Ok, I have read through numbers of forums on what to do and bleeding valves and whatnot. It ran out of fuel (my mother was driving it) and I cannot for the life of me get it to start. I checked the fuel filter bowl and it was full. The little pressure cap (Schraeder valve) I bled till fuel came out. I read about cranking it for a long period of time, and I have done that. (last night for a good 1/2 hour (intermittenly) on the side of the freeway) and today some more. (had to get it on the battery charger). The thing just won't go! It will puff exhaust but won't fire. I am confused.
I am wondering if there was something that got toasted when it ran out of fuel.
also, I put 6 gal of diesel in empty tank, no go. Cranked on the front tank, and still won't go.
Could this be a fuel pump, Lift pump, HPOP?? I'm very new to diesels and appreciate any input. If I sound like a total noob, it's because I am one.
Thanks all, I could sure use some knowledge. Of course it has to break down at the MOST inconvenient time-lots of school (college) stuff going on, middle of getting a second job and moving! The truck was loaded with stuff for moving when it died.

 

Running out of fuel then excessive cranking (needed of course) can drain the HPOP reservoir. Remove the plug on top and check the level, refill if necessary.

 

I just had one towed in today , similar issue . Took a bit to get all the air out of the systems .

 

I checked the HPOP res today, it was 1/2" to 1/3" below the fill hole. Would it still need topping off?

Also, I have cranked this thing like crazy and no luck yet.

 

what did you have to do to get the air out?

 

The hpop is full.

 

good to check that off the list. What should I hunt down next? I cranked on it some more, still to no avail.

 

When the 96 ran out of fuel while my youngest son was driving it, and it wouldn't restart, it turned out the fuel selector valve had crapped out. But it fired right off after a tow to a fuel station for a refill. The odd thing though, when he got home I replaced the valve with one from a parts truck, and all was good to go. Then I checked the original by hooking the electrical connection back up, then blowing air into the ports that run to the engine, and had him move the selector switch from front to the rear, and the air coming out of the valve switched to the corrispondeng tank. IDK, maybe I blew the debries out of the valve that was causing it not to switch.

 

Does the WTS light is working?

 

update!
There was a cam sensor code, So I got that replaced. Still wouldn't start. Took it in to the Ford shop and the glow plugs were toast. Well, half of them were. The other half were gettin there too. That would explain the hard starts and smoke in the morning I guess. The G plugs looked nasty haha.. New ones are going in and it should be going this evening!

 

So, I guess I didn't run out of fuel, but it sure scared the hail out of me of ever doing so... from now on 1/4 tank is below empty, just in case of all the horror stories.

 

So the glowplugs were bad and you never ran out of fuel?

How did the truck randomly stop going down the freeway?

 

Good practice with ANY vehicle. Consider the bottom 1/4 tank the "emergency reserve".

 

I run them down to E. That keeps the tank cleaner IMHO. I like to get my filter dirty a little at a time instead of all at once if I used the lower portion of the tank trying to get to a fuel station.

 

Cam sensor didn't fix it? You didn't run out of fuel? Bad glow plugs won't make the truck shut off going down the road.

I'm confused....

Or are you saying the cam sensor was the problem and won't start because of bad glow plugs?

I run my tanks all the way down too.