Wait to start, intermittent
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Wait to start, intermittent
Drive a 2000 7.3 and was running great til two days ago. After driving it a few times in the morning, I parked it to run into the store. I came back an hour later, and it would not start. It turned over but would not start. Noticed that the wait to start light didn't come on. Later, When I put the key in, the wait to start light came on, and of course it started. Now, it won't come on for five or six times, and then it comes on and starts. Sometimes I have to turn it on and off eight or nine times before the wait to start light comes on and it's starting. Help, already had it towed once, don't need that again. -noflorome
Senior User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 454
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From: Portland, OR
How many miles? Any mods, especially chips/tuners?
Things I'd start with:
1. Check the wiring interior to the steering column for breaks and rubbing points.
2. Check the large harness in the engine bay for rubbing on the underside of the harness over the DS valve cover (VC) and the DS shock mount.
3. All plugs/connections clean and tight at the PCM, IDM, and the connector over the DS VC.
4. Oil level good.
No wait to start light leans toward PCM, but pull the plug on the ICP (sensor at the front of the DS head near the fuel return) anyways and see if there's oil on it. Neutral safety switch appears to be fine since the starter engages but go ahead and try starting it in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto here) and see if anything behaves differently.
You have consistent tach performance when starting right? And your batteries are strong, no jump starting?
Things I'd start with:
1. Check the wiring interior to the steering column for breaks and rubbing points.
2. Check the large harness in the engine bay for rubbing on the underside of the harness over the DS valve cover (VC) and the DS shock mount.
3. All plugs/connections clean and tight at the PCM, IDM, and the connector over the DS VC.
4. Oil level good.
No wait to start light leans toward PCM, but pull the plug on the ICP (sensor at the front of the DS head near the fuel return) anyways and see if there's oil on it. Neutral safety switch appears to be fine since the starter engages but go ahead and try starting it in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto here) and see if anything behaves differently.
You have consistent tach performance when starting right? And your batteries are strong, no jump starting?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2013
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The truck has 168K miles and everything else is firing well. I will begin to examine the harnesses and wiring this weekend. Thanks, noflo
How many miles? Any mods, especially chips/tuners?
Things I'd start with:
1. Check the wiring interior to the steering column for breaks and rubbing points.
2. Check the large harness in the engine bay for rubbing on the underside of the harness over the DS vaulve cover (VC) and the DS shock mount.
3. All plugs/connections clean and tight at the PCM, IDM, and the connector over the DS VC.
4. Oil level good.
No wait to start light leans toward PCM, but pull the plug on the ICP (sensor at the front of the DS head near the fuel return) anyways and see if there's oil on it. Neutral safety switch appears to be fine since the starter engages but go ahead and try starting it in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto here) and see if anything behaves differently.
You have consistent tach performance when starting right? And your batteries are strong, no jump starting?
Things I'd start with:
1. Check the wiring interior to the steering column for breaks and rubbing points.
2. Check the large harness in the engine bay for rubbing on the underside of the harness over the DS vaulve cover (VC) and the DS shock mount.
3. All plugs/connections clean and tight at the PCM, IDM, and the connector over the DS VC.
4. Oil level good.
No wait to start light leans toward PCM, but pull the plug on the ICP (sensor at the front of the DS head near the fuel return) anyways and see if there's oil on it. Neutral safety switch appears to be fine since the starter engages but go ahead and try starting it in neutral instead of park (assuming you have an auto here) and see if anything behaves differently.
You have consistent tach performance when starting right? And your batteries are strong, no jump starting?
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2013
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Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,424
Likes: 2,912
From: Reed Point, MT
Nevermind then.....
Good luck!
Just as a hint, the PCM needs to successfully boot up before the wait-to-start will work (and the truck will subsequently start). If there is a problem in the booting procedure, the PCM doesn't "wake up" on that key cycle.
Good luck!
Just as a hint, the PCM needs to successfully boot up before the wait-to-start will work (and the truck will subsequently start). If there is a problem in the booting procedure, the PCM doesn't "wake up" on that key cycle.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Same issue on my 2000 7.3L
Did you ever find out what was causing the WTS lamp to become intermittent. The same just started happening to me.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 522
From: Bottom Of Pikes Peak
otherwise, I don't have anything helpful/ useful for your issue
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Wait to start just became intermittent 2000 7.3L
Did you ever find out what was causing the problem with the WTS lamp?
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