mark52
Central California
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Does anyone know if there's a way to check the fault code for a 2006 Ford chassis MH without plugging into the computer? Something very strange happened to us today on the way home from the mountains. We were just leaving the campground and had been driving for about 10 minutes. When we came to our first uphill grade I heard a ding, looked down and saw my "check gauges" light had come on. Then I noticed that my trans temp gauge (I think) was begged. about 2 seconds later I lost about 50% of my power. I pulled over into a turn out, and shut off my engine. At the time I had thought that it was the engine temp gauge that was pegged so I opened the hood to find absolutely nothing wrong. After a few minutes, I turned the key to the on position without starting it and both gauges (engine and trans) were at a normal temp. I then started the engine and it ran fine all the way home except the check engine light is now on. Its almost like something was temporarily wrong with either the gauge or the sensor. It all happened so fast that I'm not positive which gauge it was but I'm pretty sure it was the trans temp. It is scary loosing power like that. Any thoughts?
'06 Four Winds Hurricane 32R Ford V10 "The moose"
The toad: 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon lifted 4" with 33" tires
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Hi,
You might have tripped the transmission fluid temperature safety, and caused the engine to go into a "Safe" mode, dropping power to a much lower level.
Why it tripped and then 5 minutes later is at a normal temperature? That is really difficult to say it was overheated, but probably more likely was a loose wire, or the temperature sensor wires shorted together for a couple of seconds, reading 450F or more while they are shorted together, causing the computer to find that fault, slow the engine HP rating, and wait for further instructions.
It is also one of those things that when the RV comes into the repair shop, it is running like a fine tuned watch, then goes on a trip and it develops a problem while going down a dirt road, and it ticking like a fine watch once back in town.
You might check with Auto Zone or O-Rilys and see if they have a code reader that you can use in the parking lot, or check out to take home and test the RV. After you have restarted the RV several times, without the problem re-occuring, the trouble code might fall out of the memory. So if you want it read, I suggest not starting and stopping the engine a lot, until you have the reader handy.
If you have watched them do a smog check on your RV, the computer plug is one of the things they have to find, and plug into it, I think it is under the dash someplace.
There are code readers that are not to expensive. I was even thinking about getting one.
Fred.
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Pirate
Appalachia
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I recall reading in my book that my 06 can actually shut down some cylinders if it is running hot, and run ok on what's left. You need a code reader. It could be multiple things. Have you checked all your fluid levels?
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mark52
Central California
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Pirate wrote:I recall reading in my book that my 06 can actually shut down some cylinders if it is running hot, and run ok on what's left. You need a code reader. It could be multiple things. Have you checked all your fluid levels? This was the first thing I did when I got home. Oil was a little low. Transmission fluid was perfect. Added a little oil and everything else was fine. Also as I recall, when we lifted the hood and checked to see if there was a geyser coming from our radiator, not only was there no geyser but nothing was really that hot including the radiator for the transmission.
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Dale.Traveling
Newport News, VA
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You'll out of luck without a code reader. What you discribed is the safety mode if the computer things the engine is overheating. Shuts down half the cylinders and using them more or less as internal air cooling. If the temperature keeps going up the engine will completly shut down to protect itself.
A basic code reader will run you around $100 or so. Will work on just about every vehicle made by the big 3. What ever was wrong the computer should have stored the codes even though the problem went away. If there are a bunch of codes stored then I would suspect it was a one time glitch but get a code reader anyway.
2006 Hurricane 31D aka 'Moby' the Whale
FCC(SW) US Navy Retired 1980-2003
Stella my Navigator
Bogart the All American RV Dog
and
Cocoui waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge
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LVJ58
Las Vegas, Nevada
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I read a post somewhere in this forum about a faulty coolant temp sensor on later model f53 chassis that puts the engine in a "Limp" mode shutting down alternate cylinders to help cooling and eventually will shut it down to prevent engine damage. That may be your problem.
I would check with a Ford HD repair facility or their customer service at 800-392-3673
Good Luck
Jim & Sherry Seward
Las Vegas, NV
2000 Residency 3790 V-10 w/tags & Banks System
2003 Suzuki XL/7 toad
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Idaho83815
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
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They loan code readers at most auto parts stores, at least the Shucks/O'Reillys near my house does. Pretty simple to operate.. Good luck.
David and Penny
Kids 5, 10 and 12
Chihuahua Sara-Lee
Winnebago Vista 32K w/bunks
Hollywood 4 bike carrier
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zman-az
Northern AZ
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Code readers are good to have. All cars 1997 and newer use OBDII so you can use your code reader on more than the RV. Nothing like being on the road to see the engine light come on and your in the middle of nowhere. Put the scanner on can tell you if its a serious problem or something you can put off until you get home.
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piledrive
California
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I purchased mine at Harbor Freight on sale last year for $39.95 if I remember correctly. However, after we bought our MH last Oct I purchased a ScanGageII, which will do all that and much more.
Just my 2 cents worth.
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mark52
Central California
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OK... You guys convinced me. I bought an $80 fault reader today and hooked it up to the MH. It spit out code P1299 which ford says is "Cylinder head temperature sensor detected engine over heating". What this means to me is I possibly have a bad temperature sensor. I'm going to see if I can find this sensor and replace it. I'm about 99% sure that the MH did not actually overheat. You know, this makes me a little angry that a faulty temp sensor can make our MH run at 50% power. Thats not cool. I was extremely lucky that I had a nice long turn out on the 2 lane road I was on. 
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