I bought a 1990 F250 with the 7.3 a couple of weeks ago and as we are getting to know each other I have run into a starting issue. When I go out to start it in the morning, it will start almost immediately then die after a couple of seconds and then won't start up again. If I push the gas pedal in and hold it there while starting it the first time it will start and the revs will soar but it will keep running. I obviously don't want to do this especially on cold mornings. Once it's running, it runs/drives great. I have replaced the fuel filter and the glow plug relay but where do I go from here? The fuel pump doesn't have any leaks that I can see and I get plenty of gas out when I press the shrader valve. Help!

 

might be a return line issue or your cold start solenoid is not operating.i would check to see if you have power to the cold start solenoid it the plug on the drivers side of the ip closest to the front of the truck. or you may want to test your glow plugs how long is your wait to start light staying on?

 

Is the cold start solenoid the plug on the drivers side of top of the fuel filter?(sorry this is my first diesel). There is also a relay in the wiring that feeds it could that be bad? My wait to start stays on for 5-10 seconds depending on how cold it is. thanks

 

If it starts good then dies it is not your gloplugs sounds like fuel is leaking back due to air intrusion most likely the return lines. do you notice ant wet spots on the return lines or T's on top of your injectors.

 

I tested the cold start solenoid with a test light and it lit up, it was dim but it lit up. I have new glow plugs but haven't installed them yet. Whar did you mean by a return issue?

 

I didn't see any wetspots on the return lines but the drainage valve on the bottom of the filter is leaking a little bit, tightened it up but it's still leaking a little. I'm going to take th filter off again, is there anything I should be looking for/at while I have it off?

 

The return lines are a common problem on these and air will leak in without fuel leaking out and not be visable.
Sounds like your problem is at your filter seems like there is an oring there but I don't have any experiance with them as mine are 6.9 and do not have the water drain there.
Somebody will chime in as I think that is common also you might try a search for fuel filter on this forum.

 

The start then die symptoms do point to an air intrusion problem.

Air leaks into the fuel system and breaks the vacuum holding fuel up in the engine fuel system.

When the vacuum is broken, the fuel returns to the fuel tank, so no leaks are evident.

Most common point for air intrusion is the return lines and O rings on each injector.

 

if the test light lit up really dim on the shut off solenoid try putting a multimeter on it to see if its getting atleast 9 volts i was told by a international tech it wont work without 9 volts minimum.if you dont have access to a multimeter try running a jumper wire from the battery to the solenoid and crank it over if it doesnt have issues thats your problem you got a bad wire or a bad connection

 

The cold start solenoid I dont believe will cause it to die mine has never worked until friday when I repaired it. Air is ussually the problem is it hard to start after it dies.

 

Starmilt....... if the governor flex ring disintegrates in your 86's IP and the piece's plug the timing advance check valve it may stall/shutoff or run very poorly.

Does not effect newer IPs.

 

Yea but he says after he gets it running the second time it runs great sounds like air but said his drain is leaking on his filter so that is probably his problem.
I dont know much about the ip internals but sounds like he has a minor problem with air.
Ericrn the cold start solenoid is on the IP itself the wire closest to the cab it has juice when the motor is cold goes away when warm but will run even with no voltage.

 

There was a broken rubber O-ring just sitting by the glow plug near the first injector closest to the fuel filter. It is about the size of a nickel. Is there an easy way to check for air leaks? The hoses actually look fairly new, no cracks.

 

Visit...... Ford diesel 6.9 7.3 IDI there is muchinfo re air intrusion points and the clear hose test for air leaks......... use a pigtail (verticle loop) in any clear line so direction of air intrusion can be seen.

 

So I went out this morning and started the truck, like I said earlier if I push down on the gas pedal and hold it there the first time I start it in the morning it will start and run(revs go up t around 2000 though). Once it was running I left it run for about a half an hour then went out to check the hoses again. The 7 & 8 injector the ones on the drivers side closest to the front of the truck were leaking where the injector goes into the block and below the plastic t-piece. There was also two small pools of gas by the glow plugs beside these injectors. My question is do you think there is a problem with the seels or are these two injectors clogged causing backk pressure and seapage?
thanks