You possibly have a bad key switch on column which could give you fits. Especially since now you are having two electrical problems. Which could be related.

 

Yeah cause sometimes when I'd kill it cause I'm just learning a manual tranny I couldn't get anything to happen when I'd turn the key. Then eventually it'd give power and crank it over. Do the glow plugs only work with the key on? The motor turns over though even though the glow plugs don't work. That wouldn't keep the injection pump from working would it?

 

Normally the glow plugs only work with the key on and with the engine below a certain temterature. The glow plugs are independant from the injection system.

 

What you have is a mechanical pump with a electric shutoff valve. You must have power to the shutoff valve or it just will not start (no fuel) to fuel pump

 

You can not hear the fuel shut off solenoid click from inside the cab.
My hearing is not to good anymore, I am doing good to hear it with my head under the hood near the IP.

The clutch interlock switch is probably your no crank problem that suddenly gives you power to start the engine.

The early style glow plug system is great when it is working correctly.
But it is a nightmare to trouble shoot when it starts to malfunction.

I usually recommend switching to manual glow plugs when it goes bad.
The only problem with manual glow plugs is if other people drive your truck.

 

Well the button for my glow plugs is the rubber one under the dash. Does everyone have that? I'm getting fuel pumped to the injection pump. Just nothing after that is happening. Absolutly no fuel is leaving the injection pump. Still didn't try the 12v idea yet but will when time permits.

 

god damnit Josh you stayed logged in this is 77fordf-150 and the comment above is too.

 

Hey thought I'd pop in. I hope to keep this thread running, because I am having the same problem. I recently had a fine running truck till four days ago. I started having issues when tring to start after about hour to hour and half. Periods longer ie... 2 or more hours the truck started fine. When it would'nt start I would have to crank it for 20 minutes or more in intervals of 20 seconds with breaks 2 mintues or more. All of a sudden after a long trip into IL to pick up a box it refuses to start. I read about the return line issue, and mine where grey, so I replaced everything above the engine including the two per injector o-rings. I also crimped off the return line, this is new hose too, from the fuel filter to the injector because of the post I had been reading. I visually checked the lift pump output. This looked O.K. front side and back side of the filter. I then tried cracking open the injectors and cranked the engine to bleed off possible air in the lines; Still no vroom vroom. I then read this thread and did try the 12v jump the to the FSS, it is clicking when power applied and removed. I also am experiencing almost no fuel flow out the line at the injectors. The truck still just cranks with no hope of life. I am new to diesels but am fluent with gassers so I hope you can give me some hope!

 

Is it the original IP? About how many miles?

 

I wonder if you got some bad fuel on your trip, if the FSS is working, than a clogged filter could cause the lack of fuel at the injectors.

Will it run at all right now?

 

the fuel out of the lines is really not that much so don't think that a large spray is going to jump out at ya the best way is to crack all lines and just turn over till you see bubbles coming out of the nuts crank and take a look tighten that nut up and go to the next this my have to be done a couple of times so make sure the batts are up cause if the rpms are to low it will not start

luc to ya

 

bigredtruckmi - I would assume its the original IP. There are bolt that have paint on them, makes me think that its had work done to it. The truck has about 105K.

David85 - Did'nt fill-up on the trip. Filled both tanks at a station I've been using for atleast two fill-ups. No it will not run at all right now.

By the way its a '86 F-350 4x2 crew cab 6.9L 4-spd

dwaymar - I wasn't excepecting a big spray but this was like maybe 4 to 10 psi. I've pulled lines off fuel injected gas motors with 40 psi and this looked nothing like what coming out of the injector lines.

A buddy of mine is coming over Sat. he works on diesels at his work. They have a truck with the same motor. He's not real familar with it but atleast he has more exprience then me. He said to try a little ether, I'm reluctant. I tried WD-40, saw someone else in a post say he did this, and still got no start but the batts are getting a little tried now.

 

low batts will cause one not to start as long as the glow plugs are disconnected then a little starting fluid will not hurt as long as the engine is turning over than small spurts will not harm it

 

Change all fuel related filters before you start swapping parts. Pull the fuel line off near the tank and make sure the sock isn't stopped up. Drain the line from tank to main fuel filter as well.

Diesels are very sensitive to partially plugged filters. Partial flow isn't enough.

 

I haven't check actual fuel pressure but there is enough flow, at both sides of the filter, to make me think the lift pump is O.K. I tried connecting my battery charger for 12 hours at a 2amp charge and then switched it to "75amp start" along with jumping it from another running car. Cranks pretty quick now!!! I just can believe this truck went from running to stone dead in four days.