2000 7.3L Rough Starting
#1
2000 7.3L Rough Starting
My Capt. here at the fire station has his in-laws' F350. Its a 2000 DRW with 81,500 original miles. His in-laws hardly ever drive it anymore so its time to let her go. He has it now to get it all cleaned up nice and ready for Craigslist.
But it's getting extremely difficult to start when cold. He has to go out there and work it for at least 15 minutes before it will idle on its on. It will start and then eventually die down. Then he will turn it over for a good while until it finally, yet slowly, comes to life. This goes on for many cycles. Once the temp. needle starts to move, it's warm enough to idle smooth as a brand new sewing machine.
Is this just the glow plugs? Seems to me once it will crank a time or two, there would be enough heat in there to allow it to start and run more easily. But that's certainly not the case.
But it's getting extremely difficult to start when cold. He has to go out there and work it for at least 15 minutes before it will idle on its on. It will start and then eventually die down. Then he will turn it over for a good while until it finally, yet slowly, comes to life. This goes on for many cycles. Once the temp. needle starts to move, it's warm enough to idle smooth as a brand new sewing machine.
Is this just the glow plugs? Seems to me once it will crank a time or two, there would be enough heat in there to allow it to start and run more easily. But that's certainly not the case.
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#8
Here is my cold-start thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...questions.html
It contains the advice above, along with more details of how to test the glow plug system, advice on oil, the block heater, and mention of out-of-season or old fuel.
Not mentioned in that thread -- and worth checking out in your case -- would be water in the fuel. Sounds like the truck has been sitting for a while. Only 81K on it? It's barely broken in! The vultures will be circling when it goes on Craigslist.
ETA: Crank for no more than 20 seconds, and then wait at least 20 seconds before trying again. That will reduce the odds of burning up the starter.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...questions.html
It contains the advice above, along with more details of how to test the glow plug system, advice on oil, the block heater, and mention of out-of-season or old fuel.
Not mentioned in that thread -- and worth checking out in your case -- would be water in the fuel. Sounds like the truck has been sitting for a while. Only 81K on it? It's barely broken in! The vultures will be circling when it goes on Craigslist.
ETA: Crank for no more than 20 seconds, and then wait at least 20 seconds before trying again. That will reduce the odds of burning up the starter.
#9
Glow plugs, strong batteries and 5W40 should fix that. You can check the GP ohms at that UVCH connectors on the outside of the VC's. The two outer pins on each side of each plug feed to the glow plugs. I can't remember what ohms you should have but someone here probably does. I'm thinking something less that 2 is what you need as a maximum. And, check function of GPR like timmiyboy said.
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#11
Well, that puts me looking at the GPR, glow plugs, and related wiring including UVCHs. Or thick oil. First pick is the GPR; break out your meter and test it.
#12
Well, just a huge thanks to everyone here for your help. At the fire station today, I had a volt meter in my truck. Thanks to YouTube, we found out how to test the GPR for voltage. It was dead as a hammer.
CarQuest here in our territory had one and with the firefighter discount, it was less than $50. Got it installed, let the plugs warm up a few seconds, and the truck fired right up.
I can only imagine how mad he would have been had he changed out the glow plugs only to find out that was not the problem.
Thanks again.
CarQuest here in our territory had one and with the firefighter discount, it was less than $50. Got it installed, let the plugs warm up a few seconds, and the truck fired right up.
I can only imagine how mad he would have been had he changed out the glow plugs only to find out that was not the problem.
Thanks again.