No Start
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
No Start
I have a driveway ornament in the form of a 1994 IDI Turbo. Over the past few weeks the truck has become progressively hard to start until it just won't go. There is plenty of fuel, I hear the glowplug relay cycling and the truck cranks fine--until the battery gets weak after about 15 -20 seconds of cranking. I went ahead and changed the lift pump--$24--cheap enough. I pulled one of the injector lines off and cranked the engine and noticed fuel pulsating from the injector line. The fuel filter is full and the fuel looks clear. Any thoughts on the next thing to check?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
If your batteries are getting weak after 15-20 seconds of cranking, my guess would be that it is not cranking fast enough. Can you take a video of it cranking? would give a good idea if that could be the case or not. How old is your IP also? Just because you have fuel at the line with no resistance at the end (injector) doesn't mean it is popping the injector at much higher pressure levels. Have you tried ether? turn the key on, wait a minute or two for the glow plugs to cool off, give it a little shot (not much) and see what happens.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Thanks for the response. The batteries are getting old, but don't want to spend $220 on new ones right now. I have had the truck for about six months and don't have any maintenance records and for all I know the IP is original--maybe not because the truck is about to turn 215,000 miles. There are currently Autolite glow plugs in truck. I just ordered a set of motorcraft plugs for the truck and will change them out. One more question. The Wait to Start light is not working and I can hear the glow plug controller clicking for about 8 to10 seconds and then the clicking stops. Is that normal?
More Turbo
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 604
Likes: 2
From: Inman KS
Autolites? There's your problem.
To quote others "If it's not Beru (or Motorcraft), it just won't do.
Change the glow plugs before trying to do any more diagnosing. I make a guess that will solve your issue.
To quote others "If it's not Beru (or Motorcraft), it just won't do.
Change the glow plugs before trying to do any more diagnosing. I make a guess that will solve your issue.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
So--I was able to remove five of the glow plugs last night. The three remaining will be a bit more challenging. While removing the wires from the glow plugs, I found that the plastic "boots" on the wires are degraded and basically just crumbled in my hand. Are replacement boots available? How would simple butt connectors work? I would think that a solid connection is crucial.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
The boots are just insulation. Are the terminals still make strong tight connections to the terminals on the glow plugs? If so, I would just re-insulate them with heat shrink.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Well--I was able to change seven of the eight plugs. How the heck do you change the plug under the turbo? I see how possibly to get a socket on the plug, but how do you get the wire off and then reconnect the wire onto the new GP? I replaced the connectors on two GPs using blue bullet connectors. Is there a trick or tool to insure that the bullet is securely pressed on to the GP? An update on the no start--charged both batteries and plugged in the engine heater last night. The truck started this morning pretty easily. The "Wait to Start" light does not illuminate and I can hear the GP relay cycling. Could one bad GP prevent the "Wait to Start" light from illuminating?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Bypassed the GP controller with a momentary switch last night and now the relay doesn't click and the wait to start light illuminates when the switch is energized. Now I am in control of the GPs! Maybe my imagination, but the truck fired up easier this morning.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
<p>to get the wire off/on the plug under the turbo i use needle nose pliers. and a wrench to take it out.</p><p>and even then that glow plug is a royal pain in the ***.</p><p>if it is starting fine with 7 glow plugs you can leave it as is.</p><p>with the momentary contact switch, only use about 10 seconds glow time and you should be fine. </p><p>under zero you can kick it up to 15 seconds.</p>
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Hard Start Condition
My 1994 IDI TD has developed a hard start condition. After powering up the glow plugs for about 10 seconds and try and start the truck, it fires up and then dies. After that the truck is very hard to start. The WTS light illuminates when I energize the momentary start switch and the water in fuel light illuminates when I crank the engine. GPs are only about 18 months old and I have bypassed the glow plug controller. Could it be bad fuel?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
My 1994 IDI TD has developed a hard start condition. After powering up the glow plugs for about 10 seconds and try and start the truck, it fires up and then dies. After that the truck is very hard to start. The WTS light illuminates when I energize the momentary start switch and the water in fuel light illuminates when I crank the engine. GPs are only about 18 months old and I have bypassed the glow plug controller. Could it be bad fuel?
Last edited by southern-old-bold; Jun 10, 2016 at 02:03 PM. Reason: missed info
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,448
Likes: 5,518
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
My 1994 IDI TD has developed a hard start condition. After powering up the glow plugs for about 10 seconds and try and start the truck, it fires up and then dies. After that the truck is very hard to start. The WTS light illuminates when I energize the momentary start switch and the water in fuel light illuminates when I crank the engine. GPs are only about 18 months old and I have bypassed the glow plug controller. Could it be bad fuel?
with a cold engine before you try to start it, remove the fuel filter and see if it is full or half empty.
if it is not full, you need to replace the return line cap o-rings.
water in fuel light coming on could be from water in the fuel, or from the wire being off the sensor and shorting out on the intake.