I have a 2004 Excursion with strange symptoms. It will start cold and when you drive it for a while, then turn it off, it will start again right away. If you leave it for an hour you will get a "crank no start". Leave it till the engine cools down completely and it will start again.

The other day it wouldn't start cold, but after I had it towed in to a mechanic, he turned the key and it started right away. I left it with him for 3 days and he could not get it to "not start". So I picked it up and drove it for an hour, parked it and left it for an hour came back and had a "crank no start" till it was cold again. I love my truck but it doesn't seem to like me.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

 

Symptoms of a HPO internal leak. Hot oil is thinner and the HPOP can't build enough pressure. It needs 500+ psi to start.

Probably standpipe, dummy plugs or the STC fitting if yours iis the late build 04'

Try these things:
Disconnect the ICP sensor and try starting. If that fixes it, replace the sensor or pigtail if it has oil in the plug.

Remove the IPR valve and makes ure the screen isn't plugged.

If it still fails to run, you need an air test. Read the tech folder or you tube " diesel tech Ron" and watch a video how it's done.

You will need a monitor devise like Torque or Scan Gauge 2 to see the pressures in real time. You could ask a friend to borrow a gauge or another member to help if someone is close to you.

 

Is it an early 04 or late? Late has a ICP sensor on passenger side valve cover. I just finally fixed mine. Had same problem. Turned out to be injector 4 high pressure inlet seal was shot. Replaced all seals on injector no problems now.

 

Try parking truck on a hill or curb, nose down under the conditions you expect it to be a no start. See if it acts any differently. Warm oil can drain from the HPO resivoir through leaking HPO seals back into the pan and be thin enough to give it a problem refilling. Cold oil pumps better so less problem fully cold. It could be many (other) things but this is an easy check.

 

And I thought parking nose down was only to find out if an egr cooler was leaking.

FTE is awesome!

 

fwiw - late 04's don't have the troublesome STC fittings, but they do have the dummy plugs.

 

WatsonR: I'm having the same problem with an 06 super duty 6.0 L diesel. The truck starts fine when cold but when turned off at operating temperature will not start again until engine cools for several hours. Your post gave me some ideas but I can't determine what ICP and IPR stands for. I looked in my Haynes and can't find what these are. I believe HPO stands for high pressure oil. Would you mind writing back and explain what those acronyms are? Greatly appreciated.

 

Injection control pressure = ICP
ICP is measured in volts and PSI, require better than 500 psi or 0.85 volts per cheezit to start. High pressure oil fires the HEUI fuel injectors.
Injection pressure regulator = IPR
This is what ramps up the pressure in the oil rails to the injectors based on load on the motor. Cheezit can explain better.

 

Mhoefer: thanks so much for the clarification. This problem appears to be beyond my abilities to repair. Waiting for the service dept. to reopen so I can get it in. Unfortunately, this also sounds like a very expensive repair, but at least I have some insight now as to what will probably have to be done.