in my 87 E350 with the 6.9, i have a weird starting issue that i haven't found by searching.
i turn the key on, wait for the WTS light to go off, maybe let the plugs cycle (click) a time or two, then go to start it. from here, the PO left his foot off the pedal, cranked it till it fired once or twice, let off, and repeated the process 3 or 4 times till it started. however, if i take the OEM instructions posted on teh back side of visor, it tells me to have the throttle halfway down for temps over 0 or all the way down for temps below 0. my temps haven't fallen below 0, but have been close a few nights.
so i've experimented with it halfway down as recomeded. when i do, it will usually start on the first time i hit the starter, run for about 3-4 seconds, then stall. sometimes i can keep it running by revving it up quite a bit, but often it'll stall no matter what. once it stalls, it doesn't matter how much i crank the engine, it simply will NOT fire on ANY cylinders for a full 5 minutes. as a result, when this happens i simply walk away for 5 minutes, come back, and then its willing to start.
i know this isn't right, but don't know much about what would cause this. any ideas?

yesterday, i went to the store for a set of glow plugs, but after getting the wire off the first one i found that i bought the plugs with blade connectors but the van has bullet connectors, so i'm planning to take them back and swap them out. i got AC delco plugs, are these decent, they didn't seem to get much attention in the stickys...i know better than to use autolite for anything, i've heard too many stories on their spark plugs in gas engines

thanks in advance for all the help!

 

Ac delco are the same as the autolites they burn out and swell my truck came with them form the po. You want the motorcraft ZD9's and nothing else. It sounds like it could be leaking in the return lines allowing the fuel to bleed back to the tanks causing a start and stall condition. You may need to do return lines if they arent leaking now they may start to if you bump them changing glow plugs. For that you will need to get an injector installation kit comes with caps hose o-rings and clamps.

 

thats good to know before i install them!!
as i think about it, youre probably on the right track, i have been noticing oily marks on the pavement in parking lots following whereever i've been driving, but i haven't been losing engine oil... i've only owned this truck for a month and its been doing it since i bought it. before i owned it it sat for a few years... so i guess i'll be doing return lines
thanks--josh

 

Yep and dont be afraid to give it some pedal while sarting diesels like a little extra fuel to get going