Notices
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L) Diesel Topics Only

hard starting

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 23, 2008 | 08:23 PM
  #1  
bigbubba87's Avatar
bigbubba87
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 2
From: New London, Mo
hard starting

ok i am having problems getting my truck to start after it has set more then 5 hours. since this started i have put one way check valves in the return line and two in the main fuel line one by the motor and one by the filter. none of the return lines on the motor leak nor do the lines. has all new glow plugs and they are working. im all out of ideas as to why it wont start. does it need a new pump? is the pump just wore out and lets fuel bleed back? some days it will crank and crank with and smoke but still wont start even if i let the glow plugs cycle again. and some days it will crank and crank and wont smoke and just fire right up. so i have no idea as to whats wrong with it. any help is appriciated. thanks justin
 
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2008 | 08:49 PM
  #2  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member

Fuel might not be leaking out, but air is leaking in somewhere on the return lines.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 12:37 AM
  #3  
ford trans tech's Avatar
ford trans tech
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
check your battery voltage while cranking
it needs to spin at least 100 rpm to start
dirty cables , internally corroded cables , or just one weak battery is all it takes
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 08:27 AM
  #4  
bigbubba87's Avatar
bigbubba87
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 2
From: New London, Mo
it cranks over fine. is has new batteries that are 1080 ca and 990 cca. the other night i plugged it in and it fired right up the next morning. that would lean more towards the glow plugs but they are all new and are working. so i have no other ideas. anyone else got any? before i swapped the motor it started perfect in the other truck. and started fine in mine then it slowly got worse.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 11:27 AM
  #5  
tjc transport's Avatar
tjc transport
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,450
Likes: 5,520
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Club FTE Gold Member
a few things to look at. you say the glow plugs are new. what brand are they??

plugging it in and starting rite up tells us it is a glow plug problem. either your new glow plugs are bad, or the controller is not working properly.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 12:10 PM
  #6  
Lazy K's Avatar
Lazy K
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
Originally Posted by tjc transport
a few things to look at. you say the glow plugs are new. what brand are they??

plugging it in and starting rite up tells us it is a glow plug problem. either your new glow plugs are bad, or the controller is not working properly.
How long does your "wait to start" light stay on? When the light goes out and before you turn the key to "start" can you hear the relay clicking?
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 12:56 PM
  #7  
bigbubba87's Avatar
bigbubba87
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 2
From: New London, Mo
i dont remember what brand they are autolite maybe. and the controller on this truck has never clicked after the wait to start light went out. the one on our 89 7.3 does but the one on mine dont
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 01:21 PM
  #8  
fuzzy1626's Avatar
fuzzy1626
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,477
Likes: 21
From: Taylorsville, NC
Originally Posted by bigbubba87
i dont remember what brand they are autolite maybe. and the controller on this truck has never clicked after the wait to start light went out. the one on our 89 7.3 does but the one on mine dont
If it's a solid state unit it should go to the after glow cycle when the wait to start light goes out. Could you try swapping the one from the 89?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 03:29 PM
  #9  
tjc transport's Avatar
tjc transport
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,450
Likes: 5,520
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Club FTE Gold Member
if they are autolites, i would suggest you get them out of there pronto, otherwise you will be pulling the heads shortly. autocrap glow plugs burn out almost instantly in fords and then the tips swell up. and alot of the time, you can't get them out without removing the heads.. but the parts stores sell them to you anyway, cause it means repeat business for them.

you should only run MOTORCRAFT/BERU glow plugs in the ford diesels. for your 87, if it has the spade connectors, you will want the ZD-1 glow plugs.
if you have the bullet connector plugs, the part number for them will be ZD-9.
 
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2008 | 10:40 PM
  #10  
ford trans tech's Avatar
ford trans tech
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
again check the cranking voltage
plugging the block heater in assists cold starting which can still be caused by a cranking issue
and check the voltage downstream not at the batteries
we see hard starting and no starting issues all the time from bad batteries or bad cables
and just because a battery is new doesnt mean it works
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2008 | 07:08 PM
  #11  
bigredtruckmi's Avatar
bigredtruckmi
Lead Driver
Veteran: Navy
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
Club FTE Gold Member
Wondering if the controller is not working properly. Not getting the glow plugs up to heat temp. On my 93 it clicks 3 times after up to heat.
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2008 | 08:42 PM
  #12  
Fordranchero's Avatar
Fordranchero
Tuned
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville,Ont.
Club FTE Silver Member

My 92 would cycle the light perfectly but it never actually turned the plugs on, later on it stayed on and burned them all out but the light still went out normally.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2008 | 09:25 AM
  #13  
bigbubba87's Avatar
bigbubba87
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 2
From: New London, Mo
il say it has something to do with the gp and controler ive plugged it in every night and it fires right up
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2008 | 06:38 PM
  #14  
rupejosh's Avatar
rupejosh
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1
From: back in SE Iowa
im not too well knowledged but i would also have to say its the controller i believe you can bypass it,and if that works your controller is junk but i would check all connections running to it a bad ground or a loose wire can cause huge headaches.
 
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2008 | 08:20 PM
  #15  
Dave Sponaugle's Avatar
Dave Sponaugle
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Club FTE Silver Member

Over near the dip stick, find the engine electrical harness and follow it to where it plugs into the chassis harness.

On one end of the plug there are two large gauge wires.
Inspect the plug carefully looking for signs of over heating.

The large wires are the power supply to the glow plug relay.
If the connector has melted they might not be making contact at all times.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:29 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE