I've just bought a 96 F350 and drove it home for 400 miles without any problems. After sitting overnight it took a while before got started again. I was advised to change the glow plugs and the glow plug relay and so I did. While dirty, I replaced the starter, fuel filter and oil. Then I tried to start it and no luck. No smoke is coming out of the pipe while cranking, no tach movement, no humming noise from the fuel pump. Glow plug system works and there is fuel in the filter housing. What did I do wrong. Please Help.

 

Try checking the fuses under the hood on the drivers side behind the airbox. Sounds like you may have blown the fuse for the computer, which would explain the symptons that you are having. Let us know.

Max

 

I did check the fuses(outside and inside) and they are fine. A mechanic friend sugested that I somehow got air in the fuel lines past the filter and there is no pressure and that's why I don't hear that humming noise when I turn the key and wait for the glow plugs to heat. Could that be? and how do I fix it

 

I think the tach oughta still move when cranking though. You can try bleeding the air off at the schrader fitting on the side of the fuel filter housing (best to do while cranking). Sounds like an electrical problem to me though maybe even a CPS. Hopefully someon else could shed a little light on the subject.

Max

 

Sounds like low batteries to me. Dead/low batteries will crank the motor, but not fast enough to register rpm or to fire the injectors.
I'd check the batts first.
Mike

 

if the tach doesnt move while cranking, i suspect the CPS. 90 bucks at international 340 at the stealer

 

oops, double post.

 

I'll go get new batteries and will let you know. Thanks for the help so far.

 

Did you also replace the oil filter and if so did you prime it? You might want to remove the plug on top of the high pressure oil pump and see if the oil level is within an inch from the top. If the reservoir drained back there isn't any oil to operate the injectors. If the oil filter wasn't primed you have to fill it before oil can be pumped to the hpop.

 

I did prime the oil filter, used rotella syntetic 5-30,kept the engine worm,will check the oil level in the high pressure pump. For now I'm stuck with heavy snow here in NE Ohio and will call it the day cause I don't have a garage and it's no fun working outside.
Thanks.

 

You don't need to prime the oil filter to get it to fire up and run the injectors. Did you completely drain the fuel filter bowl when you changed the filter? Air could and would have gotten in that way and it would take a while to start. But if all the fuses are OK then you should have an RPM indication when starting.Also, do you have fuel treatment(anti-gel) in your tanks? It is cold enough here in Cleveland to gel the fuel up.

 

Sounds like the CPS, but in my opinion your throwing parts at the truck to get it going. Do you have a friendly Ford dealer that can give you a hand and get the truck in? Might be money ahead to run it through the dealer.

 

I drained the fuel filter about 2/3 down and filled it up with Howe's antigel and also treated the tanks. My day job has been truck driving for the past 10 years. I own a 2000 KW W900L and I'm familliar with winterizing. I'm puzzled because the only electrical wires I've handeled were the ones related to glow plugs and the starter. The batteries are old but I kept them charging and got several good crankings out of them before loosing the charge. I will change them tomorrow.

 

i have a 95 ford superduty powerstroke, i'm having problems with it starting, it will only start if i plug it in everynight even in summer, i also blow smoke at 2500rpm and also blows smoke going down hills, nobody can seem to help me, hope you can

 

subtow, sounds like you have a glow plug problem, none seem to be working. Having to plug it in to start smoothly all the time, means your glow plugs must not be working. Have you replaced the glow plug relay? Do you get the wait to start light? If not it may be the relay. If you get the WTS then your glow plugs may be out. Check all your fuses first though, just in case.

Blowing smoke at 2500 rpm - is that steady state or under boost accelerating? It will blow white smoke if under boost and accelerating - the fuel control is dumping excess fuel into the comb. chamber and the unburnt stuff comes out as white exhaust. Steady state then I don't know what to say. Does it stop doing this once the truck is warmed up. If so, then it goes back to the glow plug problem.