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My truck (91 7.3) recently started having a random hard start problem when hot. It is also running rough durring idle sometimes, as well as dying (rare) at idle. My first guess is to change the pump, as it has never been changed, and getting close to the 200k mile mark.
Anything easier I should check before I tackle the pump? I would hate to change the pump and not have eliminated the easy possiblities first.
BTW this is my first diesel and i'm still learning the ropes. I've been reading a lot of old posts and thats what is making me lean toward the pump.
Wouldnt hurt to look over the return line system. They have been known to act strangely when the fuel ciphons back due to a cracked o ring in the return system. you can also sometimes see fuel spotting on the tops of the injectors at the return caps. If you do remove the injection pump, be sure to leave the tower cover on the engine by removing the pump from the rear of the tower cover. You will find 3 5/16, 12 point bolts inside the little cover on the front of the tower cover. Also there are 3 nuts (9/16) wrench ) to remove the pump from the tower and of course all the fuel lines. The pump and the lines will come off the engine looking like a huge butterfly. Leaving the tower cover on the engine will make the timing a whole bunch easier by doing it that way. If Malcolm gets in here, i am sure he will be more apt to tell you about the pump acting up, but it sure sounds it to me.
I'll try and be more descriptive. The rough idle is a rpm flutter, associated with shaking. It started about 3 weeks ago and has been growing in freqency. It has gotten to the "fix it now" point.
I checked the injectors for leaks, but didn't see anything after driving it for about 15 min. I did notice the intake under the pump had a "wet" look to it. The feed line into the pump (center one) was not completly tight, so I snugged it. but that didnt fix anything.
well, after finding a couple of leaky injectors and getting new caps and o rings, it helped, but still had a problem. Just by chance I decided to roll around under it with a creeper and look for anything out of place. I found the rubber hose on the lift pump had a worn spot and was leaking (not a lot just a few drips) BUT after changeing that hose it purrrs like a kitten. (since its a diesel it purrs like a chain smoking brahma bull). Goes to show, should always rule out the easy stuff first. (I seem to have a habit of always suspecting the worse)
Thanks for the pointers guys. BTW. How do you guys clean the little valley the glow plug is in? If I ever change them I don't know how i'm gonna keep from getting crap all in their passage.
I will try my compressor. but this is more of a caked on grime thing. It looks like years of dried oil. I was using B12 on one, but it took a whole can.
The compressor with a long nossle may work, but its gonna be ugly :-)