Seattle Area IDI mechanic needed

F350crew

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I have a 1993 7.3 non-turbo with about 130k miles. I am new to owning a diesel and am looking for a good mechanic in the Seattle area. Backyard mechanic or good repair shop that knows the 7.3 IDI, not just a code reader that charges to much and does nothing. I am not sure the right terms but I would like the IP timed and I have the flashing O/D light that comes and goes, and also may need new glow plugs. Maybe add a turbo too. I have been to two shops that "work on IDI". The Ford dealer said come back in 6 weeks we might be able to get you in, shop #2 said "never mess with the IP it is set at the factory". I live in South Seattle.
 

gandalf

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Welcome to the forum. You have found the most knowledgeable group of people when it comes to these older Ford diesels. As a bonus, we're friendly. As a collective group we know more about these trucks than the vast majority of Ford dealers. They can't be bothered with these older trucks.

The only computer these truck might have would control the E4OD transmission. The engines on the IDIs are purely mechanical. You can use a code reader for that flashing OD light. However, there are three major causes for that flash. To work properly the transmission needs three inputs: 1) vehicle speed, 2) and proper timing. The easiest to check is timing. You can do that by adjusting the FIPL, mounted on the driver's side of the IP. Start with that. Directions are elsewhere on this forum, or will follow in another post.

I think I have this right. If not some one will correct me.
 

towcat

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find a trans shop with OBD1 scan capable. pay the man(or woman) to pull codes. report back with the code numbers. from there we can determine if you have a trans problem(common) or an IDI probem.
good luck. there are experienced IDI mechanics in your neck of the woods. when you approach them with info, you'll get to the front of the line fast.
 

Macrobb

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R&D idi performance is right in your neck of the woods(maple valley) - idiperformance.com
I'd contact him and see what he'd charge you.
 

jaluhn83

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I can't do much with the trans, but might be able to help with other stuff. I'm on the other side of the sound though.
 

WIZ-KID

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I got a code reader & if you can get it here we could look at it. I'm in Spanaway. I totally agree, diagnose then find fixes in this forum. Not everything is do it yourself, but maybe 90% of the time.
 

F350crew

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Thanks for the responses. I have not had time to have the code read on the transmission. The mechanic that did read the code a few months ago while servicing the truck said the code indicated the torque converter was not locking up. I did not write the code number down though. He reset the code after he changed the transmission fluid (I had him service the axles, brakes and transmission). He was also the guy that said "never adjust the IP its done at the factory." So I didn't have much confidence in his knowledge. I will post the code when I have it read.
 

WIZ-KID

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I had problems with my tranny. FIPL had gone bad, replaced. a little while later got problems shifting, tach quit working. Went through the usual diagnostics (fuses, connectors, sensors, etc.). Come to find out I had some bad caps in the computer module for the tranny.
 

tbrumm

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The mechanic that did read the code a few months ago while servicing the truck said the code indicated the torque converter was not locking up. I did not write the code number down though.

That was probably the infamous "Code 62". The Transmission Control Module (TCM) senses that the torque converter is not locking up as it is supposed to, so it throws the code and the OD light then starts blinking to tell you that there is code stored. While the torque converters that Ford installed in these trucks originally are not very robust and can be a problem, the TC is not always the problem. You should read through this excellent tech article on Code 62:
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/e40d-the-importance-of-a-clean-trans-harness-code-62-more.68423/
You should get the code read so you know for sure what the TCM is trying to tell you, but even if your don't, the diagnosis and procedures in the article are well worth spending some time on.
You can get a code reader pretty cheap too:
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...er/3145/4384772/1993/ford/f-350?q=Innova+3145
If you have an E4OD, it is well worth having a code reader like this in your tool box.
 
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