I just got a 7.3PSD Excursion a couple of months ago. My business partner also has the same truck. On mine, after the glowplug light goes out, I have to turn the key and hold for maybe right around 2 seconds and then I'll depress the accelerator (gas) pedal and it'll fire up. If I don't push the pedal, it'll still crank, but it may take another second or so.

I was moving my partner's Ex the other day and I went through my usual routine and it startled me because his cranked much quicker and 'easier'. I still depressed the pedal (out of habit I guess) and it revved (sp.?) much higher / faster then mine. He says he never uses his pedal when cranking, and his cranks right up.

So, my question is; is there something wrong with mine? My partner said that maybe I had a glow plug problem. How can I check for that? I'm worried that with the colder weather moving in, the truck will become harder to crank.

By the way, the two trucks are very similar;

Mine: 2000 w/ 120K and Banks chip.
His: 2001 w/ 100K and some other chip (we don't know which one)

Also, his seems to have more 'power' and a willingness to rev 'free-er' or 'faster', if you know what I mean.

Thanks for the help!

 

I never step on the skinny pedal to start the F350. I'm not sure if you're even ever supposed to do that. I remember doing that on old carbureted gassers and I have to do it on my 1969 Mercedes Benz 220 Diesel in the middle of winter when it's brick outside.

Edit: Mine starts in ~1sec.

 

my 02 cranks and fires up fast but my father in law's 00 cranks a little slower. i think its the temperment of the truck personally. jmo...........

 

I know it's kind of a vague question, but the info helps.

You think I ought to get out of the habit of using the accelerator pedal when cranking? In other words let it crank on it's own in 2-3 seconds vs 1-2 seconds with the pedal?

 

Mine starts within the first two or three cranks. Doesn't take very long and I don't ever hit the accelerator.

 

Mine takes a bit longer too. I don't step on the pedal as the PCM will shoot enough fuel in there to make it run (otherwise it wouldn't idle). Shooting extra fuel there to get it to turn over might be a quick fix, but it is covering up another problem, if anything at all. My truck is a slug compared to my father's D-Max. That thing starts up in about 4 nanoseconds, while mine can take up to 10 seconds. That feels like a lifetime, but I have a leaking HPOP and a tired starter too.

I wouldn't consider it unusual at all, maybe just compared to what you are used to. These 7.3's were never known for their lightning start-ups (they are a big block, so there's lots of rotating mass that has to get going). It may just be your truck and it may be the start of something, it's hard to say with the description. How old are the batteries? Is the starter the original? Are your battery connections solid and corrosion-free? Have you checked to make sure that your ground cable is in good condition and solidly mounted?

Electrical questions are always tough to diagnose even when you can see, smell, touch and taste it. There are so many contributing factors. Personally I wouldn't consider it any major catastrophe just yet. Like I said, it may be something and it may just be the way your truck wakes up. A quick check would be to put a voltmeter across a battery when you fire it up. I hear that if if dips below 10VDC then it could be an issue with older batteries. Somebody will chime in and either back me up or correct me if I'm wrong.

Some things that can contribute to a slower start are: older batteries (it only takes one bad one to ruin your day, and you should always replace them in pairs), bad connections, HPOP oil leak, old starter, old oil and loose starter to name a few.

As a side note, I just recently changed my oil (been about 8K on dino...I know I know, I just haven't had time) and it's starting quicker and running better. Also, I climbed under the truck and checked the starter bolts (that have been known to back out), and both were loose. Pulled them out, cleaned them off, covered them in red Loc-tite and re-installed them. Hopefully they'll stay in there for a while.

 

I dont ever step on the pedal to start the truck. I don't know if you are suppose to do that

 

You're not, not for any reason whatsoever.

Per brian42's post, the PCM fires enough fuel to get the engine started no matter how cold or hot it is outside; it automatically does the calculating during the "wait to start" process.

I'd start with your starter and your batteries and make sure they're good and not worn out. Although I'm starting to think it's your HPOP because I dealt with this June of 2008. When my HPOP was dying, it exhibited the same symptoms your truck did: slow, hard starts, and poor power. As soon as it was replaced, it was like I had a brand new engine.

The Adrenaline HPOP is a much better option than stock and can be had at a reasonable price. I'm still drooling over one...

 

I'd start with the batteries first, test them both, completely disconnected from the truck. Then look at the starter. Is it turning over slower than your partner's truck? If neither of those are it, find someone with a scanner or Auto Enginuity and check your ICP and ICP Duty cycle.

I had a 99 flatbed that would turn over and start a lot harder than my 02. We replaced both batteries and the starter on that one and it improved greatly.

 

Like the others have said, check the easy and typical starter/battery stuff first.

One thing to note, our injectors on these trucks fire via high oil pressure. Before the injectors will even be commanded to open, the PCM must see a minimum oil pressure at the ICP sensor.

Some trucks will simply build pressure faster than others, and for various reasons. Things such as the health of the injector o-rings, IPR, and even the pump itself will affect cranking times. The injectors themselves are subject to wear over time, and older or worn out injectors will contribute to oil pressure not building as rapidly.

Even the type of oil you use will change how quickly the truck starts, especially in colder weather. So by simply having a different brand/type/weight of oil will change cranking times.

So there are a lot of variables as to why one truck will crank faster than others.

 

7.3 PSDs have a "bark" to them at start up, It comes from good hot batts turning the engine over quick enough for the HPOP to build enough pressure to fire the injectors. if your engine is turning over slower than your partners then I suggest looking into new batts. If it is turning over at the same speed as your partners then I sugest looking into the ICP duty cycle. Its not cool enough in the ATL, yet, for the glow plugs to have much of a bearing on start up. This weekend when its in the high 30s low 40s , yep. For me first start in the a.m. after truck has sat for 12 hrs is about 2-3 seconds, subsequent starts after that are 1-2 seconds (and I only wait for the glow plug light to go out when its below 45* outside)

I am about 2.5 hrs south of you on I-85. If your ever around Montgomery Alabama and need help with anything just let me know.

 

I hit the key as soon as the glow plugs shut off. She doesn't crank very long and sounds sweet when she starts. It's hard to describe....sounds like a big rig.

 

Big rig. I thought the same.. Mine varies on time it takes to "GO"

Turn on key.
I don't pay attention to the light. But listen for the vacuum pump fart. Soon as it fart. Turn key.
Crank, crank, crank.
Varoom. <- more like a kaplow? Nah. Wierd can't spell it.
OR somthimes i get a crank,crank,crank,crank,crank,crank.
Varoom.

It don't matter what temperature, it varies. No Go peddle, Ever.

My dads is more consistent. Crank crank crank. Varoom.

 

Mine is sort of limke a "claaack vrooom" and then she's running.

 

Only time I ever had to mash the go pedal on mine was when the ICP was bad,but it wouldn't start at all when it was cold without the pedal on the floor
Like others said check the easy stuff first,even a weak alternator will make it start slow.Been there also