Hidden Feature (High Idle) - How to Enable it on Your Ford 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel

This video will show you how to access a hidden feature of your 6.0 Ford Powerstroke Diesel - High Idle. This feature is built into the factory ECU and when enabled, will allow you to press a button and have your engine rev up to 1200RPM. This feature was mainly used in wrecker applications, or for vehicles with a Hydraulic PTO system, but you can enable it and enjoy all the benefits for FREE!
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[@eastonruppe5730]

Haven’t found a great how to video on this. Looking forward to doing this now. Thank you!

[@TheMoparGarage]

That's a beautiful truck! I always think it's funny when vehicles have a feature already built into the harness that is simply not hooked up. On the second gen Dodge's that were factory without tachs, all you have to do is throw a cluster with a tach in and it works. My buddy has a 2013 Tacoma without intermittent wipers, he bought a multi-function switch from a truck that had intermittent wipers, changed it out, and what do you know - it worked. Funky stuff.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I'm kinda surprised that more companies don't use a standard harness for everything. Seems like it would be cheaper on them. To add features, just add the switches/relays, etc and wa-la.

[@TheMoparGarage]

@@ProjectTimeGarage Exactly. Just add switches to an already existing harness and charge the customer extra! Haha!

[@ProleDaddy]

​@@ProjectTimeGarage I'm sure it's done to protect profits of the auto manufacturers. There are so many horrible things done for this reason in this system is insane.

[@user-nw1hs8fc3m]

I've had this truck for 8 years - never knew! Great video! Thanks!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Glad to help!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Excellent topic for a video! I am sure this will help a bunch of folks out! (And so easy to add!) Thanks Brian!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

You bet!

[@superdave2316]

This is the first of your videos that I've seen. I watched it two days before I had to reverse flush my oil cooler and clean the system. You saved me two hours of driving around trying to keep the engine at operating temps for the cleaning. I covered the radiator to resist cooling and used my new high idle switch to generate operating temps. Thanks for saving me fuel and time!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Glad it helped you!!

[@2WheelzMar]

Love The Content!!!!! Keep up the tremendous work!!!! ❤❤

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks so much!!

[@kraner1446]

thank you so much for this after watching your video i was able to do high idle for my 6.0 in less than 5 minutes

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Glad to hear it!

[@1953fords]

I wonder if excursions have these wires? Now I’m gonna have to look. Thanks 👍🏼

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I'm sure it does. Pretty much all of the Louisville cab trucks have it

[@georgesrisomsak9650]

Those doing heavy alternator abuse pulling big amps, those that want colder AC when it's hot, those that want faster warmups in winter, this is a MUST have mod. I do all of these, and still dont have it done. Why? 😂 Thanks for the reminder buddy!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

That's what I do - remind others to do things....Unless I forget.

[@SVerucci]

This will definitely come in handy with a toggle switch. Sometimes the cb linear amplifier needs more juice. No more holding the pedal.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Sure will - We always called the linears "tennis shoes". Not sure why...

[@SVerucci]

@ProjectTimeGarage help I changed my egr valve in 06 6.0. It started for about 5 seconds now won't start.

[@SVerucci]

@ProjectTimeGarage ended up just being plugged from not cleaning the port enough. Cranked at intervals with quarter throttle and it started and ran great.

[@NCCountryBoy]

I opted out of the PTO wire and went for the battery protection mode (purple/light green) wire or something same concept except it doesn't lock up the torque converter. Good for warm ups and jumping off other vehicles.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yep, that's a really cool feature too. I had that running on my personal 6.0 for a bit too.

[@TylerTheHooligan]

What do you mean?

[@NCCountryBoy]

@@TylerTheHooligan what do you mean?

[@jakeanderson6526]

Is it the light green wire with purple tracer?

[@NCCountryBoy]

I think so a quick Google wiring diagram search should put you in the right direction

[@councilquirks6601]

YOU ALWAYS DO VERY GOOD VIDEOS.....GOOD CONTENT.....AND GOOD SOUND.....I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE HIGH IDLE MODIFICATION.....DOES THIS PRE-INSTALLED SYSTEM ALSO EXIST ON THE 7.3 TRUCKS?....(MY TRUCK IS A 2001).....THANKS.....

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

No, I also have a 7.3 truck myself. I ended up putting a PHP Hydra tuner on it (best thing I've EVER done to it) It has a high idle setting. Here's a video of putting one on a friend's truck: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5-pkKeqqL90qbc

[@mikebuck5693]

Hey brother. Good video, thanks. My ‘05 power stroke has a high idle. Comes on automatically when it’s first started up usually when it’s cold outside. Surprised yours doesn’t. Thank you.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yes, you're right - they all have the warm up feature that increases the idle to 750 to aid in warm up - this is something else completely. It's an 1100RPM high idle on demand - whenever you want/need.

[@jeremiahroper8464]

Great video! Any advice on where to purchase the upfitter switches and some kind of AC generator kit?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Upfitter switches will come from any Ford dealer or Ford parts online. I'm still looking for a small generator myself.

[@terry-ut4wi]

When would you need this most for ?? Thanks for videos 👍

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I use it a lot for better A/C when idling in the heat. Also, my oil temps will always drop once it idles up and the fan becomes a bit more efficient. It warms the truck up much faster too on cold mornings. I've had others tell me that it's very handy on mobile HAM radios and CBs with amps. Others use it with winches, etc. Lots of uses.

[@smacdiesel]

Low idle can wash the cylinders. Best to warm up at high idle.

[@davidcrumrine1165]

Seems that everything i have used those connectors on i have had to go back within a year and fix again. After having to rewire 4 custom truck beds i decided it was more cost effective to use shink crimpers and i still put shrink wrap over the shink crimp connectors.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, that's truly the best way to do it.

[@blackincawston]

Hello sir, please can you help me out. I recently bought a 2006 king Ranch, I love the truck but when not hauling my camper or in tow/haul mode... I have to Rev it to over 2000-2500 rpm for it to change gears, is the normal with Ford trucks? Truck is stock

[@haulingheavy10]

How was the x4 mounted? I like that.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Very professionally with lots of skill and craftsmanship......Actually 2 sided tape, lol!

[@superdave2316]

Just letting you know that the 05 and 06 trucks use the purple wire.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

That's good info. Thanks!!

[@kevinthorne1626]

Note, I found on my 06 f-350 Parking brake needs to be pushed to work

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I've heard the same from others too. In this one and my 03 it works without.

[@davidmeissner5010]

Is there any way to install a potentiometer to have variable idle like if I want to idle to 900rpm instead of 1200? Any issues with that?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Never heard of it being done. Not sure if varying the voltage across that line would result in a lower idle. I think the PCM just reads it as voltage or no voltage.

[@JamesArvidson]

I have a 2004 and set up the high idle you can push the brake and it turns off but when you release it the high idle re-engages. But I do not see a difference in how they are hooked up but it has been a few years since I did it. I also used a regular toggle switch since I did not have the factory upfitter switches. That is the only difference I can see.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

That's interesting. Never seen that before. There's a second wire that will idle the truck up based on voltage draw. Wonder if that's the wire yours used? Never used that one before.

[@Alecrypt]

Hey man what wire did you use? I also have a 2004 and I don’t see a solid orange wire under my dash. 😅

[@TX_Nano.]

Is this the same for the manual transmission trucks? I have an 03 with the 6.0 ( and yes mine is white as well). Some of us still like to stir the sticks. 🙂

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

As far as I know, yes it's on all of the 6.0 trucks from 03 to 07 manual and all. I'd love to have a manual in mine.

[@TX_Nano.]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I see a bit of digging around behind the fuse box in my future this weekend. 🙃 Please keep the projects coming and we'll keep watching. @@ProjectTimeGarage

[@braydenbartels4407]

i live in the great white north and my truck when its cold out always kicks into high idle. its stock i didnt have to do any of this. and the truck should kick into high idle when its ready shouldnt it.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yes indeed, they will all go into a warm up high idle, but that is different from the feature we are using here. This is a factory provisioned "on demand" high idle meant for service trucks like tow trucks, ambulance bodies, winch trucks, etc. It allows for a higher rpm than warm up and can be enabled whenever the operator chooses.

[@silvergrizzly316]

Which one would you recommend for the 7.3 I have a 2000 F-350.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I've always used the PHP Hydra on all the 7.3s

[@formula19]

Yeah 7.3 hydra tuner high idle tune is the best. I just learned that its better to high idle than norm idle due to wet stacking (unburnt diesel sitting atop) that normally wont get burned off at low

[@gregorybarth930]

Any way to adjust high idle rpm? Maybe around 1,000 rpm

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Unfortunately, no. This feature was pre-programmed into the ECU.

[@anthonya5615]

My 03 does that does

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

My 03 does it too.

[@ShanePope-eu1dw]

Putting power to orange doesn’t put truck in high ideal Truck has pto been tracking down why high idel quit working. Any help would be appreciated

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I think earlier trucks had different wiring colors. May be a good idea to call the dealer and see if you can get a printout of the Upfitter wiring diagram. That should tell you all you need to know.

[@e92nick]

Hey man, what wire(s) did you use for your 03? i have an early 03 truck and none of the wires are the same color. Let me know! thanks!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Man, it's been so long, I can't remember.

[@southtexas46]

Same here they’re not orange at all

[@southtexas46]

They’re different colors

[@jacobkinard6553]

Where you get the bullnose shirt at!!!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Check out my store on KZbin. I have them for sale.

[@TylerTheHooligan]

Will this mess with the factory high idle I have on cold days it will idle higher than normal until I hit the brake

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

No, it will still work as normal.

[@ProleDaddy]

It always seems to kick the idle up higher with the switch than it does with the default high idle, at last on my '03.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

@@ProleDaddy Yes, that's correct. The factory "warm up" high idle goes to 800 or so, but the wire I used is made for commercial applications like PTO, etc. Meant to run hydraulic accessories and the like. This wire runs it at 1200ish

[@elkfreak3]

what delete kit do you have

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Not sure about the delete, or even if he has one. It's not my truck.

[@codyshampo8171]

Does the parking brake need to be engaged for it to work?

[@jaythebandit0185]

Yes

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yep

[@joshuadevall4182]

What is the silver pressure switch under dash?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Pressure switch for an on-board compressor.

[@joshuadevall4182]

@@ProjectTimeGarage mine had one just like it. So I'm assuming p.o. had bags

[@dylanmunt4787]

What are the advantages to doing this?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Better AC when idling, better charging when idling with big lights, winch, etc, faster warmups, less wet stacking when idling long periods.

[@michaeltangusso9801]

Orange wire in my truck is the upfitter switches what am i missing?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Not sure. Upfitter switches will have 4 wires coming to that area, one wire for each upfitter switch. Also I think the earlier trucks used different wire colors.

[@michaeltangusso9801]

@@ProjectTimeGarage no problem finding the upfitter switched wires it's the high idol wire I can't find and the orange is a 30 amp switch wire it goes on and off by one of my switches

[@Qwerkinter1]

That check engine light always gives me heart pain

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

x2 for me.

[@kenuber4014]

I could have swore you said fast and easy! Not a job for most owners. Lol

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

It's actually not too bad.