hard starting
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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
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
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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.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,579
Likes: 5,611
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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.
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.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,402
Likes: 10
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?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
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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
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,477
Likes: 21
From: Taylorsville, NC
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?
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,579
Likes: 5,611
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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.
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.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
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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
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
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.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
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.
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.