i have a 2002 f550 with the 7.3 powerstroke. the other day i got in it and it started for a brief second and then died. i can get it to run when i spray starting fluid in the hose coming off of the intake to the breather and it runs fine but will only crank continuously without the starting fluid. can someone please give me some ideas as to where to start looking for the problem. thanks

 

welcome to FTE.

check for fuel pressure, fuel level, and power to the fuel pump. also check to see if the fuel pump inertia switch has been tripped.

and lay off the starting fluid. that stuff is no good for our engines.

 

the fuel level is good, 1/2 full. i would think that since once it is started and will accelerate ok that the pump would have to be getting power. where is the pump inertia switch and would the fact that it will run ok once started rule the switch out. also do you check the pressure somewhere on the fuel rail as you do on a gas motor? i know these are silly questions but i am very unfamiliar with diesel engines. thanks tom

 

ahh ok, once it starts, it runs fine.
i thought you meant it would only run on ether.

check to see if you have power at the glow plug relay when trying to start cold. my bet is the glow plug relay is bad.
i have had to replace 3 in 6 years on my superduty.

 

My guess is the glow plugs. If they were working, the either would likely have blown the motor up.

 

that does make sense. now i have a question for you.....where is the glow plug relay. i am going to check the owners manual but it does give limited information. thanks

 

top of the engine, rite behind the fuel filter housing. there are two relays there. if i remember correctly, the glow plug relay is the front one.

 

Ok love thanks. Will check them out

 

One relay is for the glow plugs, the other is for the air intake heater. Just trace the wires from the air intake heater back to its relay. The glow plug relay is the other one! An easy test is to take a screwdriver (one that you don't mind if it gets burnt) and jump across the terminals of the GP relay and hold it on there for about 30 seconds. Then try to start the truck. Does the Wait To Start light come on when you turn the key? If so, for how long?

 

Oh! Welcome to FTE!!

 

Moved to the 1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.

 

with the 02 you can not go by the WTS light. with a bad relay, the light may come on but not activate the glow plugs.

 

You're right.

 

Need to tell us how many miles on this beast. It is possible to have fuel pressure and then after it initially starts for the filter screens INSIDE THE FUEL TANK to be clogged and not allow as much flow. The fix for this is called the hutch mod. You can search it and read about it in this forum. The quick disconnect on the suction side of the fuel pump can be disconnected and you can blow air back into the tank with the fuel cap off you can hear bubbles as the air is blowing the trash off of the screens. This is only a temporary repair to see if it is your filter screens are clogged causing your problems. The permanent fix for this is the hutch mod(the name of the mod has nothing to do with the fuel tank as the name belonged to a guy named hutch???????? so they called it the hutch mod ever since and we know if someone says hutch mod that this is the modification of the pipes and filter screens in the fuel tank)
Tap on the fuel line disconnect with a screwdriver and get the excess dirt and grime off of it. Spray it with some lubricant or penetrating oil to help loosen it up.
You can go here to see pictures of the quick disconnect and how to disconnect it from the pump.
http://www.guzzle7pt3.com/hutch.php
Be ready to blow air into the tank as soon as you get the line disconnected as you might have some diesel siphoning out. Also have the fuel cap already off to have a place for the air to vent to. DO NOT DO THIS WITH A REALLY FULL TANK as you can blow fuel all over yourself as it comes back thru the fueling cap area.
Start the truck and see if your issue goes away. If it runs great then you need to do the hutch mod.
I purchased my kit from here:
Driven Diesel 7.3L Fuel Tank / Pre-Pump Kit
Let us know what happens. It is free to try this blow down of the screens. The hutch mod will save your injectors long term and keep them from slamming. This is what they call TRUCK LOVE.
Dwayne

 

Ok love thanks. And the truck is just now broke in with only 245000