1. Watch those batteries & grounds!

Weak supply side voltage is the #1 reason for FICM failure. The official Ford spec indicates that during cranking operations, voltage is not to drop to 9.3 volts for more than 10 seconds. In actuality, letting batteries dip below 10.0 volts should never be tolerated. Fully charged batteries left sitting overnight should measure 12.7 volts or even slightly more. If you're seeing voltage below 12.5, it's time to get those batteries on a charger! We recommend a good desulphating charger. The Battery Tender and Battery Minder line of products are solid, though any smart charger will do. Dash mounted solar options can do a good job of keeping batteries healthy as well. 

In addition to checking the battery voltage, here's a list of Ground connections you'll want to inspect and clean up, ranked in order of importance. 

1. Common battery terminals

2. Ground connection from passenger battery at lower passenger side of the engine.

3. Ground frame to passenger battery (close to connection above and part of the cable).

4. Ground drivers battery to frame under the air filter. (Install additional cable between this point and driver’s side to be doubly protected).

5. Ground body attachment above drivers headlight.

6. Ground body attachment on driver side firewall.

7. Ground body attachment on passenger side firewall above the heater.

8. Ground body attachment on the passenger cable pigtail by the battery.

9. Frame rail to the body under the passenger side foot-well.

      When installing a new alternator, upgrading alternator wiring, or cleaning up power and ground connections, do yourself a favor and apply a quality rust/oxidation inhibitor. Dielectric grease is good, but it's an electrical insulator, not a conductor. NO-Ox-ID is a far superior option. It's provides excellent protection but it's also electrically conductive. It's great to have a tube or jar around the garage for your truck, cars, mowers, boats, bikes, ATVs, etc. Anywhere you have a power or ground connection, NO-Ox will keep things dialed in. Click the link below for info.   

NO-OX-ID