Dads 2002 F250 7.3 190,000+ miles.

Monday it gelled. It would start a few times that day but it was running rough like a glow plugs issue- acting like it was only firing on 2 cylinders. He used Diesel 911 and changed the fuel filter, but since then, he has not been able to get it to start. He had it plugged in over night and tested the block heater, it is good. Had the battery charger on it for several hours. It is 48 degrees today, and was a similar temp yesterday. I just ran AE while trying to start it. ICP is good, IPR is good, duty cycle is good. Voltage is a little low- about 10.4 volts. No smoke, no fuel smell.

Codes are strange-
P1670 Electronic feedback signal not detected
P0478 Exhaust pressure control valve high
P0470 Exhaust pressure sensor

His batteries are only 14 months old and are 850cca units from Battery Warehouse, but he had an alternator go bad since they were added.

Do you think it is batteries because we aren't seeing quite 10.5 volts or should I be looking at maybe fuel pup having taken a crap?

 

Can you do a buzz test?
You might also jump it to get the voltage up a little more.

 

Tried jumping it. It didn't work. He bought a new fuel pump but both he and I couldn't get the front fuel line off. I am very done with working on these trucks right now. It has been a very frustrating few weeks.

 

Ageing vehicles can be very frustrating.

 

I will speculate he does not have a fuel pressure gauge? (Helps with diagnosis)
The front connection can be a pain to get loose even with a removal tool.

Did you connect a hose to the fuel bowl valve (with container beneath truck) , open valve then cycle key to check fuel flow?

 

+1^ dn29626... I agree on checking fuel underneath first. Could be just contaminated and could use a change on the filters. Drain a bit in to a clear container and verify condition.

Why jumping to do the pump? I didn't read about you doing fuel pressure tests or is pump not running at all? also, I would keep the batteries on a trickle charger until up and running again. All the cranking and testing in the meantime is rough on the batteries and will eventually kill them.

 

Jason, I know how you feel. Hang in there. Some of the best advice my Father ever gave me was, 'walk away from it when you get frustrated.' It has saved me putting a 1/2" drive ratchet wrench through the windshield many times, and a crowbar once.

As far as the batteries go, just an experience I had 2 days ago- stickers in both batteries said they were just over 2 years. But truck was not starting as easily as it should have. Couple times the batteries got so low from cranking that I had to use the big battery charger. I've tried jumping these trucks 5-6 times and only been successful once. I even (after I got it started and let it run for 15 minutes) load tested them. They showed close to weak, but still good. Finally, 2 days ago, after the truck sat a few days, I tested voltage while GPS were on and starter was being bumped. They would drop to 10v. I swapped them out with 2 new ones from Wal Mart, and she's never cranked so fast and started so well before. The previous 2 were Bosch. Just relating my experience. I know you plow snow like I do, and these electric hydraulic plows put a load on the batteries. Throw in a 'Polar Vortex' and there's a chance yours could be bad even though it's only been 18 months.

 

Yeah, this is my dads truck and he doesn't plow. It is his daily driver and pulls his 5th wheel spring, summer, and fall. We bought the fuel line removal tool that said it was specific to Ford, but try as we might it wouldn't come off. His truck has almost 200,000 (I believe he said 197,000 to me today, I didn't look) and liked an excuse to get a new pump. I told him we should hook up a basic fuel pressure gauge before throwing parts at it, but he was looking for an reason to do it I think. He changed the filter the other day, and the fuel bowl has fuel in it, I checked it, and when I opened the fuel bowl valve good clean diesel came out, but we needed to do a FP check, I know.

 

ah yes, parents can be stubborn like that.... It can be quite frustrating dealing them sometimes....lol You seem like you know what to look for, but keep us updated, curious what outcome will be.