proud owner of a 1996 ford powerstroke. the old girl has carried me 250,000 miles and now went to start it last night and all'd it do was crank and smoke and wouldn't start whats the deal ?

 

Check the fuel pump that would be the first thing I would look at we had a semi that did it to me last fall and thats what it turned out to be

 

What color smoke? Is it cold or kinda cool where your at? White smoke when cranking is usually either the GPR or glow plugs. Try cycleing the glow plugs twice and then crank the engine over

 

hello fellow friends, ok I shut off the old rig for the night another trouble free operating day. went to bed, woke up the next morning the timer was just shutting off so it had been plugged in for approx 3 hours or so in about 30 deg. weather sitting inside my shop. got in it, cycled the plugs twice and began to grind on it for like 10 secound intervals, don't wanna cook the 385 dollar starter. any how, it acks like it just wants to pop cranks over extreemly fast but just pumps out a wild amount of greyish diesel smoke from the tail pipe. so, I took off the valve covers unplugged all the glo plugs and took a test light to them last i knew theis worked on the older diesels, anyway, all the glo plugs appear to be in working condition, so i then went to the power source, I made sure i had power at my celenoid for the glo-plugs and there is so i took a screw driver and crossed the two terminals or the celenoid- diode whatever you wanna call it. and then got in it really fast hit the key and it still did the same thing.
It hasn't had the cam- positioning sensor replaced yet but i'm not sure what to do at this point and time and help is appreciated, thankyou much. Powerjoker

 

i would go with cam positionin sensor if its bad it wont' hit a lick but at some point you should have had a Check engine light if it was goin bad

 

Might try a tiny shot of starting fluid and see if it will fire. I know this isn't the best way to start a diesel.

My friends old diesel used to do this and we just used to give it a tiny shot of starting fluid and it would start everytime. I know he had something wrong with it but he was broke and ended up getting rid of it.

 

NO STARTING FLUID!

 

It's also possible that your high pressure oil reservoir is allowing enough oil to drain out, that you can't get the injectors to fire until it has cranked for a long time. You can check this by removing the cover. If the level is low, add oil to within 1/4" of the top, replace the cover, and let 'er rip. If she starts right up, you're on to something.

 

NO STARTER FLUID! Just had my g/ps replaced. All tested great with the tester but when pulled, they were all shot. I replaced the selenoid and the CPS. It's always good to have a spare anyway. Sounds like one of those two are about to go. PSD's don't react well to starter fluid. It's bad news.
Winter time and PowerStrokes don't get along. (Like trying to have a friendly relationship with an ex-wife!)

 

Check your RMP's when you are cranking the engine. If the needle doesn't move (about 200 RPM's), then it's your CPS. Also, check the #18 fuse in the engine bay to check if it's blown. If so, then it could be the fuel heater in the fuel filter bowl. You may want to unplug it to see if it starts. It is located on the drivers side of the fuel filter housing. There are 2 connectors, one in the middle and the other one is below it. You want to unplug the one that is in the middle of the bowl.

I still would'nt rule out the GPR since they are prone to failing quite often. Mine did the same to me a few months back and it turned out to be the GPR.

Hope this helps
-Ariel

 

My vote is for weak batteries. Even if it seems to crank fast enough, if the batteries are weak it will not start.

 

hey, i finally got it all figured out, took it to my hometown shopp and diagnosed it, the celenoid i put on was faulty and not allowing enough current to cross but there was current there just not enough to heat the glo plugs, put on the new celenoid and she would fire but just not take off then i rechecked my glo plugs after a weak of either and yupper sure enough there was five of the lil buggars burnt up but i do appreciate all the help you guys gave me and i hope in the future i can halp yas out also thanks much powerjoker II