Hi guys, new to the site and looking for some help, I have a 96 f350 powerstroke 7.3. I dont drive it everday but but I do use it at least once a week, last time i drove it it was fine, it has devloped to problems from just sitting there i guess, I went to leave in it and it started up started off and it started hard shifting( press the gas hard and wont shift, let off gas and shifts into next gear) automatic) so I went and bought some lucas to put in it and went to home depot. go into home depot come out truck wont start (it has never not started) I sprayed starting fluid in it it fires up (yes i know better then to put starting fluid in it I didnt know that at the time) i Ifigured it was the filter so i went to the parts house got a new one (left truck running) went home put it in. truck starts back up seems to run ok, go down the street.. still hard shifting and now has crappy power, I park the truck and do some work, i go back out and try to leave truck wont start again, so i do the same thing as last time, truck starts i go to rev it up it will only go between 1 and 2k and white smokes like crazy when your reving it but idols fine. I have no idia what to do I have never had a Diesel till this one so I have no idia where to start or what happend to it. we are getting ready to move and i need my truck this is a horrable time for this to happen, can you guys please tell me what i need to fix, some buddies of mine said the turbo may be bad???? Thanks steve 214-718-7285

 

You can check the turbo by removing the intake boot and inspecting the turbo. I don't think that is your problem though. It sounds like it may be electrical, maybe pcm? How long has it been since the trans fluid was changed? Fuel filter? Try a CPS. That causes most of our problems. You can get a CPS here:

http://catalog.powerstrokeshop.com/p...catalogid=3660

I ma not the pro here just giving my .02 worth. Good luck.

BTW Welcome to FTE. The greatest place on earth.

 

I just changed the fuel filter so thats not it, Where is the CPS located? That would cause it to run and or not run and smoke? electrical? I was reading on here about the injectors???

 

I would try cps it under waterpump passenger side held on one bolt 10 mm.

 

Welcome to FTE, you came to the right place to get help.

The No-start condition sounds like a CPS that's about to fail. You can get them from the dealer, $25, very cheap. Be sure to tell them you want it for a 97...it's the same part as yours. If you order one for the earlier years they will charge you $150 for ot. BTW: Get 2 and keep one in the glove box. They can totally fail without warning.

Take a look here for a picture of the CPS location. It's about half way down the page, click on it for a larger pict.

http://www.forgotton.net/mods/cps.html

 

Does the OD lite flash on the end of the shift lever when the trans is acting up. The hard shift may be caused by the RABS (rear antilock brake sensor) It's on the top of the rear differential. Remove it, clean the crud off (magnetic), inspect the ring gear inside the diff housing for damage or missing teeth. Replace the RABS and see if it returns. The RABS is also known as a VSS (vehicle speed sensor) It tells the tranny when to shift.

 

Will the CPS also fix the smoking problem and no rev problem? the abs light has been on since i got the truck does that have to do with the shifting problem? Thanks!

 

More than likely.

 

well that was not it, next ???

 

sweet! now it wont start at all!

 

well i replaced the cps it cranked off and ran a little better but was doing the same stuff, i shut if off went to start it again now it wont run at all, if i spray starting fluid it it it will run for a sec and die

 

Did you replace the CPS or clean the RABS? If you replaced the CPS does your tach move when it's cranking? If not you have a problem with your new one or the connector may not be on right.

 

You need to check your fuel pressure. It's a tire valve looking thing on the side of the fuel filter housing.

 

You beat me to the last post. Check to see if your tach moves when cranking. Don't use starting fluid on these engines. It can cause a violent explosion in the combustion chamber and result in serious damage to the engine.

 

What should the fuel pressure be when cranking the engine over? At least 50/55psi when running.