel drive causes them to malfunction. Inspect the seals and clean the locking hubs.

Question: 1996 F-350  mileage: 116,000. OD light starts flashing every once in a while. Then transmission shifts rough. Took to transmission guy, he said transmission was fine; it was some kind of other problem Code he gave me was P1728. Ford dealer today told me code says slippage and need new transmission or overhaul. When you unhook battery, for few minutes, it resets itself and then the truck runs great, no problems with transmission shifts until the next time. I have found a lot of people on the Internet with same problem, haven't found anyone who had solution. Can you help?

Answer: P1728 indicates that the transmission is slipping. When the computer that controls the transmission detects a fault code like P1728, it will put the transmission into a "limp" mode. When you unhooked the battery, the code is cleared and the transmission will function properly until the slippage occurs again. To resolve this problem, you will need to get your transmission overhauled.

Question: 2000 Ford F-350  mileage: 100,800.  The truck suddenly dumped all of the transmission fluid out of vent tube in the dustcover under the flywheel, what happened?

Answer: It sounds as if the front seal has "popped" out of the front pump of the transmission.

Question:  1999 Ford F-350 crew cab 4x4 Cummins mileage: 120,000 truck.  My brakes from day one were not the best. I put in a Cummins diesel and now I pull big loads.  I can't panic stop and they seem mushy.  I replaced everything the vacuum booster, master cylinder, proportioning valve, calipers.  Now its worse.  I have bled them several times and adjusted my rears up close.  Sometimes they shutter when I stop hard and now even pull to one side. I know the R.A.B anti lock things don't work right because my rears will lock up.  I don't get any fault codes, now what? 

Answer:  We suspect that rear antilock break valve is faulty here.  Also, check the vacuum supply to the power brake booster to make sure it is sufficient.

Question: 2002 Ford F-350 mileage: 88,000.  I changed slave cylinder on transmission, having a hard time bleeding air out.  There is no bleeder on cylinder or on the master. I am wondering what to do to bleed it.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer:  The clutch slave and master cylinder are self-bleeding.  This is done by gently done by gently tapping the clutch pedal.

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Question: 1999 Ford F-350 crew cab mileage: 110,000.  We have replaced the fuel pumps, O2 sensor, temp sensor, troubleshoot the map sensor, EGR, injectors, PCM, check timing, comp test, we used a breakout box to check circuits and a snap-on analyzer for codes.  We still get code 173 running rich and continually stays in open loop, the fuel pumps were replaced because the pressure was over 80 psi.  The vehicle is a security truck that sits at idle for long periods of time, rarely drives over 30 mph, also lack of power.  Thanks for your time.   

Answer:  Check the catalytic converter to make sure it is not plugged or restricted.  Also, check the fuel pressure regulator.

Question: 1995 Ford F-350 Van mileage: 122,000.  I am having trouble with cold starts on this work vehicle. When cranking to start, sounds as if engine is not getting fuel, but it usually starts after prolonged cranking and pumping of accelerator. We have had fuel pump changed, injectors, fuel filter, cold start solenoid, and there has been little improvement.  As a result, starter and battery are taking a beating from all the extra starting work.  This problem seems to be directly related to the temperature in our shop.  We have heat in the garage, but it only keeps the place about fifty degrees or so.   When we get cold weather (ten to fifteen degrees) the problem gets worse.  Would a crankcase heater help this problem?  I know larger diesel trucks have plug-in warmers for winter use.  Is this something we should look into?  How difficult is it to install?  Appreciate any ideas you can offer.

Answer: Your hard start problems may be caused by a faulty fuel pump that supplies fuel to the main injector pump.  As for the warmers, check out the fuel pump first since you have apparently gotten by for a long time without them in the past.

Question: 1999 Ford F-350 mileage: 112,000.  My brake pedal slowly bleeds down as in a defective master cylinder, but we changed that twice.  The rear brakes have been adjusted, the system bled and we have twenty plus inches of vacuum at idle.  (A Ford mechanic told me that insufficient vacuum can cause this.  He also told me that as far as he knows, a defective ABS unit can't be the cause).  What is the cause?  It does not bleed-down with the engine off (no vacuum).

Answer: You have either another bad master cylinder or a leak somewhere in the hydraulic brake system.

Question: 1989 Ford F-350 single rear wheel mileage: 30,000.  I am experiencing a considerable sway getting up to highway speed and on deceleration but not so much at cruising speed.  I have new ten ply radials, balanced, proper inflation, etc. I have three inch springs, six leafs.  I have utility body, welder, torches, and tools on board, but am well under gross vehicle weight. The leaf springs do have a little squat to them. Would helper springs be in order or should I be looking elsewhere?  Also has rear anti-sway bar.

Answer:  Your swaying problem may be due to worn out or weak shock absorbers. You mentioned new ten ply radial tires we are assuming that all four tires are new ten ply radials. If only two tires are radial and the other two are bias ply, this most likely is the cause of your swaying problem.

Question: 2002 Ford F-350 mileage: 65,000.  The truck acts as if it is running out of gas, I changed fuel filters check timing gave complete tune-up changed fuel pump relays. Gas is getting to carburetor; what else could it be?

Answer:  Check the compression; you may be ready for a valve job.  Also, check the plug wires and coil output.

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