HELP! MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK WON'T START & HE CAN'T GET HOME.

My husband called about an hour ago. He's at Deer Camp, about 40 miles away. He'd just packed up everything and was going to back under our fifth-wheel camper to come home, but the truck wouldn't start. He told the rest of the guys to go ahead and go home, he'd get it started or call someone to come get him tomorrow. (He's stranded, but does have a 35foot camper to sleep in, to he's not going to freeze to death) Anyway...if anyone can help, he's going to call again in about an hour. So...I'll be watching the posts, and hopefully together we can get him home tonight!!!
Here's what I know about the truck:

1999 FORD F-350 Diesel 7.3L V8
The "wait to start light" does NOT come on when he tries to start it.
All the other dash light do.
The engine does turn over...(tries to start)
It's getting fuel. (He took off the fuel filter and the fuel pump is pumping)
When he turns the key, he hears the relay.(click..click..click.)
He does have power...lights, radio etc.
He does have a power-chip, but did remove it. (He did this while the key was on-could this cause some problem?)
And just so you all know, and might get a laugh---
My husband's occupation-DIESEL MECHANIC (25 years Tractor-Trailers)
HAHAHAHA!

 

Ouch... pulling the chip with the power on can ruin your day. Definitely a no-no.

I say this as a somewhat electronics/computer-knowledgable person (23 years...).

Where did the power chip plug into? Directly into the side of the computer?

can't help otherwise, sorry...
artk.

 

I'm not sure exactly what it plugs into. I have seen him pull it out before, and he pulls it from somewhere up-under the driver's side dash....kind of back behind the parking brake-pedal area. I'll try to call him & ask. Thanks for replying, and trying to help!

 

He may have run one of the truck's two batteries down a bit during his stay. If the Injector Control Module doesn't see (I believe) 10.5 volts, it won't fire any fuel. No fuel, no start.
He might try swapping the two batteries around.

 

Does he have a generator in the trailer with a 12v output he can hook up to the truck battery to charge with, or maybe swap a good battery from the trailer to the truck? With the relay going click, click, click, this sounds like a lack-of-juice issue to me.

 

Ditto, lack of juice. He may need a jump, and new batteries.

 

Cam sensor and glow plug relays go bad also the battery issue is a concern definetly.

Good luck Where is he?

 

HUSBAND--STILL STRANDED
UPDATE: I talked to my husband again on the cellphone and told him what everyone said to try. He's checked the fuses, checked the batteries and tried jumping it. (Our son-in-law drove out there) He's going to pull the battery cables to see if that resets the PCM. He's also going to connect the battery charger to the battery tonight and then call it a night. He'll give it a try in the morning. Can anyone tell me the cheapest place to buy a PCM??
It's probably fried. And I might as well start pricing them.
BUT....if anyone can think of anything else that might work, please let me know.
My husband also wanted me to tell everyone that posted a response to my plea for help....THANK YOU!! Your anwers and advice have been really great!
Thanks, Judy (Still waiting for hubby to come home)
IN MISSOURI

 

Sound like a Glow Plug relay to me. Same symptoms I used to have with a diesel I drove years ago.
Pulling the chip with the key on may have added to his problems as well.

Good luck.

Is he at least bringing home some meat for his trouble? was the hunt good to him?

 

Sounds like a bad glow plug relay. Have someone spray WD40 in the intake while he tries to start it. It could also be the CPS witch is cheaper from a IH dealer. Tim R.

 

i was just going to say it may very well be the cam position sensor myself. how many miles on the truck? they are ify anyone over 100k on the 7.3 i hear from all the internation tow truck drivers, and they replace them as a maintenance item at around that point. i imagine that would also cause it to not spray fuel. not to sure why the glow plug light wouldnt come on ... coincidence maybe? i thought the light would still come on even with bad glow plugs.

 

I thought the 7.3 liter used mechanical injection?!?! No?

 

IDI 7.3 up to 1994 was mechanical injection.

PowerStroke was a mid-year 1994 introduction but came only with the manual tranny.

1995 and newer all that was available in F250 and F350 was the PowerStroke direct injected engine, fly by wire. If I remember correctly you had to go to the F650 to get a diesel other than the PowerStroke.

Dave / Believer45

 

So Niteowl, how does this story end ??

 

one too many. wrong truck, wrong trailer. lol, just kidding. i'd like to hear the ending as well.