How cold is it where you're at? How's the glow plug system?

 

I have not checked glow plugs beyond the relay yet.
I am in southern Missouri and we have been in the fifties.
I am concerned currently with the fact that my fuel bowl is holding so much pressure, and suspect some obstruction of fuel flow out of the bowl. That is my target today. Any advice on that topic? Fuel bowl diagram, maybe? Trick for testing without a gauge? Sous mentioned the standpipe in the bowl having slots that need to be properly aligned. Anybody know about that?

 

The "standpipe" in the center of the fuel bowl is spring loaded and the spring holds a valve shut that is disengaged by the fuel filter. This prevents the engine from getting fuel with no fuel filter in place and if that nipple on the inside of the fuel filter is broke or missing, your engine will not get fuel. IDK how to check fuel pressure without a gauge.

 

I pulled the fuel bowl, checked everything for obstructions. Found the valve inside standpipe to be stuck closed. Tapped it loose with a screwdriver and now it doesnt close all the way. Reinstalled standpipe into fuel bowl and fuel bowl into truck. New fuel filter and cap. Thought that would be it... but still won't start. But at least my fuel bowl is gunk free for now. Moving on to... I don't know yet.

 

The fuel pressure regulator is a spring loaded plunger on the top right of the fuel bowl as you look at it from the front. I believe that the return line attached directly to it. If it is damaged it could cause higher fuel pressure but I know now what kind of trouble that could cause, if any.

 

I agree, I have not had the truck long enough for any maintenance issues to have been caused by me. Have only put about 1k miles on it. Most people seem to think it is fuel related, which makes sense to me, especially given the first issue of lost throttle. I had thought the obdii thing and app would narrow it down some, but it doesn't seem to work. I get alot of great suggestions that I either can't find or can't afford the things needed to do them. I would LOVE to pull the ipr, for example, but can't find a socket to fit it at any of the hardware or auto parts stores nearby. It's driving me crazy. I am pushing $10k into this truck, and wish I had never bought it. I went with the 7.3 because it was, I had heard, the best choice in my pricerange. I drove 3 hours one way to get this truck, 178k miles on it, body in great shape, airbag suspension, 4 wheel drive with locking hubs, flatbed extended cab (or whatever the one with the backwards back doors is called), started right up, drove great. Thought I was getting a good deal... Now I am thinking I got screwed.
Sorry, there I go crying again.
I will try the app again. Not sure on throttle numbers, just know it went up as I pushed on the pedal.

 

Checked the spring loaded doohickey on the return line when it was out, opened easily with a screwdriver and I blew through it from the outside and nothing funky came out, blew through easily, tasted like crap.

 

Throttle starts at zero, goes up smoothly to 100 when floored. Got an rpm reading, hovers between 400 and 500 while cranking. Still no data on cm volts, but adapter volts jumped wildly when cranking. No fuel pressure data.

 

Bill at PowerStrokeHelp is a bit of a nutcase, but there are some good nuggets of information in his ramblings from time to time. I don't like to quote him, but he has a pretty good description of the standpipe and the slots in it that will can misalign and cause an issue. A couple years ago someone on here (wish I could remember his name and find the post) that had done some service to his fuel bowl. Turned out the slots were misaligned and that was restricting the fuel flow. The truck would start, but any throttle input and the truck would stall.

Anyway, at 4:00 into the video below, Bill shows the standpipe and you can see the slots in the standpipe and the internal pieces of the standpipe.


I still think your issue is something in or near the fuel bowl area because you said it started for a brief second after messing with the lid/filter. Although, I am wrong about something everyday and I haven't been wrong yet today...

 

I read that the question "how is your oil level?" was asked and answered. But what about the oil level in the High Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) reservoir? If the Low Pressure Oil Pump is huffing and puffing and can't recharge the reservoir, this engine will not start. This reservoir is in front of fuel bowl and has a small plug that can be opened with an Allen wrench. Normally that rez should be full to within 1-1.5" from top. If it isn't, pour some of your favorite 7.3 engine oil in there and give it a whirl.

 

Thanks Sous, I have seen this guy in other videos I have watched. I did remove the standpipe valve, but the top plunger was stuck in the standpipe, had to tap it out with a screwdriver, after which it did not seat all the way leaving the valve ports on the side slightly open, but it then moved freely. Thought that was it, but it still won't start as before. Fuel pressure regulator was very easy to open.

 

I have heard that before, but forgot amidst all the other advice. Thanks for reminding me, I will check that out now.

 

HPOP res was about an inch below top. I filled it up just in case, but still no change. Almost starts, but not quite.

 

While I had the fuel bowl out I ran the pump for a moment into a container to check for water but realized I don't know what to look for. It just looked like diesel fuel to me. **** yellow in a white container how it should look?

 

Do you have shelter from weather to work on your vehicle. Forecast is calling for rain Saturday. My cousin said he may be able to come as well. I carry a Motorcraft Cam Positioning Sensor in my glovebox. Can someone start a list of items we should take on this trip?