Wet, humid, or damp.........NO START!!!
04-11-2013, 02:27 PM
#11
Senior Member
FPDM...check it, replace it. Probably has a hole in it and moisture its getting in it.
01-11-2014, 09:52 AM
#13
wet no start f150
I'm new to this forum and found it by doing a search for f150 problems.
I have a 2004 F150 Heritage that I bought not too long ago. Since the day I bought it has rained or snowed almost every day rendering my truck useless as it would either crank and start only to sputter and die or just crank and not start.
It took me 2 months of aggravation but I think I've found the problem. One of my searches turned up a youtube post of someone who had the same problem with a Windstar. It had a TSB stating that the foam weather strip under the cowl which houses the windshield wiper motor and seals the cowl to the body needs to be replaced. This is because the foam has the stick strip on both top and bottom and will loose it adherence. This foam acts as a channel to let the water run along it to the outside edges where it runs out and down. It leaks right above the PCM and water runs down the firewall and onto the PCM connector and eventually enters it. Water by itself is not conductive, but the minerals in it will cause a short.
After viewing the post I pulled my PCM connector off and it was full of water. Due to having to go to work, rain, snow or extreme cold (below freezing ) temps and working in the driveway) I have not yet had the chance to complete the repairs. The silicone sealer must be applied in temps of 40f to 100f.
I took out the PCM and placed it on antistatic foam in a warm spot in the house to dry out. I removed the blue gasket that is inside the connector on the PCM to allow better drying as water was trapped behind it. I also sprayed electrical cleaner in there as well as wire dryer prior to taking it inside. The blue gasket can be removed with toothpicks to prevent it from tearing. Keep one hand on the vehicle to maintain the same electrical charge in your body as the truck while removing the PCM from the vehicle so that static electricity won't destroy it and place it on either antistatic foam or plastic. The anti static discharge foam or plastic has a high resistance so that any static discharge is dissipated very slowly thus reducing the current in the discharge. I used some foam I had from a motherboard that I put into one of my computers. I believe you can buy what you need in the way of antistatic foam or plastic at radio shack. The PCM consists of miniature integrated circuit board chips and those are very susceptible to being destroyed by static discharge. Static electricity can be in the order of thousands of volts. Many of the IC chips operate at only 5 volts thus you can imagine why to be careful when handling them. Just reverse the procedure to reinstall.
I also removed the cowl in question and when I replace it I will be using clear silicone window and door sealer from a hardware store to replace the foam when I replace it.
I may also take the time to make some sort of shield to place around the PCM connector to keep water from it as it also splashes into the engine compartment from the wheels.
If I'm lucky the PCM wasn't damaged from the pins being shorted together by the water. Also, don't forget to clean and dry the connector for the PCM. The harness may have to be replaced if the contacts are too corroded.
I know that the original post for this was a while back, but I just found it and perhaps my reply will help someone else out.
I have a 2004 F150 Heritage that I bought not too long ago. Since the day I bought it has rained or snowed almost every day rendering my truck useless as it would either crank and start only to sputter and die or just crank and not start.
It took me 2 months of aggravation but I think I've found the problem. One of my searches turned up a youtube post of someone who had the same problem with a Windstar. It had a TSB stating that the foam weather strip under the cowl which houses the windshield wiper motor and seals the cowl to the body needs to be replaced. This is because the foam has the stick strip on both top and bottom and will loose it adherence. This foam acts as a channel to let the water run along it to the outside edges where it runs out and down. It leaks right above the PCM and water runs down the firewall and onto the PCM connector and eventually enters it. Water by itself is not conductive, but the minerals in it will cause a short.
After viewing the post I pulled my PCM connector off and it was full of water. Due to having to go to work, rain, snow or extreme cold (below freezing ) temps and working in the driveway) I have not yet had the chance to complete the repairs. The silicone sealer must be applied in temps of 40f to 100f.
I took out the PCM and placed it on antistatic foam in a warm spot in the house to dry out. I removed the blue gasket that is inside the connector on the PCM to allow better drying as water was trapped behind it. I also sprayed electrical cleaner in there as well as wire dryer prior to taking it inside. The blue gasket can be removed with toothpicks to prevent it from tearing. Keep one hand on the vehicle to maintain the same electrical charge in your body as the truck while removing the PCM from the vehicle so that static electricity won't destroy it and place it on either antistatic foam or plastic. The anti static discharge foam or plastic has a high resistance so that any static discharge is dissipated very slowly thus reducing the current in the discharge. I used some foam I had from a motherboard that I put into one of my computers. I believe you can buy what you need in the way of antistatic foam or plastic at radio shack. The PCM consists of miniature integrated circuit board chips and those are very susceptible to being destroyed by static discharge. Static electricity can be in the order of thousands of volts. Many of the IC chips operate at only 5 volts thus you can imagine why to be careful when handling them. Just reverse the procedure to reinstall.
I also removed the cowl in question and when I replace it I will be using clear silicone window and door sealer from a hardware store to replace the foam when I replace it.
I may also take the time to make some sort of shield to place around the PCM connector to keep water from it as it also splashes into the engine compartment from the wheels.
If I'm lucky the PCM wasn't damaged from the pins being shorted together by the water. Also, don't forget to clean and dry the connector for the PCM. The harness may have to be replaced if the contacts are too corroded.
I know that the original post for this was a while back, but I just found it and perhaps my reply will help someone else out.
Last edited by rustedbolt; 01-11-2014 at 10:17 AM.
The following users liked this post:
powerranger262 (01-11-2014)
01-11-2014, 10:47 AM
#14
Senior Member
This is great info. Never heard of it before. I think i will make a cover/diverter for mine just in case. Thanks.
01-11-2014, 12:03 PM
#15
I'm sorry I think I misread powerrangers post. Rustedbolt has a heritage model which is different from the 04-08's the heritage models are the same as the 97-03's so his situation is different than someone's with the newer body style. Powerranger you have an 07 so there's no need to cover your PCM.
Last edited by Nalb1221; 01-11-2014 at 12:10 PM.
01-11-2014, 01:26 PM
#16
Senior Member
Ok
