All right everybody I've tried everything I can think of and suggestions I have read on here. I have a 1990 F250 7.3 diesel that I replaced the starter, batteries and battery cables, along with the starter relay. I go to start the truck and all it does is crank once and then stops and makes a click from what sounds like the back of the engine by the firewall. Frustrated does not begin to explain my feelings here, it is a great truck when its running but it doesn't seem to want to run, any help would be much appreciated.

 

Sounds like your new starter may be no good. What brand of starter did you put in. The clicking at the firewall would be your solenoid on the starter.

The reason I am asking is that the best starter ever made was the Mitsubishi starter, but it was discontinued by the manufacturer so unless you look hard you probably are offered on of the new Powerstroke starters as the Mitsubishi starters are no longer available.

When it does start, how fast does it turn over?. If it turns over barely or slow it could still be your batteries that are not fully charged.

Seb.....

 

Hamberger could well be right. However just to clarify what the position is, You fitted new wires that join the batteries together, new pos. wire to the fender mounted relay, new pos wire from the relay to the starter and new ground wires? Is that correct?

 

I could prolly drive to town with My Nipondenso GR starter, batterycables.com cables.
I replaced a Mitsu with a Denso, I'll never go back.

 

Here ya go!

 

have you tried jumping the solenoid on the fender?

 

if it starts then dies might it be a fuel divarly

 

Blackbull,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

Where by the firewall?

Glow plug relay is at the rear of the intake manifold.
Starter solenoid mounted on top of the starter.
Starter relay mounted behind the passenger side battery.

Auto or manual tranny?

And am I reading right that the starter will not turn after the initial time?

What size battery cables?
What size batteries?

 

"relay" on the pass side inner fender wall.hope i didnt confuse anyone.

 

have you replaced your ground wires? or starter solenoid?

 

I had a problem with getting my 92 F350 started when I first bought it. Sometimes it would turn over, and other times it would click.

Turned out that the battery cable connection at the starter was loose. I tightened it up and problem solved. Starts great now........well except for the air intrusion problem....but that's another story.

I would double check all connections to make sure you didn't forget to tighten one.