Hard starting and check engine.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
Hard starting and check engine.
For past few weeks my truck been difficult to start, I actually burned up starter trying so many times.
I believe it to be fuel related.
It was worse at below zero temp, but still does it in 30° temp.
Also since the problem occurred, my check engine light comes on briefly and the engine has severe loss of power. Engine has actually does a few times and was difficult to get back started.
At first I thought it was water or gelling, I added some anti gelling/icing additive when I filled up tonight.
My next thing is see if it is just related to front tank.
I have changed fuel filter, it was most definitely needed. Next is to clean the screen next chance I get.
So, my questions.
Could this be fuel pump(s) related?
Will one or the other randomly not work properly?
I believe it to be fuel related.
It was worse at below zero temp, but still does it in 30° temp.
Also since the problem occurred, my check engine light comes on briefly and the engine has severe loss of power. Engine has actually does a few times and was difficult to get back started.
At first I thought it was water or gelling, I added some anti gelling/icing additive when I filled up tonight.
My next thing is see if it is just related to front tank.
I have changed fuel filter, it was most definitely needed. Next is to clean the screen next chance I get.
So, my questions.
Could this be fuel pump(s) related?
Will one or the other randomly not work properly?
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 855
Likes: 5
From: Central Oregon
Are you plugging your truck in with the block heater?
You can check the fuel pressure at the bowl, on the Schrader valve.
Your ebv may be getting stuck close, im not sure if that will throw a code.
If you have an android device, you can download the torque app to pull codes with your phone or tablet. You will need a OBD Bluetooth device as well though.
You can check the fuel pressure at the bowl, on the Schrader valve.
Your ebv may be getting stuck close, im not sure if that will throw a code.
If you have an android device, you can download the torque app to pull codes with your phone or tablet. You will need a OBD Bluetooth device as well though.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
The CEL comes on while driving, shortly after starting. Then goes away.
I think I have isolated the problem to the front tank. Either really watered down fuel or other tank/line issue.
(my water in fuel sensor broke last year, been to lazy to replace)
I think I have isolated the problem to the front tank. Either really watered down fuel or other tank/line issue.
(my water in fuel sensor broke last year, been to lazy to replace)
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Your truck is NOT OBD-I. Our trucks are a modified sorta-OBD-II. A standard OBD-II device will not communicate with it, but folks have found a way to get Torque Pro and CarGauge Pro to communicate via a bluetooth OBD-II dongle; it requires some configuration, however.
There's only one fuel pump, but it's two-stage. Generally it's a "pass/fail" device, not likely to work one day, fail the next. If you open the fuel bowl and watch while someone cranks the engine with the key (or if you have a remote starter switch), and you see the bowl filling, you know the first, low-pressure stage is working. If you put a pressure gauge on the schrader valve on the fuel pressure regulator and crank the engine, and see (I forget the minimum, something like 30 psi), you know the second, medium-pressure stage is working.
CE light would have nothing to do with your fuel system.
Not that it would be related to your CE light, but have you tested your glow plug system? Problem there might be contributing to your hard starting issues.
There's only one fuel pump, but it's two-stage. Generally it's a "pass/fail" device, not likely to work one day, fail the next. If you open the fuel bowl and watch while someone cranks the engine with the key (or if you have a remote starter switch), and you see the bowl filling, you know the first, low-pressure stage is working. If you put a pressure gauge on the schrader valve on the fuel pressure regulator and crank the engine, and see (I forget the minimum, something like 30 psi), you know the second, medium-pressure stage is working.
CE light would have nothing to do with your fuel system.
Not that it would be related to your CE light, but have you tested your glow plug system? Problem there might be contributing to your hard starting issues.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
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From: Sullivan, IL USA
GP system functions, but I have not tested each GP ohms yet.
It has started fine since switching fuel source and adding anti-gel/de-icer.
Any good articles about the OBD situation?
It has started fine since switching fuel source and adding anti-gel/de-icer.
Any good articles about the OBD situation?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Your profile says it's a 1995. The '94.5 and early '95 trucks did not come from the factory with the "Ford Enhanced" pseudo-OBD-II protocol, but if the truck has ever been to a Ford dealership service bay, it has most likely been flashed to communicate the way any later OBS PSD would. You'd have to get a device on it that you know works on other OBS PSDs.
Is the CE light still coming on while driving? Or has that gone away since changing fuels?
Were you by any chance running on fuel that was supplied last fall? Whichever tank you're running on, if you filled it before the change-over to winter fuel, that would explain what happened. This is why I throw in Power Service white-bottle additive all year (there are times our trucks will go for months between fill-ups). It's also why it's a good idea to keep a bottle of PS Diesel 911 (the "oh s#!+" stuff in the red bottle) somewhere in the truck at all times.
Is the CE light still coming on while driving? Or has that gone away since changing fuels?
Were you by any chance running on fuel that was supplied last fall? Whichever tank you're running on, if you filled it before the change-over to winter fuel, that would explain what happened. This is why I throw in Power Service white-bottle additive all year (there are times our trucks will go for months between fill-ups). It's also why it's a good idea to keep a bottle of PS Diesel 911 (the "oh s#!+" stuff in the red bottle) somewhere in the truck at all times.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
It is titled as 95, but it is a 94.5.
Fuel was fresh, I use a tank every 3 days.
No CEL since different fuel and additive.
Hmm, PS Diesel 911, I will get it. Thanks!
Power service is the additive I used, double dosage because all our diesel around here is "up to" B20.
Fuel was fresh, I use a tank every 3 days.
No CEL since different fuel and additive.
Hmm, PS Diesel 911, I will get it. Thanks!
Power service is the additive I used, double dosage because all our diesel around here is "up to" B20.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
So, just to update. Starting issue is resolved, combination of water and some kind of black fungus.
Now, it still "drops out" and throws the CEL at random times, mostly directly after starting. It eventually quits. Not sure what it is. I still think it is fuel delivery related.
Does the hpop fail this way?
Has new fuel filter and screen is clean.
Now, it still "drops out" and throws the CEL at random times, mostly directly after starting. It eventually quits. Not sure what it is. I still think it is fuel delivery related.
Does the hpop fail this way?
Has new fuel filter and screen is clean.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
As of today, at every start it barely starts, CEL comes on, then dies. It takes about 5 minutes of this before it stays running, with CEL on and engine running rough, like it is lacking fuel. Then maybe after 2-3 minutes of holding higher rpm, it runs fine. Until next cold start, then the process starts all over.
I am going to get a guage for the fuel psi, but I am really thinking the fuel pump.
At first I thought it was just related to the front tank, but it is not.
I am going to get a guage for the fuel psi, but I am really thinking the fuel pump.
At first I thought it was just related to the front tank, but it is not.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Well with a completely mechanical fuel system, not connected to the PCM at all, there's very little fuel-related that would set the CEL. You'll need to get it on a device that will obtain the codes. Otherwise you're chasing your tail.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Sullivan, IL USA
I have a question on that too. My truck is a 94.5, titled as a 95. It definitely has a OBD2 connector. And from what I gather, the OBD version is j1850-pwm protocol. So, since this cheap one says it reads that protocol it should work. Right?
iSaddle Super Mini Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Scan Tool Check Engine Light & CAN-BUS Auto Diagnostic Tool for Windows & Android Torque (Blue Color, Super Mini) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OMT6UEK..._MDnavb0PSH25W
iSaddle Super Mini Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Scan Tool Check Engine Light & CAN-BUS Auto Diagnostic Tool for Windows & Android Torque (Blue Color, Super Mini) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OMT6UEK..._MDnavb0PSH25W
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
If it's titled as a '95, it's a '95. The '94.5s were titled as '94s; we just call them '94.5 to distinguish them from the '94 IDIs. In any event, that device should communicate with your truck, but as I understand it, the Torque tool will not read our codes "out of the box". You need to manually configure it. Go over to the Nation and search the OBS sections for "Torque Pro"; there's at least one very long thread with lots of configuration info.