I've got a F550 7.3L rollback. It wont start unless its plugged in which I'm pretty sure would be the glow plugs causing that; but while I'm driving down the road it'll hiccup and sometimes shut off as if you turned the key off but the radio and everything is on as if nothing ever happened. Only way it'll start back up is if I stop all the way, turn off the key and start it up again. The truck will barely run unless I have the chip in it. Otherwise I go extremely slow. My chip scanner gave me these codes P1670, P1316, P0344, P1247, P0340. My check engine light is on but sometimes it doesn't come on. Think you can help without costing me a fortune? I don't know a whole lot about these trucks but I'm learning.

 

Welcome to FTE. First off start by changing the CPS Welcome to guzzle's CPS R&R Web Page< It's around $25 from Ford. Only buy one from Ford or International, not the parts stores.

Next, give us more info to your no start unless plugged in. What are the outside temps? While you're cranking do you get a bunch of heavy white smoke out the tailpipe?

Also, how long has it been since you changed your engine oil, what brand and weight of oil are you running, and is the oil full?

 

You can get a free cps from Ford if you have an open recall on your truck. Check this site: Recall Information - Ford

 

If the hard starts began with the cooler weather check out this thread.

The Winter Cold Start Sticky Thread

 

From Guzzle's CPS Page.

"The CPS (Camshaft Position Sensor) is one of the weakest links on the Ford 7.3 Powerstroke engines. The sensor has a high failure rate and common symptoms include having the engine die while driving as if you turned the key off just to have the driver pull over and restart without any problems; periodic 'hiccupping' of the engine; complete failure of the CPS can kill the engine and will not let it restart."

Lol, he's already described your exact sysmtoms. Sounds like a good fix.

 

The CPS has been replaced before but I'm not sure what brand they put on it, I may have to order a new one. It doesn't matter what temp it is outside it wont actually start unless the engine is warmed up. Either it has to be plugged in or we just run a ton of starter fluid until it gets warm enough to start. Thats why I'm pretty sure it needs new glow plugs. I would do it myself but I've been warned to be extremely careful pulling off the valve covers because its got some electronic deal in it? The oil gets low occasionally but it isn't too bad, I just changed the oil within the past month. My exhaust does pour out white smoke while cranking. The oil I use is Shell Rotella T Triple Protection 15W-40. The codes I gave aren't the only ones its given before. It keeps giving me differant ones after I clear them, wasn't sure if its possible to have a bad computer. It has never ran very well. I've replaced the Exhaust Backpressure Sensor because it was one of the codes I read, plus the line had a hole and the sensor was caked with crap even after cleaning. Would the CPS cause it to run that slow? It wont run very fast unless I let it warm up for 5min even with the chip in it. Without the chip I don't even hear the turbo kick in?

 

P1316 will be caused by loose plugs in the valve cover.
It will also make the engine run bad and turn on the SES light.
.
What I recommend you do is replace the glow plug relay and see how it starts the next morning.
I'm pretty sure, going on your description, that the relay is burned out and none of the glow plugs are getting any current.
I've never seen every cylinder burn out at once.
If you have a good relay, but a couple of burned out glow plugs, then it should start ok, but idle rough for a few minutes until those cylinders heat up.
Bad relay will make it hard to start, period, like you are describing.
.
Once that is done, then remove the valve covers, retorque the rocker arm pedastals
Retorque the injector hold downs.
Do the 50 cent mod.
While you are in there, now is the time to replace the glow plugs if you want.

 

Don't use starter fluid... BOOM!! Did you replace the GPR?

 

Dan beat me to it.. Type to slow

 

I take back what I said about the oil I use,the Rotella T is in another truck. I use Super Duty Motorcraft 15W-40 in this truck. I've got a new CPS on order. I do have a recall for it but the closest dealer is 50+ miles and for the cost of the part I'll just do it myself. I also have a SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION recall, whats that?

 

The Glow Plug relay is fine, I turned the key and tested both terminals, they are both showing around 10v and I hear it click off. I've never replaced the glow plugs myself, its always ran rough so they may all be burned out. They had new ones put in but I don't think they really did it.

 

That recall replaces the switch on the master cylinder that cancels the cruise control when you hit brakes.

 

If you have been using ethier to start just buy 8 new glow plugs & hope that that you have not burnt the tips off of the old ones with the ethier.
When you go to do the G/P's chec the wire loom that runs over the drivers side valve cover for wire chafing and a very small burnt mark on the valve cover. After two CPS I started the tear into the thing thinking it was uvhc and found the wires & burn mark b-4 I got the v/c off taped it up and no more issues.....Good Luck!!!

 

Oh yes Beru glow plugs ONLY from Ford...Unless you really like doing that job!!!
I dont remember the part number but do a search and you should be able go come up with it

 

I checked the wires didn't see any burnt marks but I'm sure it needs glow plugs