02/12/2026
This 2023 F 150 came into our shop last week looking like an iceberg! Actually, it had died on the road and needed to be towed in. Now some vehicles are DOA (dead on arrival) but this one was ultra DOA, more like "bricked" on arrival! It was able to key on, but not crank or start, and no amount of coaxing would allow it to go into gear to enable pushing it into the shop, even the secret pull-to-tow teather was locked up! With the driveshaft removed, we were able to push the truck into the shop and allow the snow and ice to melt off it! The diagnosis proved quite complicated because multiple modules (5 out of several dozen) were not communicating on the vehicle communication network. One of these was the all important engine and transmission controller! Any clue why it wouldn't start? We'll, turns out, after much analyzing of network communication data bytes with an oscilloscope and disassembly and inspection, we found a main wiring harness that passes through the fender, above the plastic wheel liner, had rubbed long enough on the wheel liner that one of the communication wires had rubbed bare and corroded! We are happy that not a dime was spent installing "parts that didn't fix it"
