I have a 1992 7.3 idi and I've had for 3 months and it won't start at all I've been using starting fluid for awhile since my glow plugs relay switch is bad but I'll spray the filter and it will crank crank and crank but won't start it kinda did this to me last night but it actually ended up starting I am extremely confused on what's going on it's had no issues until now.

 

Sounds like some or all your Glow plugs are not working.
Or maybe a problem with the GP Controller.

To test the Gp`s, remove each wire connected to them. Use one of those
test lights that looks like an Ice pick. Connect the Alligator Clip to 12V, then
put the pokie end to the tip of each GP. The light turns on, they are good.
Another way is to Ohm them. Think they should be less than 5 Ohms.

Ether is not the best thing to use to start the engines.

You can shove a Harbor Freight heat Gun down the intake, and that will start them.
Be sue to remove the element, or you might have plenty of fire and heat to start it.
Got me excited one time when I forgot to remove it.


Charlie

 

sounds to me like a two part problem. bad glow plugs/controller, and air intrusion causing the fuel filter to drain overnight.

 

Use a clear acrylic fuel hose between the fuel pump and fuel filter to check for bubbles in the fuel. You can even move the clear acrylic hose between the tank/FSV, FSV/fuel pump, and fuel filter/IP to ID where your air intrusion is coming from.

 

Charlie, I own a 93 F-350 crew cab with the IDI 7.3 with a Banks turbo. At this time the truck is showing 137K on the miles. This old truck is a hard starter at anything south of 65F unless it's on the plug-in. I had the GP's changed out and the relay. Still the same issue. A friend told me it may be an issue with low oil pressure on cranking. It turns over plenty fast is it seems. When it's been plugged in for an hour and a half, it'll fire on the first revolution. Any bits of wisdom for me on that?

 

what brand glow plugs were put in?
my bet is autolite, and they burned out after first start.
or the glow plug controller is not connected.
firing rite up after 1 1/2 -2 hours plugged in is a sure fire sign the glow plugs are not working.

 

I'm not sure on the brand of glow plugs. One of my boys ordered them and we ha a shop install them for us.