Hey guys! I'm here for some advise on possible solutions for my dilemma. Here's the story: Last Saturday I bought a 1996 2wd F250 XLT 7.3 PSD extended cab w/ automatic tranny and 188,000 miles. Bought from a guy who inherited it from his father who recently passed away. He had it for a week before I bought it and he essentially knows nothing about the truck except that his dad bought it to pull trailers with. His dad only had it a short time before he came down with cancer so he actually never drove it much. His dad was 2nd owner. It pretty much sat the last 2 years or so but it was started and driven occasionally. He's a friend of a friend and I trust that he did not know of any problems with the truck. The truck pretty much has all records for even the first tank of diesel ever put in it and all the service records. It's a real gem actually. So I'm not here to have you tell me I got ripped off because I believe there was no problem when I got the truck...nor does my mechanic.

So here's the scenario... Day 1 I test drove the truck and it ran great. Day 2 took the wifey to see it and to my mechanic so he could check it out and drive it and it ran great. Bought it that day. Day 3 put in diesel that morning and drive it to and from church ran great. Day 4 drive it to work and as I'm leaving a mini storage it dies at the gate. "That's weird" I said and fired it right back up and drove it the rest of that day. That night I go to Taco Bell and it dies 2 times on me within a 3 mile round trip. "Crap, what's going on here" I'm thinking but I know ZERO about diesels. Next morning I get up and get ready to head to work it fires right up, drove it a half a mile and it dies going about 35 mph. Fired it up up, drove it 50 ft. it dies, start it up drive 50 ft. it dies again. Call my mechanic and he says bring it in. I start it up, goes 50 ft. again and dies. At this point I'm trying to turn around and get back home for a tow truck. It starts up I drive it all the way home w/o dying so I figure what the heck, I drive past my house and go about 8-10 miles and make it to the corner right before the mechanic shop and it dies again. Started it up and made it to the mechanics only about 1 block away. He put his Snap-On code reader on it it pulls a 340 so he says CPS are famous for going out on it and puts a new one on. Runs like crap, finds out Ford sent him the wrong part # so they send a new one. I'm gone by now so from here on it is what the mechanic is telling me. Put the correct CPS in started and ran fine idled for 45 minutes and he junps in to test drive it...it dies on him. He brings it back puts on code reader and gets a 1211 and a 1212. So he unplugs the IPS (the part under the cover on top of the engine) and it still doesn't start. Searches his internet connections and calls around and decides to replace the regulator IPR I think it's called. Starts it up lets it idle for a while to see if it's going to die or not, drives it down the street and comes back and tells me it runs great and feels great! AWESOME I'm thinking, I ask him to check the diesel while the hoods up...looks good! Check the tranny too while you're at it I said...I got in to start it and NO START!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was 6:00 pm and it Thursday night now and he's headed out of town for the weekend. I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!! What do you think we should check. He's super suspicious that it's electrical at this point. I'll try and answer any questions I can for you so toss them out there. Thanks in advance! Scott

 

Mine started running rough then eventually would start and die. Anyway as easy as it is to check unplug the valve cover plugs and check and see if any pins or plugs are burnt. On mine one pin was burnt on the outside plug but the plug inside the valve cover was completely burned. Like I said it's an easy check. If this is your problem plan on replacing the glow plugs while your in there. Really not to bad of a job. Only other thing I can think of is HPOP on top front of engine. There is a plug on top that you can remove and check the level of the oil. Should be close to top. Good Luck.

Paul

 

Thanks 59JEEPSTANG for that input. I'm not totally sure if he's checked the oil in the hpop or not. The problem is intermittant and that's what is causing him to believe it's electrical and not mechanical. I thought I read that when the hpop goes out...it's out. Meaning that it would not start no matter what if the hpop were bad? Like I said, everything I know about these things comes from what I've read here this week LOL! I don't know nawtheeeng!!!! LOL

 

Check the oil level in the crankcase first. If its low fill to the appropriate level. Search this forum for your codes. P1211 then P1212 on separate searches. Go through the threads for info. Your issue seems (as you already know) high pressure oil related. Since the IPR has already been replaced so check the wiring to it. The IPR is fed through the wiring harness on / under the fuel bowl. Pull the plug attached to the ICP (sticking out of the head toward the drivers side of the fuel bowl. If it has oil on the connector and sensor the ICP is a probably bad. There are plenty of threads with pictures and good info in them that will educate you much better than I can.

 

^^^ What he said...also how old is the oil? Miles?

 

This may help you find some thing's that you may not know where they are at

 

* P1211 ICP Not Controllable - Pressure Abow/Below Desired
* P1212 ICP Voltage Not at Expected Level
I would try unpluging the ICP and see what happens if it clears up then the ICP is bad

 

Subscribing, because I get a 1211 even after spending $200 for a new IPR. Also bought a new ICP.

 

Glenn were you getting the code before the reburn?
Will it set the code with out the chip?

 

Papa, congrats on the new truck and sorry to hear she's not treating you right, right off the bat. How many miles are on the truck? When you say that it dies, does it shudder or stammer at all, or just completely shut off with no visible warning? Also, you said it had been sitting for the last 2 years, if it wasn't regularly ran, funky things can happen with the fuel and oil, especially that very special California diesel. Please provide just a little more information, I know you are throwing codes, but they could be coincidental.

 

WOW...thanks guys! I'm going to print this page up and take it into him Monday morning to maybe help him just in case he's overlooked anything. He's seriously frustrated at this point...I know you guys understand!

pjwoolw- Thank you for those ideas. The truck is at his shop therefore I do not have access until Monday to check those things. He has checked and measured some harnesses with his meters but not exactly sure which ones.

mq1shooter- The truck has 188,500 miles on it and I'm not sure when the oil was last changed but it "Looks clean right now!" said my mechanic.

fordpride- You're my new friend! Thanks for the photos...I'll sticky this page for future reference. Regarding post 2 we know the code references but pin pointing them is the hard part. We did the ICP thing already, when we tried it it didn't start that time either way.

thebig350- It has 188,500 on it now. Service papers on it all the way through that's why I wasn't hesitant to get it. When it dies it's like shut the key off die. Both tanks were pretty low on fuel when I got it. I tried to run the front as close to empty as I could before filling it up. I'm thinking we need to change the fluids just because it has been sitting for so long.

Anybody else have any suggestions, do you guys agree electrical seems to be the problem. If the PCM were bad would the truck start at all? He did get a tranny code thrown one time but concluded that the PCM is possibly wacked therefore throwing erronous codes.

 

sounds electrical. Do you get a wait to start light? IIRC, if that comes on your pcm is ok, don't quote me on that though. Maybe pull the idm off and shake it to see if there is any water in it. Only 4 bolts, easy check, may not be it, but can't hurt.

 

Welcome to the OBS diesel side of FTE!!!
Here are some links you should save
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Tips - Idea - Hints
1996 Bronco/F-Series Workshop Manual
97-15A 7.3L DI Turbo Workshop Manual
You are in good hands here, they will see you through!

 

-Being it sat for an extended time, I would check REALLY well for evidence of Mice chewing on your sound proofing insulation on/near fender wells and anything else...they like that stuff - building nests. Wiring harness are close and laying in and around.
Have your guy disconnect the fuel bowl heater connector and tape it, don't need it and may cause a "No Start" some day.
Being that the IPR was replaced, make double sure that the IPR connector, insulator, and two wire(s) are not deteriorated from Diesel fuel. And work your way back towards the PCM. FYI..I had a worn/loose IPR connector and it would quit - no cel - act like a miss - and get worse when she warmed towards normal operating temps.
And ya what Fordman said...Take the IDM off and shake it..
Oooo...Coffee's kicking in...

 

427 fordman- Yes wait to start light on before every attempt as far as I know. IDM looks like an easy check...we'll do. Thank you!

Copedog- I saw all those links somewhere before but didn't save them. I will now though! Thanks!

mq1shooter- Good stuff right there! My plans were to start doing that but never really got to spend any quality time with her yet Thank you sir!

You guys rank high in my books! Thanks!