2004 Ford Heart Attack

[Carl n Susan]

At 11:00 AM on Monday June 11th, in Longview WA, returning towards home after a three week adventure that started in Mt. Shasta, and while hauling the Montana and owners at 60 MPH down I-5, our 2004 6.0L PSD Crew Cab Ford suffered a heart attack. While the attack was catastrophic and fatal, the PSD did manage to continue running long enough for it to exit the freeway and stop in a safe location. The 6.0L PSD had never been a healthy child. Early on it demonstrated a propensity to visit most of the Ford dealers on the I-5 corridor between Sacramento and Seattle with a rash of “Check Engine” alerts. However, the last year had been relatively uneventful until a routine oil change three months ago. What started as a oil change at 25K miles morphed into a cam replacement. Then just three months later, at two years nine months and 29K miles, the PSD imploded (little trace of a piston in the #6 hole and the #8 piston is gone down to the rings – oh yes, a few valves are missing and the head isn’t pretty).

The Ford robo-docs estimate a transplant will range between $10K (long block) to $15K (re-build remaining pieces) plus labor. However any heroics have been postponed as the union robo-docs went on strike this past Monday (7/18).

Fortunately the truck is dead stock and covered by warranty. Ford has provided great support throughout the various maladies. But Ford stock holders won’t be pleased to pay for yet another engine failure. And I won’t own it when the warranty expires. Now if I could just figure out how to get those spiffy Montana decals off so I can re-use them.

Carl (& Susan) Youngren

[DONnANNIE]

Carl n Susan, sorry to hear of your "Heart Attack". Fortunately, you were able to safely get off the freeway.

I think I would have a real heart attack if I had to pay $10K-$15K for repairs.

[mtnhntr]

Must have been all those mountain passes on I-5 between Oregon and California. Hope all goes well with the fix.
Ken

[JH Sechelt]

Sounds like it was a bit of a lemon from the start. Not many miles for that kind of trouble.
Hope my 05 last longer than that. Hasn't missed a beat so far (touch wood).
Glad warranty is covering the cost.

J&D

[capn chris]

Yikes! My condolences. Hopefully Ford will continue to assist you and get her back running. I've got an '04 also w/81k on it (knock on wood) and she's still pulling well. Just back from 8,500 mile trip to the SW. Good luck and keep us posted.

[rlwhit]

Remember the joke someone at Shasta told that he saw a sign on a hitch reciver that was on a GM product that read "remove before towing Ford/Dodge. Sorry about your troubles. How did you get home? Sure hope the addition of graphics does not cause engine problems.

[The Oldguard]

Remember the joke someone at Shasta told that he saw a sign on a hitch reciver that was on a GM product that read "remove before towing Ford/Dodge. Sorry about your troubles. How did you get home? Sure hope the addition of graphics does not cause engine problems.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dick and Toni Whitfield


Dick, I said that you remove to tow a GM/Dodge (Robbie) LOL!!!

Dick, did you see my fix for the washer drain pipe?

[The Oldguard]

Carl & Susan I'm very sorry to hear about your engine, maybe the new one will be able to blow off Robbie shorts!!!!

[Wifeofdano]

Carl & Susan,
Sorry to hear of your troubles, hope all goes well with the fix.
You do tell a great story!

[Hemlockusa]

Try a hair dryer on the decals, maybe that will work. Sorry about your troubles

[sreigle]

We had 85k on ours when we traded it. No serious problems. I'm glad yours is still under warranty.

[Trailer Trash 2]

I'll play taps for that Ford.

Ta TATA, TAAA TATA -----so on, and you got the idea.

Get a better motor dot Ford.

this might be the best thing that happened for you being on warintee.
I hope you have better luck with the new install..

[Wrenchtraveller]

Sorry to hear of your problems. I had an 04 6.0 PSD for 8 months and I was so glad when my factory order 05 V10 came in and I could leave that 6.0 lemon at the dealers for good. I truly believe the 03 and 04 6.0s are an engine you don't want to keep after warranty runs out and your post only confirms that. I have heard the 05, 06, and 07s are better engines and I hope that is true.
I also hope the new 08 6.4s are a winner but I have talked to two new owners that are not happy with the fuel economy.
The 7.3 PSD was a great engine and I had a 95 and 2000........both terrific engines.
Best of luck with the warranty fix and then dump that puppy before you have to pay for the next fix.

[Carl n Susan]

All you Dodge and Chevy Owners: Thanks for your sympathy - *NOT*!!
(I have suppressed any nasty rebuttals as I may soon own one of those brands.)

rlwhit: Everything fell into place re getting home. My sister has a 2003 Ford PSD (7.3L - the good one!) she uses to tow her 5th wheel. She happened to be home in Sacramento (very unusual). In addition, my youngest son had a couple of days free. So he picked up the truck Monday afternoon and took a jaunt up I-5 to Longview. Ten hours and 600 miles later he was knocking on the door of the Montana (2:30 AM, ugh!). Tuesday, we started hooking up at 7:00 AM and drove straight back to Sacramento that day. There was no way I was leaving the Montana in the dealer's parking lot for two to three weeks.

Carl (& Susan) Youngren

[skypilot]

Carl: Feel your pain -- I had an 03 that Ford bought back (traded into) for an 04 6 liter. That one lasted 14K miles; started it death throes at 8K and dealer managed to mend, massage, and cajole it into lasting longer. It left me stranded twice, once if far western Kansas and the last time by KC. While waiting for the tow truck I heard an advertisement from a competing brand. Went there that day and traded. I have no regrets now driving a Dodge but I'll admit, I have been looking at the Fords with (well - I'll admit it) the look of an Addict longing for a fix. Ford in the blood is an addiction -- I bleed Ford blue I guess (actually bleed K-State purple but that is another topic ).


What I'm trying to say is don't let the Dodge and Chev / GMC owners get to you -- I'm sure I'm not the only one that owns one of those brands just because Ford hasn't been able to get their engine right since the late 7.3s. As soon as they do, I'll be back as they say.

By the way, the gentleman who bought my 04 from the Dodge dealer I traded at had a new computer, two turbos and finally an engine put into the beast. Last I heard he was still driving it around KC.

[simonsrf]

Carl and Susan,

So sorry to hear of your troubles. Wish I had continued on North with you, could have gotten you out of trouble with that SOB.

If you get a pretty white Dodge, I'll buy your new decals!

quote from Oldguard:
"maybe the new one will be able to blow off Robbie shorts!!!!"

OldGuard, I would think that experience and history would be enough to convince you. FAT CHANCE on both accounts!

[R B Aney]

Robert and Barbara Aney here from Azilda, Ontario. We have just purchased a second hand 04 Ford F350, looks like new and runs like a top but hearing your "heart attack" story makes me wonder. It will pull our new 3400RL Montana for the first time this Tuesday (June 26/07), of course we are both very excited.

[Steve and Brenda]

I'm not a PSD owner but my friend lost his 2005 PSD for the second time last night about 50 miles from home after a 10 day trip to California. He didn't make it quite as far, barely onto the shoulder and his Dodge 2500 and Chevy 2500 friends towed his RV and truck back to town very early this morning. He's had Fords all his life, thinking about switching to Dodge very soon.

[simonsrf]

quote:Originally posted by Steve and Brenda

.....and his Dodge 2500 and Chevy 2500 friends towed his RV and truck back to town very early this morning. He's had Fords all his life, thinking about switching to Dodge very soon.

SMART Plan!.....did you hear/read/ that Oldguard??

[Bob Pasternak]

The worst thing about buying a Dodge/Cummins is the engine will probably outlast the payments on the truck!!!