My 2002 E250 7.3L has suddenly started taking a long time to crank to start. It turns over fast. I wait for the light to go out before starting but it cranks for 8-12 seconds before starting. Sometimes I have to crank then turn the ley off and retry. Any ideas?

Rex

 

One or more glow plugs going out, glow plug relay, weak batteries, bad cables. Whole world of stuff. How old are the batteries? Start out by cleaning both ends of the battery cables and cleaning the GPR terminals.

 

Yeah, what he said!!! Nice job Will!!

 

double post sorry.

 

X3

You can also have someone help you cross the large terminals on the GPR (glow plug relay - found behind your fuel filter) with a screw driver as you turn the truck over, the next time its hassling you.

If it turns over normally its time to replace the GPR...

FYI https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...lug-relay.html

 

batteries are new...cables clean and tight. WHat is a GPR? How many glow plugs does it have?

 

oops never mind the above post...I didn;t see lisa answered my question.

R

 

The cables also go somewhere. Check for chaffing and bad terminals on the other ends of the cables. Also check ground connections. I'd start with the GPR itself... take the wires off, clean the terminals, check connections there. One glowplug for all 8 cylinders. Getting read to replace glowplugs myself. How many miles on your truck?

 

the truck has 195,000 miles....unfortunately I have to stay on the road doing refrigeration repair so it's being towed to my garage. THey are a good group of guys who so far have donw work @ a reasonable price.

 

Sorry to hear you have to have her towed... Never a good thing.

 

Yea, with that many miles, its hard to say. relay could be gone, plugs could be too tho... never have been replaced that you know of correct?

 

bought her july 07 with 145K miles. To answer your question I do not know if plugs or the relay have ever been changed. My mechanic of years is unfamiliar with diesels and the garage a friend recommended me to I had change the trans fluid and filter as well as fluch the radiator and refill with fresh antifreeze. THe bill was just shy of 200 bucks. I thought that quite fair since I had been quoted more than that by Ford service and a trans shop to do just the trans service. ARe plugs an expensive proposition?

 

I'd place my bet on a bad relay. A new one will run ya $40-$75 depending on where ya get it from, takes 5 minutes to swap out.

 

I got new plugs and relay from pensacola diesel or 98 shipped. Dealer will cost u almost 200 just for plugs

 

ok wel the bad news is..and possibly good news for me is I came home and the truck is still sitting @ my house. I understand the relay is behind the fuel filter and an easy swap. Are the plugs hard to get to and change? I'm a refrigeration mechanic. If I can get to em I should be able to do the work.

The clock is ticking..............