Hi,

I have a '94' 7.3L IDI Turbo and I can't get it to start. I wanted to be sure it was the GlowPlugs before i forked over the money for nothing.

It'll turn over just fine, but won't crank. The plugs are cycling normally around 10 seconds. While it's turning over smoke is bellowing out of the exhaust like i've never seen before.

I ran the batteries down one day trying to crank and got another diesel to jump me. After trying a bit it started. Once running it runs like a champ.

Would that be the Glowplugs? My inlaws think I'm getting too much fuel because of the large diesel smell when trying to start.

Any Ideas?

 

Glow plugs will give you the diesel smell, due to the fact that there isn't enough preheating to get the fuel to fire. You crank it long enough, it builds up heat and will eventually fire. Do a resistance test on the glow plugs to see if they are ok, also check voltage when it's cycling to be certain they are even getting powered.

 

Thanks alot for the reply, it's buggin the crap outta me. I'm using the block warmer now to just see if that helps verify my situation.

What you said is exactly what I thought too. Thanks again.

 

Anyone know where the controller is located at? I've tried to find it but i'm really not sure what it is i'm looking for.

I tried new glow plugs but nothing. I've put a test light on one of the wires and to the positive terminal and it lights up. Still not starting. Unless I jump it and turn it over like crazy.

If I pull a glow plug out and keep it plugged in, when i turn it on, will the glow plug glow?

 

did the problem just start all of a sudden or has it been a long time comming, becuase it could be a couple things with the glow plugs or the pump,

 

Don't check your glow plugs like that, they must be grounded anyway.

Unplug the wire from it, and use a multitester to check for continuity between the terminal on the end of the glow plug and the hex. If there is no continuity, the glow plug is bad.

The way you used a test light, if I understand you right, is just showing current to the glow plug.

The controller can go bad and fry your glow plugs.

On my 1984 6.9 the controller is in the top rear of the left head, but I don't know if your's is. Most guys bypass the controller after it starts acting up, that is what I did by adding a momentary push-button, see this link:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/k2pilot/G...%20diagram.jpg

Al

 

On my 91 the glow plug relay is behind the intake manifold under the air filter housing. I think its the same on yours. As far as solving your starting problem, When mine is plugged in on a fairly warm day it will start easily without the glow plugs. So if it starts after being plugged in for a few hours I'd say your on the right track with the glow plugs.

 

Clint,
Disconnect each glow plug from the harness, then you connect the continuity tester clip to the positive battery terminal.
Touch the probe to the connector of the glow plug.
If it lights the glow plug is either good or shorted.

A better way is use a multimeter.
You are looking for a 2 ohm resistance.
Any more or less and the glow plug is bad or weak.

 

Make sure you test all the plugs first. If they are original, they would probably be going soon. The average resistance is 2ohms. But not many meters are good at the low measurment. You can also use a simple light bulb. One side to positive and (Disconecting the glow plug wire) touch the tope of the glow plug. If it blub lights, it's good. I had 3 out of 8 glow plugs go bad on my '93. She would start after too much cranking. And got worse in the winter. But the glow plug controller will act like normal. Always check the cheapest items first.

 

A '94 IDI turbo diesel has the glow plug relay (controller) on the valve cover. Not sure which side off the top of my head. There is a plastic cover over it as well that is just clipped on.

The non turbo IDI have it at the back centre under the air cleaner housing.

The glow plugs make the difference between not starting and starting. Simple as that.

Even if 2 glow plugs are bad, you will have a hell of a time starting it.
Very easy to test, as described in above posts.
As well, don't replace with cheapo parts, use original motorcraft (NOT motormaster) parts for teh glow plugs.

 

Ok I know this is old but here's the whole mess I went through.

I first replaced 6 of my glow plugs minus the 2 under the turbo....I curse too much during any attempt I made at those 2.

Ok after playing with the tester a bit the glow plugs finally began to work some time after my last post in July here.

Then one morning in mid September I headed to the truck around 7am and back to square one. Nothing but turning over(Mind you that from July-Oct I've replaced 2 of the outragously priced Injector lines). Didn't make it to work that day....*Ford owes me 8hrs pay *.

Well I replaced the fuel pump since that was the first thing I suspected. Nothing changed. Confused....angry....tools thrown. I decided it had to be the glow plugs or the controller. Well I still had those 2 new glow plugs i never used. So i began testing again. I got the the 4th glowplug on driver side closest to firewall.

Low and behold the tip was burnt off....MotorCraft brand incase you wondered, the new one. Replaced and still nothing. Now I finally got it figured out that my controller had to have gone nuts on me. Well no time to figure out that because work called first and this being my only means of transportation I did the horrible thing of using starting fluid. Spraying squirt tiny tiny amount as possible through the air filter system.

Worked just fine. After warmed up had no trouble starting. Well did this for about a week or 2. Then I had to get my company truck serviced. It's a 7.3 PSD ..PSD sucks in my opinion. E550 7.3 PSD had way less power from the 3 2003 models i drove. Anyway the servicing guy told me where the controller was.

I went home that friday and decided to try the bypass when I realized the connections on the controller were loose. So I tightened them with no positive results.
Knowing connections sometimes need to be cleaned i decided that may be the problem.

Well let's just say I was very absent minded and forgot to disconnect the batteries. I slipped with my ratchet/socket and fried my socket ...*@#$% Luckily controller was fine.

Well just to test my luck I decided to try it. OMG it worked from a completely cold start. It starts better than ever now with no assist.

 

I had a problem with my 88, it seems there was a corrosion problem with the power wires on the controller. Several times I had to loosen and clean them and reinstall them - no problem. Glad you got your scooter fixed and working.

 

My 7,3 1989 is a kind of hard to start when it is cold.

I did the lamptest on the glow plugs, found one bad, will that create a big startingproblem? I was thinking maybe I am getting air in my fuelsystem somewhere. Temperature over here now is just above the freezing point.
After the first start every day, it seems to be allright.
I could do a ohm test as well, but if the lamp test is ok, it should speak for itself?
Please advise.
Snubber