Hi Guys, I have a 2001 7.3 Excursion and normally it runs pretty wells. Of course has to warm up in cold but this morning was our first cold day, 43 out this morning. I went out and cranked her and let her warm up like normal and noticed she was driving a little rough. I thought she just needed to warm up more but after driving for about 5 -10 min I turned a corner and hit the gas and she started sputtering. You guys have any idea on what this may be? I have 216,000 miles on her so I'm sure it's probably getting time to start replacing injectors just wondering what else could cause this. FYI, I drove to ATL about 1 1/2 weeks ago and when I filled up my tank I used Lucas so I have been running great after blowing her out. Yesterday I came off an on ramp on I 75 doing 60 and was impressed how smooth she was running (power too) after the Lucas.

 

Runs great one day and the next sputters, so you have 'replacing injectors' on your list?

No......, me don't think so at this time.

Is your glow plug relay working?
Have you checked your oil level?
Have you changed out your fuel filter?
Do you have good fuel pump pressure?


Let's look in other areas for now.

 

You know, glow plug relay was actually my first thought when that happened. Thanks for answering, I will check all of those things.

 

Excursions should have Glow Plug Control Module unless someone changed it out to a Glow plug Relay system.

Did you get check engine light?

Where in GA are you?

It was cold this morning here too and even though my EX is garage kept I made a comment to my son my lights were not bright enough yet and he asked why. The Glowplugs hadn't full "warmed up" yet when we took off. Love my kids...

~Diane

 

Maybe I'm ignorant here but I really don't see how a glow plug relay would effect the engine other than causing hard starts. I'm kinda thinking fuel contamination of some sort, filter, water, air, etc

 

Once it warmed up, I don't think glow plugs would have anything to do with her symptoms. If it were injectors, it would be a much harder cold start more than likely, so I am thinking something fuel related, or maybe TPS.

 

My check engine light has been on for over a year. I'm in South Ga.

 

I was wondering if maybe the Lucas loosened up some gunk that just now cut loose and it moving though?

 

What is the code it is setting?

 

There is none. I have taken it to Auto zone 3 times, no code comes up.

 

There's must not read it. Time to take it somewhere else...

 

Autozone can't read our trucks. They have an OBDII scanner and while our trucks have an OBDII style port, they don't use the same codes. You need someone that has a scanner capable of reading Powerstrokes to pull it.

 

What would be my options? The dealer? I know when I took it to the ford dealer 4 years ago before I bought it there was a rear main seal leak code coming up but I haven't had issues with it.

 

Just to expand on this a little...

When it fired cold was there any white smoke with a strong fuel smell. This would be an indication of injectors if this happened.

~Diane

 

If you are near White Plains,GA I can refer some one or if your are willing to drive up here we have the right tools.