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1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Hard starting issues

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Old Jul 25, 2019 | 09:50 PM
  #1  
Tristan Eidick's Avatar
Tristan Eidick
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Hard starting issues

Hey guys. My 1997 7.3 with 165000 miles has progressively gotten harder to start. At 100 degrees it will crank for a long time till it fires. Placed a gauge to measure fuel pressure and I'm getting around 25 to 35 psi at idle. At WOT it is till around the same. Truck still bulls like a bull and runs good but starts like a freight train. Any help is appreciated. Fuel pump is around 3 years old and doesn't lean into the valley. Thanks.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2019 | 09:27 AM
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Jarrett Campbell
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When is the last time the glow plugs were changed? How fast is the engine turning while you're trying to start it? Batteries fresh?

Also, when was the last oil change and what does your fuel filter look like? That fuel pressure while running seems a bit low.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2019 | 09:58 AM
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My batteries are only a few months old trucks pins the same speed that it always does it's only the last month or so that it's gotten really hard to start new oil thousand miles ago new fuel filter yesterday. glow plugs as far as I know our original but with very low fuel pressure I think it's something else, I got new plugs just haven't changed them.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2019 | 11:58 AM
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At 100F you should crank right up without a glow. I do. In fact, I unplug my GP relay in the summer. Hell, mine even started on one battery without a glow when I was screwing around with it.

What CCA are your batts? These trucks spec two 850s. Ever replaced the starter? The late Super Duty unit is easiest upgrade b

My money is on dirty cables or connections and/or a weak starter. Knottyrope has an excellent thread on targeting battery corrosion, both seen and unseen.

30psi cranking is within spec I recall
 
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Old Jul 26, 2019 | 01:07 PM
  #5  
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Jarrett Campbell
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He said it was 25-35 at idle....
 
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Old Jul 26, 2019 | 02:05 PM
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Oops, missed that.

I would try a real gauge if you were using a tire one.

There is some screen on the FPR I think that can be cleaned.
 
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