wait to start light?
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Joined: Jul 2015
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wait to start light?
first off this is my first real post, I have no clue where to post it so I apologize if this is not the right way to do it.
I NEED HELP!
I have a 1991 ford E-350 7.3L IH idi with less than 90K miles on it.
It used to be a ambulance for a volunteer fire Dept and sat for the majority of its life. I had it running for a while, it ran smooth. one day on my way home from work it just shut off, didn't studder, sputter, spurt, it just stopped...
the wait to start light will not come on (checked the fuel heater and fuse 30), the glow plug control relay will not kick into play (which I have replaced so it is new now) the engine will turn, the starter kicks into play, but it will not come to life...
I have checked all the wires, fuses, and relays, all seem good.
I am at a loss of where to go and really feel depressed that my baby is not coming to life, she is in a coma. lol
I consider myself a shady tree mechanic at best, I have the Chilton manual but it does not seem to be helping.
I beg the ford diesel gods to take pity on me and please help.
I NEED HELP!I have a 1991 ford E-350 7.3L IH idi with less than 90K miles on it.
It used to be a ambulance for a volunteer fire Dept and sat for the majority of its life. I had it running for a while, it ran smooth. one day on my way home from work it just shut off, didn't studder, sputter, spurt, it just stopped...
the wait to start light will not come on (checked the fuel heater and fuse 30), the glow plug control relay will not kick into play (which I have replaced so it is new now) the engine will turn, the starter kicks into play, but it will not come to life...
I have checked all the wires, fuses, and relays, all seem good.
I am at a loss of where to go and really feel depressed that my baby is not coming to life, she is in a coma. lol
I consider myself a shady tree mechanic at best, I have the Chilton manual but it does not seem to be helping.
I beg the ford diesel gods to take pity on me and please help.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
first off this is my first real post, I have no clue where to post it so I apologize if this is not the right way to do it.
I NEED HELP!
I have a 1991 ford E-350 7.3L IH idi with less than 90K miles on it.
It used to be a ambulance for a volunteer fire Dept and sat for the majority of its life. I had it running for a while, it ran smooth. one day on my way home from work it just shut off, didn't studder, sputter, spurt, it just stopped...
the wait to start light will not come on (checked the fuel heater and fuse 30), the glow plug control relay will not kick into play (which I have replaced so it is new now) the engine will turn, the starter kicks into play, but it will not come to life...
I have checked all the wires, fuses, and relays, all seem good.
I am at a loss of where to go and really feel depressed that my baby is not coming to life, she is in a coma. lol
I consider myself a shady tree mechanic at best, I have the Chilton manual but it does not seem to be helping.
I beg the ford diesel gods to take pity on me and please help.
I NEED HELP!I have a 1991 ford E-350 7.3L IH idi with less than 90K miles on it.
It used to be a ambulance for a volunteer fire Dept and sat for the majority of its life. I had it running for a while, it ran smooth. one day on my way home from work it just shut off, didn't studder, sputter, spurt, it just stopped...
the wait to start light will not come on (checked the fuel heater and fuse 30), the glow plug control relay will not kick into play (which I have replaced so it is new now) the engine will turn, the starter kicks into play, but it will not come to life...
I have checked all the wires, fuses, and relays, all seem good.
I am at a loss of where to go and really feel depressed that my baby is not coming to life, she is in a coma. lol
I consider myself a shady tree mechanic at best, I have the Chilton manual but it does not seem to be helping.
I beg the ford diesel gods to take pity on me and please help.
This is a link to the diesel forum. Try posing your question in the appropriate sub-forum; you'll probably get a better response there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
Check the voltage at the fuel shut off solenoid on the IP. If you don't have voltage to it then the van will never start. Since it died while driving it makes me think that it could be this.
Also check to make sure you have fuel at the filter head by depressing the the schrader valve while cranking the motor. When was the last time you changed the fuel filter?
Another thing, what does your fuel gauge say? Is it at about 1/4 of a tank. These IDI's are notorious for having the plastic pick-up break which only lets you run it down to about 1.4 of a tank. These old IDI do not take much to run. If it has fuel, compression and enough heat then it will run....no other crazy electrical stuff needed.
And as others said, hop over to the IDI forum. They will be able to answer a lot of questions.
Also check to make sure you have fuel at the filter head by depressing the the schrader valve while cranking the motor. When was the last time you changed the fuel filter?
Another thing, what does your fuel gauge say? Is it at about 1/4 of a tank. These IDI's are notorious for having the plastic pick-up break which only lets you run it down to about 1.4 of a tank. These old IDI do not take much to run. If it has fuel, compression and enough heat then it will run....no other crazy electrical stuff needed.
And as others said, hop over to the IDI forum. They will be able to answer a lot of questions.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I had the same issue, and read about many ambulance owners having the same issue. The red/LTgreen wire that turns on the glow plug relay, and fuel shutoff solenoid and a few other things, burnt at the firewall connector or after the engine fuse box. So run a jumper wire from the same red/LTgreen wire on your steering column, (ignition switch plug that connects to the ignition cylinder aka key cylinder.) Connect there and run to the other side of the firewall to the same red/LTgreen wire wherever convenient. As long as its before the fuel shutoff solenoid and glow plug relay. There is an easy spot to tie into above the filter where the wire loom for that circuit breaks away from the main loom and heads for the fuel heater, fuel shutoff solenoid, cold idle solenoid, and glow plug relay. I would also install a 25a inline fuse on that jumper wire to be safe. But straight wire first to see if that helps. Also crack open a fuel line at the injector farthest away from the filter while you crank the starter to see if she drinking fuel. Good luck.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Placer County CA
Do you have an auxiliary battery? I do in my 03 E-350 7.3 L. It's under the side door, mounted on the frame. If you haven't changed it recently, this could be part/all of the problem. You can check out my post on how to do it.
Whatever it is, it sound electrical in nature. Check your main battery connections as well.
Good Luck, and let us know how you solved it.
Whatever it is, it sound electrical in nature. Check your main battery connections as well.
Good Luck, and let us know how you solved it.
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