Hard to turn over
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7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
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Hard to turn over
I have a 1992 f350 dually with the 7.3liter. As of late it has been difficult to turn the diesel over and start it. Just put in new batteries so there is plenty of juice. The engine will turn over for 5-8 seconds, then immediately slow down and then completely stop as if the batteries were dying. Connections are tight and clean. I'm guessing I have a bad starter motor that must be overheating or shorting when power is applied and the starter has to crank. Am I on track here or am I missing something obvious?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Northeastern Pa - USA
Hard to turn over
I'd venture the guess of the starter problem is pretty close or does it crank a little bit and stop cranking all together. If it just cranks a little bit and comes to quick stop, there could be water in a cylinder
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7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
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Hard to turn over
The problem has become progressively worse over the last month. You start to crank the engine-it turns over several times then slows right down to a complete stop. As of yesterday-the starter is frozen. I got underneath and tapped the starter with a hammer but that will only give it a few revolutions and then frozen again. There is no water in the oil or vice versa and the thing runs perfect once you get it started. How difficult is it to replace the starter. I see only 3 bolts but the one on top looks like it might be difficult to get to. Any suggestions or am I better off just taking it to Ford?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,162
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From: House Springs, MO
Hard to turn over
Only take it to Ford if you cut off you arm and leg first. That top bolt is a pain to get to, but getting it off will do wonders for your dry skin (read - lots of oil on your arms). Take it off and go to Autozone and get one of their lifetime replacement starters, but only after testing both the old one and the new one.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
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what was the problem
hello this is brandon, i live in new york and its starting to get cold here, and as of a few days ago my truck has been having the same problems that yours was having. cranks for a few seconds then, acts like the batteries are getting low i wait a few seconds then it does the same thing over again. i just bought two new batteries and cleaned all the conections, that did not help either! the question that i have is did you replace the starter and was that the problem or was it something else. im trying to take the easiest route, and save my self some money, this truck has cost me enough already!!! any help would be greatly appreciated
thank you for a fast reply
brandon
thank you for a fast reply
brandon
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7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
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Brandon,
The starter was the problem. I replaced it with a new one from Ford and problem was solved. I used the Mitsui {sp?} starter which was the same as the old one. Cost me $300. Evidently, the starter needs to turn over the engine at least 100rpm in order to start immediately. It was a little hard to get the top nut on the starter but overall it took me about an hour to get the old one out and new one in. The starter may be the culprit on yours too if you've replaced the batteries and cleaned all the connections well. I have to hold my key in the start position for about 1 or 2 seconds now and the thing fires right up! Before it took me two tries of 6-8 seconds apeice to get it to start. Good Luck.
John
The starter was the problem. I replaced it with a new one from Ford and problem was solved. I used the Mitsui {sp?} starter which was the same as the old one. Cost me $300. Evidently, the starter needs to turn over the engine at least 100rpm in order to start immediately. It was a little hard to get the top nut on the starter but overall it took me about an hour to get the old one out and new one in. The starter may be the culprit on yours too if you've replaced the batteries and cleaned all the connections well. I have to hold my key in the start position for about 1 or 2 seconds now and the thing fires right up! Before it took me two tries of 6-8 seconds apeice to get it to start. Good Luck.
John
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Northeastern Pa - USA
john...glad you got the problem fixed...dont forget the starters on the diesels are VERY sensitive to overcranking. Always check the preheat system prior to cold weather. Good glow plug system will eleviate starter problems. In cold weather I always cycled the glow plugs more than once before cranking.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Québec
Hi bilder,
Do you have only the glow plug cycle or you also have the engine crand a couple turn? I was wondering if cycling the glow reduce the time they come on after.
I did try this a couple of time, but was relunctant to do it because it uses so much power, and I need all the power when it is very cold, like minus 10. But i will give it a try again.
Anybody else tried this before?
Do you have only the glow plug cycle or you also have the engine crand a couple turn? I was wondering if cycling the glow reduce the time they come on after.
I did try this a couple of time, but was relunctant to do it because it uses so much power, and I need all the power when it is very cold, like minus 10. But i will give it a try again.
Anybody else tried this before?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Québec
Where i go, sometime the nearest electrical plug is 50 miles away
I have to bring a generator to warm up the engine. But if i do not bring one, and i get cut pants down, I have to hope I have enough juice in the batteries.
In the worst case, we have to use a roll of toilet paper soaked in fuel in a can, light it up and put it under the oil pan, protect it from the wind and wait. But you have to do this before you get the batteries empty.
Another trick i heard was to light up a rag of fuel in the intake, but this I never tried, and it is kind of scary. I did tried a propane torch at minus 30e F, but it did not warm the engine enough and I ran out of batteries. I was lucky a guy came in with a generator, pluged it in, waited an hour, and started up .
Cheers,
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
I dunno why the top bolts on these starters are such a pain in the butt! I keep a deepwell socket and a perfect length extension reserved for that from now on.
The starter I dropped into mine recently came from Kragen with a lifetime warrantee. As long as I own the truck - if it goes out I can get a new one free. It cost $149.oo after the core charge.
Many other auto parts dealers have similar prices and warrantees, the one thing to look at closely is wether or not that have outlets in areas you expect to be in. Some only cover half of the country, others have shops all the way across the USA.
The starter I dropped into mine recently came from Kragen with a lifetime warrantee. As long as I own the truck - if it goes out I can get a new one free. It cost $149.oo after the core charge.
Many other auto parts dealers have similar prices and warrantees, the one thing to look at closely is wether or not that have outlets in areas you expect to be in. Some only cover half of the country, others have shops all the way across the USA.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 409
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From: New York
The reason for those top bolts being so difficult is due to the way enginers are paid to design things. For evry bolt that is easy to get out there is no bonus paid, for evry bolt that is semi dificult there is a mild bonus paid, and for evry bolt that takes creative thinking to get in and out they recive a very nice bonus.
On a more seriuos note i dont no why but evry starter excpet for a starter on a gmc pick up truck that i have ever replaced had one or two bolts that were very hard to get to. The worst is a Agco allis 8745 tratcor that I have the back bolt was so hard to try and get back on I never did put it on. So far no ill effects but its proablly not the best for it.
On a more seriuos note i dont no why but evry starter excpet for a starter on a gmc pick up truck that i have ever replaced had one or two bolts that were very hard to get to. The worst is a Agco allis 8745 tratcor that I have the back bolt was so hard to try and get back on I never did put it on. So far no ill effects but its proablly not the best for it.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
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got the new starter
hello again, the starter went last friday and i finally got the new starter and put it in, and even after it sat for 4 days the thing fired right up the way its supposed to, i was very impressed!!! ever since i owned the truck it has never started that easy! thanks for the help with the problem it is greatly appreciated
brandon
brandon
