Just recently my truck (1999 Ford F250 7.3 Diesel 6 speed) is having problems. It seems as if my turbo is going out or maybe my waste gate is going out. I went to Colorado for my winter break and didn't drive my truck for a few weeks. I came back and started driving it around and noticed my turbo seems like it is acting different. It works most of the time through 1st-3rd gears, then 4th gear is kind of less than 1-3, and then 5th and 6th gear the turbo seems to work 10% of the time. Usually I can hear the turbo after 2,000 RPMs, but now 4th gear and up it is just mostly all engine with the occasional turbo. It's weird, the engine is louder when the turbo kicks in, and quiets down when the turbo erratically works. I also noticed some black smoke behind me once when I was hard on the gas, which has always been very miniscule.

So I'm thinking that my turbo is going out, but then kind of thought, maybe my waste gate is stuck open. I don't fully know though and don't know much about diesels to diagnose this problem. Any help is very appreciated! I want to fix this bad boy so it can drive well again. Also it is tuned on the second setting of my Bully Dog programmer (which I'm about to take off for now) and I haven't put any diesel in it since mid December because I have other vehicles to drive. Thanks everyone!

 

Hello Mitchellbade. Welcome to FTE.

Try asking your question in the 7.3L Power Stroke engine forum.

1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

There are some very smart and helpful members in that forum that can assist you.

 

Welcome to FTE Mitchellbade.

I've moved your thread to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum. You'll likely get a better, faster response here.

 

Would recommend starting with the easy stuff. Intercooler boots and plenum boots on and tight? They can blow off if you get on it (ask me how I know). Search for boost leak detector and you'll find a couple threads on a very inexpensive way to make a boost leak detector out of a 4" PVC cap and how to discover leaks.

Do you have any gauges? Any idea what boost you're generating.

After checking for boost leaks, you can check your up pipes for leaking, evidenced by black soot. In case you're unfamiliar, these are the vertical pipes from your exhaust manifold to the turbo. The donuts that seal them wear out and you can lose a lot of exhaust pressure.

Then, pull and clean your EBP sensor. Search youtube for "7.3L powerstroke mileage" and there's a great video on doing this. Very easy.

Others will be along. How many miles and is this an early 99 or late 99?

 

Check all your intercooler boots. It shouldn't be tranny related, so that's really throwing me off. When your truck is warm, does it still act up? I am thinking something to do with your EBPV.

 

Didn't even think of that, was in such a hurry to post it slipped my mind! Thanks

Thank you! Sorry about that

Well I went outside and looked everything over and remembered a "friend" bent up my dip stick housing and it caused one of the up pipes to not go into place as easy. Opened the hood and boom, to my amazement (mainly my stupidity for not looking earlier) one of the boots came off RIGHT by where it goes to the turbo. Yeah, I definitely feel very stupid right now. Thanks for the idea!

Well it has been figured out, it has something to do with my stupidity. Boot came off from the up pipe to the turbo. I'm just going to go back to hiding under a rock now! D'oh!

 

What you are calling the up-pipe is really one of the CAC tubes. The up-pipes come up behind the engine and see very high heat so no boot would last back there. Good catch and glad you have your power back.

 

Awesome ! Nice work, glad it was an easy one.