hey everyone im new here and cant seem to find what im looking for exactly so im prob posting in the wrong thread so please forgive me if so. now to the matter at hand, i just started a new job a recovery company (you wreck cops call us to get your ride) anyhow my boss has this 1987 e350 ambulance that has the 7.3l diesel so i got to poking around about it and he wants to scrap it since he only bought it for the rims. i told him a few checks in id buy it. long story short its useless to him and in his was so im getting it for 400$ no story to it he never heard it run nor tried to start it but was told it did run has around 70k on its second motor all i know however. the previous owner cant be reached for info so im going in blind. needed batteries obviously so i got some like new ones out the the recently wrecked cars to try to start it. they have charge to start other cars but when i try to jump the ambulance i get nothing like absolutely nothing no dash,dome,blower motor nothing. i never dealt with anything like this cause there is sooooo much electrical stuff i figure someone here has to have an idea. my first assumption would be a fuse but i have no diagrams for it i cleaned all the terminals and im fully charging the batts as we speak they are still good as they came from 2010+ trucks.. point me in the right direction guys please i cant let this gem get crushed.

 

I use to have a 79 E350 ambulance. But that was a while ago. I seem to remember it have a big round battery selector switch mounted in the step area below the driver side front seat. Your problem may have something to do with that, if it has one.

Other wise just a wild guess, it might have a bad fusible link. This would be a wire that is connected to the starter solenoid/relay that is mounted on one of the inner fenders somewhere around one of the batteries. If you aren't getting power to anything in the van this would be my guess if there isn't a master disconnect switch.

 

I read something about that switch I'll look for it really hoping it's just that but I check the links as well. Thanks for the tip

 

Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

You should go to the IDI Diesel section of FTE. They are better at diagnosing the 7.3 IDI engine problems. Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L) - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

 

also check out the van section, there are some ambulance owners + diesel van drivers in there

 

If he's not getting any power to the vehicle it's not an engine problem. Not really anything on the IDI that would cause the problem. The glow plug controller is the only thing that would pull much power.

 

alright update. fully charges the batteries hooked everything up found the on/off switch to the batts and now have power to everything. now the issue is it wont crank. took the dog house off to have a better peek and the glow plug solenoid clicks its entire cycle so bad plugs? i tried to jump the starter with a jumper cable and nothing so it seems no power to the starter... is there a fuse or a link that could need replaced? i didnt have my jack or id have ran a new cable from the batt to try but im thinking thats a job for tomorrow.

 

You said you tried to jump the starter. How exactly did you try this? Did you jump the solenoid/relay on the inner fender? Or did you try to hook power right to the starter?

If it won't crank you are looking at an issue with one of the following:

Ignition switch
park/neutral safety switch
wiring between ignition switch and solenoid/relay
starter solenoid/relay
Battery cables (loose or corroded connections )
Starter

 

i hooked a jumper cable up to the post and also to the little black wire. with 2 new batts the engine only turned over slowly so im thinking i gotta rip her apart and do some wiring

 

It might not be a horrible idea to pull the starter out and have it tested too.

 

If it turned over with new batteries, just really slow, I would suspect the starter is bad. The IDI is a high compression engine and can take it's toll on starters. I would inspect or replace the positive battery cable, clean up the grounds and replace the starter with a quality unit.

The clicking GP relay usually means you have some glow plus out. You can test them with a test light or a meter. You only want to use Motorcraft or Breu (can't remember how it's spelled) plugs. The rest are junk and can cause big problems by swelling and/or breaking off.