So I recently inherited a 99 7.3 with 170k miles from a passed family member I was very close with, in his last few years he didn’t drive it much so it sat there alot, and when I found out it was mine of course I started driving it, it drove fine but was a little sluggish, I just blew it off cuz it is a 7.3 of course, then I pulled into a gas station for a snack and the second I pulled in it stalled on me, I pulled it off to the side and tried to crank it again and nothing, cranked and cranked but no start. So I checked the fuses with no luck, so eventually at like 2am I gave up for the night, the next morning I called a tow truck and had it towed home, when it got home I started it and it started right up, so I let it idle to see if it’d shut off again. And it didn’t so I drove around the neighborhood, I went down a few streets and everyone was good. Then I went up a hill to head back to the house and it started stuttering and struggling, I was able to limp it back to the front of my house and instantly I thought it was a fuel pump and fuel filter, so I went out spend $180 and replaced both. And again it started up after, drove around the neighborhood and it seemed to be running smoother and had better throttle response so I thought that was the issue, but yet again when I went back home and hit the hill it did it again. I wasn’t sure what else it could be so I tried the fuses again and I emptied the water separater. Still no luck. I’m no diesel mechanic so at this point I’m lost. Could it be a CPS? If anyone could help I’d greatly appreciate it, don’t wanna keep throwing money at it. Thank you!

 

How's the oil level?
How much fuel in the tank?
Is the tinman nut on the IPR tight?

 

Welcome to FTE. How long have you been driving it? What was then fuel level when you got it? Does the Fuel level indicator on the dash work? When was the last oil and filter changed? It seems as if you can turn a wrench, and we can help if you will give us some info. It does sound fuel related though.

 

thenoil is within operation range though it could use a oil change, it’s got a little under half a tank and I checked the nut yesterday and it seems okay

 

I drove it for about a month before it messed up. It was on E when I got it so I filled it up, the fuel gauge reads right for all I know, doesn’t seem to have any problems, not sure when the oil was changed last. I was planning on doing that here in the next week or so. I was now thinking that the liner in the fuel tank was bad and clogging up the hoses. Which I also am clueless on how to fix that.

 

If it has sat for a while, I would dive off into that tank and do a Hutch and Harpoon. We just did mine this weekend. There are plenty of YouTube video on it and help right here as well. If you can change the fuel pump, you can do this Modification. But you may want to check fuel pressure as while driving it up that hill too. I'm betting the screens in the tank are over whelmed with blockage.

 

this sounds likely, I was looking into it myself some too, since you just did yours do you have a list of parts id need to get? Rains gonna start back soon after today so I gotta try to knock it out fast lol

 

I would plan on it taking all day,. I washed and dried the plastic tank out completely. You should take your time getting all the parts necessary. And really should check fuel pressure while driving. That way you could take care of two birds with one Mod.

 

1 foot of 3/8 tubing.
1) 3/8" compression coupling
1 foot of 3/8" fuel line. Make sure it is rated for diesel fuel.
4) fuel injection hose clamps.
1) Wix inline fuel filter 33972.
1) close quarters tubing cutter..
And depending on what type of tubing you use, possibly a tubing bender.
Sockets; 7 mm, 5/16", 10mm, 13 mm

 

do you think cleaning the filters in the tank will fix the problem for now? Until I can get around to doing the mod

 

If your problem is fuel pressure because of clogged screens and you drop the tank, you should go ahead and do the mod. I dont agree with a lot of the mods people do to their vehicles. This one should be standard. You do not have to use stainless. Aluminum will suffice. And you can form it by hand. It will be worth your while.

 

working on dropping the tank now, I wish I could do the mod for now just don’t have the spare time or money, I will definitely be doing that soon though, thank you for the tips. Hopefully this fixes it

 

What did you find out? Got any pictures?

 

no pics but that might’ve been my fix there. The plastic shower head lookin pick up screen was disintegrated and my 2 little element filters were black. So I put a new pick up screen and I used an air compressor to blow the element filters out, it got dark so I’m putting the tank back in tomorrow

 

How goes it Andy?