Just listing this info to 2004 owners. My Lariat has had the PCM replaced twice and software loaded in three times, trying to solve an Engine Failure Mode starting issue. Currently the dealer and Ford are trying to pin point the problem and is suppose to get back with me when this issue might have a resolution.
Currently the Check engine Light is on and I will be taking this back to the dealer again to see if they might have an answer at this time.
This issue started to show itself after being in -10 to -25 below weather and has only occurred during this low temperature but Ford has stated to me that this is not a temperature-related issue.
Has anyone else had this problem and maybe can relay some fixes for this.

Thanks

 

I live in Wisconsin and the temp here the last week was -15
at night. With the wind chill it is -30 to 50. The truck has started everytime no problem. I dont have it in the garage so it sits out side and never had a problem. If you are going through this with having two PCM's replaced and the software three times and they still can not fix the problem I would be looking at a new truck if I were you. I would invoke the Lemon Law and tell them
I want a different truck.


Good luck and start pushing the issue of a new truck, maybe this will get someone to get off there a$$ and get your truck fixed.

 

I have no starting problems with my Lariat.

If they have changed the pcm two times that is not the problem.Since the truck is new i would suspect a wireing problem and this is very hard to run down.Have they been able to reproduce the problem at the shop.

Mike

 

No cold starting problem with my FX4, I live in MN and its been 30 below a few times.

 

We don't usually get that cold around here, but mine also sits outside all the time, and has seen temps below 10f. I agree with the other poster who said this is probably a cable issue, and if so will be extremely difficult to trace without tearing the darn truck half apart. I had a Volvo years ago that the engine went sporadically haywire, and they looked and looked for the problem, which turned out to be a cable short in a harness that was not well-routed, had chafed against a sharp metal area and was intermittently shorting out against the chassis. Just lucky they found it. It took many days of tracing the harness and exercising it. Very aggravating.

 

Dr No and Bikelover and dead-on with wiring/cable problem. My 23-years of electronics technician had this analysis half way through your initial post. You have an intermitent short.

It should be in one of the jacks or plugs (connectors). A bent pin could cause it. Yes, there's a lot of wiring, but Ford should have some sort of diagnostic test to localize the problem and replace the one section that's bad.

How did this happen. The supplier could've sent a bad one, poor packaging and shipment handling, or a Ford worker didn't have it aligned and forced the connection during assembly.

Good luck!

 

this may be a little simplistic, but have you tried gasline antifreeze? You could have cheap fuel with water in it that is icing up in an injector or even in the fuel line.

Sometimes with new vehicles they are so busy looking for a technology problem that they forget about the simple problems that have plagued cars for 100 years.

 

j150 is so right. Sometimes people stampede for the high tech solution and enroute they trip over the simple answer.

 

Yep.

MTBE or Alcohol additives in the winter gas can be a bit_ch. Especially if you don't keep your tank over half full.