Jim Warman

There's not much room for the TorX socket in there.... Take a T27 bit, a 1/4" deep socket (thinwall) and a 10 inch extension. Weld them all together.... No fear of dropped sockets.

And if I was to tell you how I've seen some guys treating a Toughbook based IDS, tears would well in your eyes.... Every time they make something idiot-proof, they build better idiots.

Alex, I think there may be several possible things making guys leave the dealer scene.... Flat rate and the stunted SLTs probably are a big one... A tech fresh out of a dealership is quite a catch for an indy shop since he will be taking a lot of intellectual property with him. Another reason is that each leap in technology will strain some more of the lesser genes out of the pool. Most of the guys that I apprenticed alongside of became dinosaurs... never quite able to grasp electricity in the way they needed. Then there's guys like me - some days the only reason I go to work is because I want to see what happens next....

Lessee.... If I was to move anywhere I wanted.... hmmmmm - well there is this little town in northern Alberta.... Nice place - good hunting and fishing - wonderful people - especially this old guy that works for the Ford dealer.....

I've replaced nearly a half dozen FICMs for a lot of reasons (the other two diesel techs have done several, too) ranging from can't reflash to injector driver concerns and points in between. Point to ponder.... a complete engine core went back to our "local" rebuilder minus the FICM. We have never (AFAIK) been charged for the missing piece and now have a known good tester. It has started and ran many engines with no reprogramming necessary.

Congratulations are in order, Kieth.... Is this kinda like the 3rd child, now? I might have to consider my own unit now that the new shop is near complete - meaning I will have to add space between my IDSs. The last three hoists were installed Tuesday and the electricians finished today. The HVAC crew can finish the exhaust extractor next week and we should be finally done (except for pouring the aprons). I imagine this new toy will be closely guarded? All this and just in time for OASIS quick start.... And, in another feeble attempt to hi-jack the thread.... I think that quick start is going to pass a lot more info to Ford than we are being told (the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!). Mmmmm, I smell a good thread to start over on the penis polisher website.... My bad....

Alex... the only instructors I have had have been Daryl Drummond, Ken Garbish and I had the good fortune of being in one of Peter Greys last classes (NVH). I have spoken with John on a very few occasions... Once he sent me an "attaboy" for something I posted on inFord.... That very same day I had at least three posts "taken under review" and a couple more removed....

So far our grand prize winner has been not quite 3 wheelbarrows full of mud in order to replace the trans.... Muskeg is the worst since it sometimes has an odour that can only be described as "unique".

Every time I've had one of those "no-brainer it's gotta be the module moments"... I've gotten my ass bit hard.... I have an 03 F53 right now that I can't comm with the HEC.... No speedo is the concern... I'm positive it's the cluster but, in spite of the difficulty of getting under the dash, I WILL be going beyond the PPT in the WSM (it falls far short IMHO, anyway). If yours has the digital odometer, try initiating the ICM self-test.... Key off, press and hold the reset button and then turn the key on. The process is listed in most WSMs but if you go to 01 F150 WSM, there is a partial list of ICM codes (something I haven't seen in any other manual). Does the odometer display the mileage or all dashes???? If it shows dashes, I am told that it cannot communicate with the PCM - which leads me to believe that hotline can look at "stuff" if we upload anything to them. In the end, I can only say "load test, load test, load test". The 01 F150 that stumped me had a pre-existing concern that took SIX years to surface.... I think that the electronics on these trucks are fantastically reliable... I've HAD to replace the odd module but, the majority of the time, I find the concern lies elsewhere.... Every PPT ends with us replacing a module..... all too often, we should have never gotten to the end.... <SOAPBOX MODE = OFF>

I would love to have a draconian filter on the PC in the lunch room..... About tweice a month I have to undo something that someone did during their lunch or coffeebreak in order to play a game or what have you. I use my cell phone and my wirelessly connected laptop to consult hotline when necessary.... If there are a lot of guys waiting at the back parts counter (or the front one for that matter), I have been known to phone our parts department.... (I have never seen a partsman that wont drop a live person in order to talk on the phone). The e-mail is no big deal either way unless I am waiting for something in particular.... One big plus is being able to access aftermarket supplier websites for online install or troubleshooting manuals.... Both the IDSs are hooked up about the same though the guys haven't realized it..... It's funny watching someone leave an IDS lying on a truck seat so they can walk to the lunchroom to check a shop manual or such.... when it's all right there at their fingertips.... It may be hard to teach an old dog new tricks..... sometimes it's impossible to teach a young dog ANY tricks....

errrrr, I meant thickens.... http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN0237812120070503 I hope this link works...

I am now officially wounded /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif On my "shortlist" of cars I'd love to have is the 58 Stupidbaker Golden Hawk.... just something about them.... Or even an Avanti.... pretty skookum cars for the day.... Now... the Ford Frontenac.... This was a car that was so ugly, even it's mother couldn't love it. The Frontenac was a Falcon on bad drugs....

Not my Yugo.... I'm too much of a stodgy old curmudgeon to drive something THAT sporty.... Now maybe a Studebaker Lark..... Or maybe a Frontenac... (anyone remember those?).

At this point in time, Ford may be planning a "waiting game" move.... If all of these ambulance service providers get in line for replacement vehicles, what better way to make them say "Thanks but no thanks" than to offer them a gas engine replacement. I think it was Sherlock Holmes that said something like "the game is afoot....". Something smells rotten in Denmark and it ain't the cheese (had enough cliches, yet?).

I can't say for the Focus for sure, Bruce.... On the SuperDuty it was around 04 MY that they switched to the new style sensor. Looks just like a VRS on the outside (still only two wires). Been a while since I had to test one (they are usually ripped out by the roots in our area) but I recall that you can't use an ohmeter..... Hopefuully, I'll get some time later to check it out for you.

Puttering around the internet, I came upon this vid.... a little unnerving when I started to recognize the scenery. A quick trip around Slave Lake.... http://media.putfile.com/driven-around-town

Way to go, Dustin... you have broken an old mans heart..... I feel lucky when our guys remember what a garbage can is for.... At the same time, we regulary collect two or three wheelbarrows full of mud from the nether regions of each of our victims.... errrrr, customers.

I've come across several of these, too. If the pick up screen had been that little bit finer, I doubt that it would be a concern. I had one where I never did find the nut... but I did find the end off a broken TorX bit.

I remember the technical glitches and the stammering, poorly prepared presentation as well.... Strange that they should require perfection from us yet deliver amatuerish efforts in return. Buy I am equally amazed at what "our side" had to offer... The few minutes of the question period that I watched brought questions asking what had been stated in the presentation. It's like these guys had their sound turned down for the broadcast. These guys are a burr under my saddle. I was reminded of that "deer in the headlights" look I get when I ask my guys if they checked OASIS. I was self employed for more years than I care to remember. I worked for a string of independant shops... during all that time, I was constantly one document away from knowing the stuff I wanted or needed to know. Five years ago, I moved to my present dealership.... I see information layed out like a buffet supper.... but most everyone is gathered around the soup tureen and buns, not realizing the treats to be had along the way to the end. Collectively, we need to give our heads a shake and we need to get those around us to give theirs a shake as well.... If we are to be treated with the respect we deserve, if we expect Ford to listen to our concerns regarding SLTs, if we desire resolution to a host of other concerns.... we need to act professionally, we need to use the resources we have.... and we need to listen carefully to and comment on the stammering, ill prepared pap we are given. We can choose to look at this a a "job".... or we can choose to look at this as a "career".... Our choice will affect how the world looks at us individually and collectively. Some guys tell me I'm "lucky" to have the position I have (if you can call ?shop foreman? a position). There is NO luck involved.... I hope I'm not preaching to the choir...

We haven't seen any of them yet.... I can get all the doom and gloom I'll ever need on another forum.... Can we at least try to be a little subjective on this one?

I'm sure we will see the odd glitch as the prototypes turn into mass produced vehicles and probably a few generated by the assemblers working on familiarizing themselves with the changes. After the 6.0, I think we need to be guarded in our assumptions but I think we should avoid paranoia.... FWIW.... just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I'm not being followed..... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/whattodo.gif

Lew... someone is blowing smoke.... I'm in the 26% income tax bracket with the highest being about 28% (for those that earn truly obscene amounts of money). There are tax breaks that some can qualify for. My wife is receiving a disability pension but is allowed to earn a certain amount above her pension... she doesn't earn that so I can transfer the unused deduction to my income. RRSPs (registered retirement saving plan) are an easy way to defer taxes. Medical and education costs can qualify for a deduction in some cases. I live in a "semi-remote" area and get a tax deduction for that. New this year is a $500 tool deduction (apprentices can qualify for up to $1000) There's probably other deductions to be had but I ain't no tax lawyer.... Alberta is the only province without a provincial sales tax... I still pay the 6% GST (federal gouge and screw tax) on those things that aren't on the "necessities of life" list. Other provinces have sales tax that may be as high as 7% but I can't be sure. Capital gains tax can be hurtful but I haven't been self-employed for over 10 years now (and I don't miss it like I thought I would). And, if I won the lottery, I wouldn't have to share the proceeds with the tax vampires. Canada is a pretty good place to live....

Same here.., we have several "in the wild" and, so far, they just don't come home to visit. FWIW, we are in "mud" season, here. These things are getting put through their paces.... Nothing sadder than a HD or KR snot hangin' with mud...

The DuraMax diesel isn't the product of Chevy R&D??

I can't say that I've seen it in every instance of data logger... but then I'm not looking for it. I do know that I've seen it... I just flipped through a few PC/EDs for different years... For F150, the last easily found mention of the PID was 96.... Man it sucks to get old...