Seized 7.3?
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
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Seized 7.3?
Hey all I know this is a PS section but I also know there are some real savy guys on here.
So here's the deal. I was heading to campus this morning and my truck suddenly dies while driving down the highway (93 7.3L IDI zf5). It wasn't overheating (according to the gauge) had plenty of fuel. It didn't sputter it just died. As in maybe it seized? It smoked a little bit and smelled like burning.. something. Oil? Rubber? That's my guess.. I checked the oil and it looked black and crummy and hard to read if there was any real level on the stick. It was almost time for the 5000 mark oil change but just barely. Also, I just put a qrt in about a month ago. If it ran out it would need to be burning real fast. I haven't tried starting her again mainly out of fear. Anyway if it's blown I need to find maybe a crate 7.3IDI? or the best next solution. What are your thoughts on a 7.3PSD Swap? Any insight or info on either will be greatly appreciated.
So here's the deal. I was heading to campus this morning and my truck suddenly dies while driving down the highway (93 7.3L IDI zf5). It wasn't overheating (according to the gauge) had plenty of fuel. It didn't sputter it just died. As in maybe it seized? It smoked a little bit and smelled like burning.. something. Oil? Rubber? That's my guess.. I checked the oil and it looked black and crummy and hard to read if there was any real level on the stick. It was almost time for the 5000 mark oil change but just barely. Also, I just put a qrt in about a month ago. If it ran out it would need to be burning real fast. I haven't tried starting her again mainly out of fear. Anyway if it's blown I need to find maybe a crate 7.3IDI? or the best next solution. What are your thoughts on a 7.3PSD Swap? Any insight or info on either will be greatly appreciated.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
swapping to a PSD would be a bit of a chore but it can be done, I've done it. You would essentially need a complete donor truck, all the wiring harnesses, computers, basically the PSD dash.... the ZF5 will bolt right up.
If the engine is siezed, it wont turn over when you hit the starter, so give it a whirl and see what it does. that'll give ya a place to start anyway.... also if it did lock up it would probably be a pretty violent stop not real gradual.... if its been setting for awhile since this incident check the oil again since it will have had time to drain back down and give ya an accurate reading.... I check my oil probably about once a week. good practice to get into especially if ya have an inclination that it might be burning it or leaking.
If the engine is siezed, it wont turn over when you hit the starter, so give it a whirl and see what it does. that'll give ya a place to start anyway.... also if it did lock up it would probably be a pretty violent stop not real gradual.... if its been setting for awhile since this incident check the oil again since it will have had time to drain back down and give ya an accurate reading.... I check my oil probably about once a week. good practice to get into especially if ya have an inclination that it might be burning it or leaking.
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Elder User
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Thanks for the input. By donor truck would my 93 work? assuming I got the proper add ons (computer etc.)
I also got to thinking about head gasket failure? I noticed what sounded like an exhaust leak awhile ago from the passenger side of the motor. I also noticed that when it got heated up the Manifold pressure gauge would jiggle to the same tempo as the "tsk-tsk" I heard from the exhaust leak... Thoughts?
Thanks again
I also got to thinking about head gasket failure? I noticed what sounded like an exhaust leak awhile ago from the passenger side of the motor. I also noticed that when it got heated up the Manifold pressure gauge would jiggle to the same tempo as the "tsk-tsk" I heard from the exhaust leak... Thoughts?
Thanks again
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
Did you add a map pressure gauge to the truck? They don't come stock with one... and yea I was meaning a 94.5-97 donor truck. say ya found one that was all rusty for cheap or smashed in the rear end ect.... trying to buy all the parts you would need to do the swap from ford (assuming they still sold the parts) would be thousands of dollars. Making it more sensible to buy a complete donor truck And just taking the parts you need off and putting on your truck body.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,897
Likes: 9
I would start by checking fluids. Level and condition of the coolant. Pull the glow plugs and turn it over. Then check to make sure the fuel shutoff on the ip is working properly. The way you said it just dies sounds like a loss in fuel. You can pull the low pressure fuel line off and see if it pumps from there. The guys on the idi forum and our moderator (tjc transport) have a lot of knowledge on these motors and can probably help out more than us guys.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
I would START by trying to crank it once. If it's seized, it's seized and it won't matter if you try to crank it. If it's not, well, it'll crank. Could be any number of things, from the fuel solenoid to the IP to just bad fuel.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,604
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From: Fort Polk Louisiana
Fuel injection pump? If you had fresh batteries, and a working starter, a seized engine would be noticeable.
A leak-down test will let you know if you have blown a head gasket. How many miles are on your current fuel injectors?
A leak-down test will let you know if you have blown a head gasket. How many miles are on your current fuel injectors?
Senior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 432
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From: Kentucky
something a lot like that happened to me in my old truck, not an idi a psd but i was just driving and it died mid-throttle, after checking everything it all looked okay so i just drained the fuel bowl, and refilled it with new diesel and it fired up after a while of cranking and it never happened again, i dont know if that helps at all just my 2 cents
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
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Hey guys sorry for the delay I've been busy with classes. Well I got home and tried cranking her and of course it didn't start. It seemed like it tried and then acted like dead battery,(as if I had left the light on) so very hard cranking. It also reset my stereo and all that like it does when I disconnect the battery. Thoughts? I'll do some more detailed diagnostics this weekend due to classes.
Thanks for everyone's help so far
Thanks for everyone's help so far
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
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Okay I've taken the alternator off and am heading into town to have it tested. I checked the oil and it had very little if any at all, not a good sign. I'm buying some jugs when I get to town.
Any thoughts?
Thanks all
Any thoughts?
Thanks all
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,897
Likes: 9
Your alternator has nothing to do with starting the truck. That's all on he batteries. Alternated only charges them back up once the truck is running. Check the battery connections as well. Grounds to the block and battery and positive thru to the starter. A bad connection will make it seem like a bad battery
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Elder User
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Yes but the truck died while driving down the highway. Making me think the alternator was failing to charge the batteries, and when they drained the truck died.
I could be wrong of course. I have the batteries trickle charging right now.
Thanks for the input so far
I could be wrong of course. I have the batteries trickle charging right now.
Thanks for the input so far