Hard Starting Diesel
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Hard Starting Diesel
I have a 1991 diesel truck that has ran fine but has slowly started to act up on me.
First I noticed it was progressivly getting harder to start, I noticed diesel fuel on the top of the engine. I took it to a shop, they told me about a known problem with the fuel injector seals, so I got them to replace the injectors. Still had the hard time starting but now its to the point where i have to roll it down a hill and pop the clutch. If I leave the block heater on for 4 hours the engine starts without a problem, on the first crank. But if I try and start it after it has sat overnight it goes right back into stubborn mode. Once started and warmed up it will start on the first crank. I sure would like to know someones opinion on this.
First I noticed it was progressivly getting harder to start, I noticed diesel fuel on the top of the engine. I took it to a shop, they told me about a known problem with the fuel injector seals, so I got them to replace the injectors. Still had the hard time starting but now its to the point where i have to roll it down a hill and pop the clutch. If I leave the block heater on for 4 hours the engine starts without a problem, on the first crank. But if I try and start it after it has sat overnight it goes right back into stubborn mode. Once started and warmed up it will start on the first crank. I sure would like to know someones opinion on this.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
How old are the glow plugs? It seems like 6 out of 8 are easy to replace on that motor. I've had them where they wouldn't start in cold weather and just changed the front 6 glow plugs and it fired up like it was new.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
your glow plug circuit is not working . the hint is that it fires rite up after being plugged in for a while.
change the glow plugs, and only use the MOTORCRAFT/BERU ZD9 glow plugs. any other brand of plug will only give you problems.
and change all 8. the system is designed for all 8 to be working. if you have good and bad plugs in there, the bad ones will let to much voltage get to the good ones, and make then burn out prematurely.
change the glow plugs, and only use the MOTORCRAFT/BERU ZD9 glow plugs. any other brand of plug will only give you problems.
and change all 8. the system is designed for all 8 to be working. if you have good and bad plugs in there, the bad ones will let to much voltage get to the good ones, and make then burn out prematurely.
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Hard Starting issuses
Well, I just checked the glow plugs via a test light as described from a previous replyer. They all check out , well at least they all provided a ground to make the test light turn on. If I have the glow plug out of its hole and in my hand is there a way to check if its really good.
What is the device that makes the glow plugs work , maybe that has quit.
I dont have a diagram in front of me to show me cable layouts. i think i need a book.
What is the device that makes the glow plugs work , maybe that has quit.
I dont have a diagram in front of me to show me cable layouts. i think i need a book.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Langley, BC, Canada
I was having the exact same problem as you. I tested the glowplugs with a test light and all but 1 of them was good. So i figured alright lets replace that 1. My problem didnt get any better. So i finally said screw it and replaced all 8 plugs. The thing starts instantly no matter how cold it is up here.
When i was having this problem i had somebody tell me that testing with a test light just tells you if the plug is getting warm....it doesnt tell you how warm the plug is getting. You need a good multimeter to test that. So even though all of your plugs check out. they still might not be getting hot enough, I recommend changing all 8 plugs if you dont know how old they are. It was well worth it for me.
When i was having this problem i had somebody tell me that testing with a test light just tells you if the plug is getting warm....it doesnt tell you how warm the plug is getting. You need a good multimeter to test that. So even though all of your plugs check out. they still might not be getting hot enough, I recommend changing all 8 plugs if you dont know how old they are. It was well worth it for me.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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Are you seeing a lot of white smoke while cranking, The reason I ask is when you have a glow plug out find someone with a Diesel compression tester and check your compression. Once the engine is hot you have residual heat to take up the slack, and you said it has been getting worse, not trying to scare you just something to check.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: northern Michigan
The glow plug relays were a problem on these. Check to see if it is putting power to the glow plugs. Also there was an issue on some of these with the wiring harness where it pluged into the tappet cover. There are two relays to the right and back from the fuel filter. One is the glow plug realy and the other powers a heater in the ait intake. Check to see if you have power on the output terminals when the wait to start light is on.
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Post Fiend
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From: carter lake ia.
hi lavendorj,
you said your truck is a 1991 pre power stroke 7.3l diesel? the power stroke didn't come out until the 95 model year!
sounds like the glow plug controller went south on you. locate the controller, it should be on the back of the engine on the top behind the air cleaner housing.
take the air cleaner off, one end of the plastic cover should be round, that is the glow plug controller. take that plastic cover off, that will expose the solenoid, just like any other ford solenoid. take your multimeter/ test light and see if you get voltage to it. then test at the glow plug, the wires to the plug w/the ign off and see what get
should be 0vdc. turn the ign on and retest you should have 12vdc at the plug. and if you donnot the curcuit boad on the bottom of the controller went south.
ford ranger
you said your truck is a 1991 pre power stroke 7.3l diesel? the power stroke didn't come out until the 95 model year!
sounds like the glow plug controller went south on you. locate the controller, it should be on the back of the engine on the top behind the air cleaner housing.
take the air cleaner off, one end of the plastic cover should be round, that is the glow plug controller. take that plastic cover off, that will expose the solenoid, just like any other ford solenoid. take your multimeter/ test light and see if you get voltage to it. then test at the glow plug, the wires to the plug w/the ign off and see what get
should be 0vdc. turn the ign on and retest you should have 12vdc at the plug. and if you donnot the curcuit boad on the bottom of the controller went south.
ford ranger
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Thank you all for the replys, Because of your input and know how of Ford diesel engines, turns out that the glow plugs were bad, well at least someof them. I did check them with the test light and all were able to conduct to ground but they must have not been glowing much. It starts without a hitch now. Thank you.
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