Experiencing vehicle trouble can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it involves a reliable workhorse like a Ford Powerstroke diesel truck. Recently, the owner of a newly acquired 2001 Powerstroke found themselves in a perplexing situation. After purchasing the truck for a great price, the reality of deferred maintenance began to surface, starting with an intermittent stalling issue. This eventually escalated into a complete no-start condition, further complicated by unexpected behavior from an OBD2 scanner.
Initially, the problem manifested as the truck dying while driving, specifically when cresting hills and releasing the accelerator pedal. The first attempt at a fix involved replacing the Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS), a common culprit in stalling issues. However, this provided only temporary relief, as the stalling recurred within a short drive. Despite the ongoing problem, the truck owner continued to drive approximately 2,500 miles, carefully managing the throttle to avoid stalls, all while awaiting the arrival of a new OBD2 scanner to aid in diagnosis.
During this period, other electrical gremlins emerged. Intermittent window operation and a self-activating, station-surfing radio added to the list of concerns. The critical moment arrived when, once again cresting a hill, the engine stalled. This time, however, shifting to neutral and attempting to restart the engine proved futile. The truck cranked strongly, indicating good battery health, but failed to start. A tow truck became necessary to return the vehicle home.
Finally, the eagerly awaited OBD2 scanner, an ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner, arrived (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UJV3E12/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), offering hope for pinpointing the issue.
Upon plugging in the Powerstroke Obd2 Scanner, initial signs were promising. The scanner connected and began the process of reading diagnostic trouble codes. However, this soon took an unexpected turn. Audible clicking sounds were heard, and bizarrely, the windshield wipers began to cycle on and off. Just as the scanner appeared to be completing its diagnostic scan, the screen abruptly went blank, failing to display any fault codes.
Subsequent attempts to reconnect the scanner proved unsuccessful; it would no longer establish a connection with the truck’s computer system. Adding insult to injury, the truck now refused to crank at all. Turning the ignition key resulted in complete silence, despite a fully charged battery. The initial hope that the powerstroke obd2 scanner would provide answers quickly turned to concern that it had somehow exacerbated the problem.
The truck owner now suspects a more serious underlying issue, possibly related to the Engine Control Module (ECM) or a faulty wiring harness. Their current troubleshooting plan involves a systematic approach: first, replacing the wiring harness, followed by the ECM if necessary. If these DIY efforts prove unsuccessful in retrieving diagnostic codes and resolving the no-start issue, seeking professional mechanic assistance becomes the next step. The community’s expertise is now being sought to determine the most logical troubleshooting sequence to follow and identify potential causes for this perplexing combination of stalling, electrical anomalies, and OBD2 scanner malfunction.
