2011 F350 6.7 stopped towing uphill temporarily

[funntheson]

Last month, shortly after returning from a short trip, I pulled my trailer to a lot around the corner where we store it. When I encountered a very slight uphill, I noticed I had to push down on the accelerator much more than usual.

About a week later, I hooked up, hoping the "glitch" had worked itself out, and that everything was back to normal. I started up a hill in my neighborhood, but did not get very far before the truck just wouldn't go any farther.

Everything was fine without the trailer hooked up. I even back up a hill a little bit with the trailer.

So, I took the truck into a dealer. They couldn't find anything wrong. It sat there for about a week, because Ford wouldn't authorize them to do anything else. Many calls to Ford later, I took it to another dealer. This was yesterday. They could not find anything wrong as well.

Today, I got the service guy from the dealership to come over to my place, I hooked up the trailer, and we drove up a couple of hills without any hesitation.

Has anybody ever heard and/or experienced anything like this?

Larry

 

[Mongoose9400]

Turbo issue? Not making boost?

 

[TandT]

Larry,
Marty Stewart just had a similar problem with his Ford.
I believe the dealer finally resolved it. (after several trips back)

I thought I had your phone number, but I can't find it at the moment.
PM me and I will give you Martys number.
Trace

 

[funntheson]

Thanks Trace,
I have his number. I'll check in with him.
Larry

 

[TXTiger]

Many of us have the Ford 6.7. Please let us know what you find out.

 

[funntheson]

Marty says he had a bad oil cooler. He has a 2008 F250.

 

[olcoon]

This is unrelated, but I've just got to post it. We live near the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant. In 1960 (or thereabouts), Ford introduced the Falcon. My Dad bought a 1960 Falcon, like many first run autos it had "issues", the only funny one was that it would have a tendency to drown out in heavy rain....BUT, 99% of the time it would do it right in front of the Ford Plant!!! Sorry to torpedo your post!

 

[hoefler]

Not knowing everything that is going on, it could be a band adjustment in the transmission or the torque convertor.

 

[happykraut]

Just thought I'd throw this in here because it might help others. Glad you got her fixed. In 2007 we were up in New Foundland and the truck was doing great, but as we pulled the fiver up a hill, I lost a lot of power. Solo it had no problem. Long story short, it was a bad fuel pump.

 

[Tombstonejim]

I think you ae looking in the wrong place.

Only happens when trailer connected.
Does not happen in reverse.

Conclusion: there is a short in the wiring harness that is applying the trailer brakes.

 

[porthole]

"If" the trailer brakes were being applied from type of short forward of the traielr connector the brake lights would come on. Your should be able to see the reflection in the trailer.

The easiest to test if it was brake circuit wiring would be to:
next time it happens disconnect the traielr wiring, check.
Still no power, turn off the trailer batteries or pull the fuse for the trailer brakes.

Just a thought, the Heartland forum may not be the best place to look for issues specific to the 2011+ Ford SD

Here are the big three Ford forums with these links starting in the 2011+ sections.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum205/

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/ford-powerstroke-scorpion-6-7-2011-forums/

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f148/

This last forum, Dieselstop, has a Ford customer service rep who monitors the board and will get in touch with you if they see your concerns. And they will follow up on your behalf with a dealer.

This post is typical of the response when they see an unresolved issue
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f148/

 

[Bob&Patty]

Larry, when was the last time the fuel fliter was changed and/or was it low on DEF fluid? A torque converter can cause this IF it locks up the convertor clutch at slow speed. I assume there was not a check engine lite on? Or had you been into the vino again....LOL.

 

[lwmcguir]

"If" the trailer brakes were being applied from type of short forward of the traielr connector the brake lights would come on. Your should be able to see the reflection in the trailer.

The easiest to test if it was brake circuit wiring would be to:
next time it happens disconnect the traielr wiring, check.
Still no power, turn off the trailer batteries or pull the fuse for the trailer brakes.

Just a thought, the Heartland forum may not be the best place to look for issues specific to the 2011+ Ford SD

Here are the big three Ford forums with these links starting in the 2011+ sections.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum205/

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/ford-powerstroke-scorpion-6-7-2011-forums/

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f148/

This last forum, Dieselstop, has a Ford customer service rep who monitors the board and will get in touch with you if they see your concerns. And they will follow up on your behalf with a dealer.

This post is typical of the response when they see an unresolved issue
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f148/

Great Post, Duane. One easy check is to tow without the 7 Way connected for a short distance. If that solves it then it is wiring.

 

[funntheson]

The problem went away on bits own. (For now) so unplugging the harness wouldn't show me anything at this time.

 

[funntheson]

Bob, no wine, no warning lights, two service departments that couldn't find anything. Many discussions with Ford Service Managers, no answers.

 

[Bob&Patty]

Larry, did anyone check to see if you had any water in the fuel filter? Maybe you got some bad fuel somewhere.

 

[funntheson]

I'm not sure what all they checked, but it's working fine now. I thought about the fuel as well, or a sensor, or epg related problem, but who knows?

 

[porthole]

A 2011 with enough water in the filter to cause a variability problem should turn on the water in fuel light first.
And that is a serious warranty issue - as in not covered.

 

[westxsrt10]

Sounds like it went into 'Limp Mode' and often it won't throw a code. Changing the fuel filters may be good idea if it's near time. A power down and restart may help clear the PCM to start fresh.