First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Josh and I'm in Baghdad, third time over here.

One of our NTV's (07 5.4 F150) is having some problems. This is the email I got from the driver.

Check engine light is always on.

I did a test drive and after 2k of driving message appeared "trans fault" and OD Off" flashes continuous, A/C quit cooling a this point. No noticeable drivability issues for the next 8K (drive to cropper) other than AC blows but no cooling.

2nd test drive was short runs less than 1.5k where the vehicle was turned off at each stop. On the 5th leg the engine was chugging/sputtering. Pulled into BDE HQ and it continued during idle while parked, but to a lesser degree.

Restarted a few hours later and no issues other than check engine light. We drive it less than 2K currently if at all. This is one from a subordinate unit that the haji maintenance guys have had for months and can't figure it out. I suspect they don't have a OBD II scanner.

Please note that all mileage is in kilometers. We don't have access to a scanner and from searching on here it seems like there is not a way to use the ignition key to check. So does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for your help!!!

 

Not a whole lot can be done without knowing the code its pulling...

 

Your motor pool needs to order up a scanner from stateside. Without one, you are blind and deaf, so to speak.

 

The haji, or local tribal people, mechanics are probably not factory trained techs.

 

Oh well, thanks for the help fellas.

 

Last time I was in Iraq, there were Ford dealers in Erbil and Sulaimaniya (North East Kurdistan).

You're in Baghdad, right? Somebody in trans or mobile maintenance has to have an OBD-II reader to check the codes.

Since you have internet access, you can get a reader for $40 on Amazon or Harborfreight.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look around here, I would think KBR would have a scanner but these particular vehicles are not under their contract so they don't support maintenance for us.

 

How come the Haji's don't have an OBD II Diagnostic Trouble Code reader? Don't they have to address Maintenance Indicator Lights?

 

Not really. They are not used to repairing new vehicles. For the most part, they ignore the lights until the vehilce completely fails in one way or another.

 

when in doubt, do as the Bedouin,

You always have camels to fall back on.