2000 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

Hey guys...

I am a newb, but I did my searches, and found some info before I posted. On Memorial weekend, we went up to Flagstaff, AZ area from the Phoenix area. The Phoenix area elevation is about 1160ft, and where we went was about 6800ft. We got up and there and the following day, went to start it, and nothing but white smoke out the exhaust. Called a couple of friends, and they suggested taking the intake off the turbo, and hose the turbo down with WD40, and crank away, and eventually, it will start. Well, 1 1/2 cans of WD40, and 2 dead batteries later, we got a jump. But instead of cranking and cranking, the first 3 cranks after the WAIT light goes out sounds like its gonna fire, but all cranks after that it did even chug like it was trying to start. So I kept turning the key ON and OFF and cranking 3-5 cranks after the WAIT light went out, and finally after the 5th time, and more WD40, it finally started.

I read the posts about checking the glow plugs to see if they are good, I tested all of the plugs with my voltmeter, and since the truck was still warm down here in AZ after 4 hours, only 2 plugs gave a high reading. 6 plugs came back with a 1.2-1.5 ohm reading, the other 2 came back with 4.6 and 6.8 Ohm reading. I thought I would let it sit overnight, and re-check in the morning. When I checked the 2 plugs with higher reading, both came back in the morning with 1.5 ohm readings. So, in readlity, accoridng to what I have read, they are still good, but might need to be replaced.

We are going back up to the same place this weekend, and I really dont want to spend a day trying to get the truck started, so if I can eliminate the problem before we go that would be great. My next part to look at is the solenoids for the glow plugs. I see 2 of them. One in which I can identify the YELLOW wires coming off going to the plugs, since the wire harness' on the valve cover have yellow on the ends of the connector, but the other solenoid, looks like it piggy backs into the 1st one. I am new to the diesel industry, so I am learinng more and more with these trucks. I was also told that, if I still had trouble starting it in the high altitude, I could jump the solenoid, but I didnt know which one to jump, so I didnt even attempt it.

Any thoughts as to checking the solenoid, or if I have the problem again, what I might be able to do in order to get it started would be great.

Since this happened on a Sat over the weekend camping, we just made sure we started the truck every few hours and let it warm up. We didnt have any problems firing it up...

Thanks in advance....

Chris

 

Chris......so your out of the high stuff, and the truck is acting nomal in every way? Starts fine, runs ok?......if that's the case, I'd have your local stealership check the barometric sensor.

 

Yes, while in town, it runs and starts fine. Although, we have noticed that we have been loosing fuel mileage. We were getting 18mpg before the trip to the mountains, now were lucky to get 15mpg. So, I dont know what the deal is...

 

something is wrong with the truck (it could very well be the barometric sensor) elevation shoud not effect the starting at all. i live at 5500 ft and have had my truck as high as 11,500 and starts with no problems

 

Same here, I live at 5500 feet, but I have only had mine up to 7150, no difference compared to 900 feet in MO a couple weeks ago.

 

Diesels as a rule are not effected by altitude, as are gas engines. About the only thing effected by altitude in the Super Duty is the information the PCM is getting from the Barometric sensor. I'd get it checked.

 

Another thing, I have never heard of using wd-40 to start a diesel, and I have been driving truck for 17 years.

 

I agree. WD40 becomes gummy after a time. Better to keep it out of the intake....could be bad for the intercooler among other things. Just keep it behind the seat for the door hinges etc..

 

Well it's a common topic during the winter months so it might be a shot here too. Did you find yourself in cold weather at that altitude? Might be the glow plugs or the glow plug relay. The white smoke is a definite giveaway on that one.

 

My rig has resided at 8000ft or higher since it's purchase in Oct. '02. It has seen 13000ft starts and even worse, starts at -10 F without being plugged in. I have to agree with the barometric pressure sensor, then glow plugs(white smoke). Can't really say after that. Best of luck, keep us informed of developments please.

 

We used to go camping up in Clints Well AZ a lot when we lived in Apache Junction and I never had a problem getting started but one time a bunch of us went up and my buddy had a 94 f-350 with the 7.3 and that thing wouldn't start for anything after sitting overnight. The only way that we eventually got it started was to run the generator and have it plugged in for a few hours and squirted a shot of ether in the intake while he was cranking it over. The truck never had a problem while down in the valley but everytime he took it north it did the same thing. He finally had all the glowplugs replaced and that cured it. Hope you find the problem with it as I know it is nice to get out of the heat there in the summer and head north for a weekend.

 

Trouble codes P0670 thru 0683 are glow plug codes see if you have any trouble codes stored

 

Hey Guys,


Thank you for the imput. I maintained about a 6 hour interval starting to make sure we didnt end up like last time, it fired every time, let it run for 15 minutes or so and shut it off. Would normally fire it before bed, first thing in the morning, and once in the afternoon. But now there seems to be another issue. When you are driving, or idling thorugh the terrain, it hangs at idle, you can floor it and it doesnt do anything, the "Service Engine Soon" light comes on. I take my foot off the gas, and wait a few seconds, sometimes more, and then the "Service Engine Soon" light goes out, and I runs nomral. I have also noticed that while traveling, and coasting down a hill, where the engine would be at idle, and then pushing back on the gas pedal, it has done the same thing. while we were idling through the rocks to our campsight, it did this like 3-4 times, and then on the way back from town, coming down a big mountain, i let off the gas and coasted down, and when i went to give it more gas to head back up, it did the same thing, hung at idle, the "Service Engine Soon" light popped on, so I took my foot off the gas, waited a few seconds, and re-applyed my foot to the gas pedal, and I got it back. The truck doesnt "DIE" or stop running, it just hangs at idle speed, and you have to wait.

I will definately have the relays checked, the barometric sensor checked, and also have it checked for any codes that might be resident. We havent had this problem with it hanging at idle and the "Service Engine Soon" light coming on until this past weekend, so this is a new issue...

Thanks again

Chris

 

sounds like your TPS (throttle position sensor) / IVS (idle validation switch) is going out.

 

Could the WD-40 have done any damage to anything?