Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Low compression no start, need fix ASAP!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 03:44 PM
  #1  
jmoy's Avatar
jmoy
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Low compression no start, need fix ASAP!

hey folks, i went off to basic training for 3 months with the military and like the idiot i am i forgot to ask any of my familly to go out and start my 96 F-250 XLT HD 7.3PSD. no she has no compression and wont start. i tried liquid fire eether and got it to kick over a couple times but no start. I am being posted accross the country and they are coming to pick the truck up in 2 days and i need it running. any ideas for a quick fix? im almost possitive thats its just the rings dried out but any ideas? thanks alot i need some help fast on this one guys.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 04:00 PM
  #2  
redman84's Avatar
redman84
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 6
From: College Station, TX
Did you check/charge the batteries? I promise that I'm not an A-hole. It's often the easy things that I overlook and end up causing a headache.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 04:36 PM
  #3  
Action4478's Avatar
Action4478
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 39
Originally Posted by jmoy
hey folks, i went off to basic training for 3 months with the military and like the idiot i am i forgot to ask any of my familly to go out and start my 96 F-250 XLT HD 7.3PSD. no she has no compression and wont start. i tried liquid fire eether and got it to kick over a couple times but no start. I am being posted accross the country and they are coming to pick the truck up in 2 days and i need it running. any ideas for a quick fix? im almost possitive thats its just the rings dried out but any ideas? thanks alot i need some help fast on this one guys.
Compression should still be fine if it was before ..WTS light working ?
Something else is wrong .Like said , charge the batteries well ...
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 05:59 PM
  #4  
JamesHajek's Avatar
JamesHajek
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,566
Likes: 1
From: Monroe/Ellensburg, WA
I'm with Rick, if you had compression before, you should be fine now.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 07:03 PM
  #5  
redman84's Avatar
redman84
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 6
From: College Station, TX
Check the starter. Apply parking brake. Put your truck in park(auto) neutral(manual). Turn your key to the on position. Take you a screwdriver with a solid handle. Touch it to the bottom of one starter solenoid post and rotate it until it contacts the other. If it starts then you should know that the starter is bad. At least that's how I diagnosed mine. Had trouble starting and sometimes wouldn't. Did that, swapped starter, and no mo trouble. Just take care to not ground out on anything. Only touch the starter posts.
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 07:13 PM
  #6  
F350-6's Avatar
F350-6
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Stop using ether or you will end up with a compression problem.

Let's start at the beginning. Are the batteries charged? Have you checked the fuses with a test light? Does the WTS light come on and go off like normal? Is there any smoke coming out the tail pipe while cranking? Fuel level good? Fuel in the filter bowl? Engine oil full? HPOP reservoir full? Does the tach bounce while cranking? Any mice been having lunch on the wiring under the hood?
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 08:56 PM
  #7  
jmoy's Avatar
jmoy
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
yes i had 11.1 volts on the batteries when i started, the wts light comes on but goes out to soon, i have a quarter tank of fuel, just toped up the oil, until the eether i didnt see any smoke coming out of the tailpipe but it was just me and i didnt notice, no mice and i dont recall if the tach bounces. it ran and started like a champ and now 4.5 months later the starter is turning over the engine it really looks and feels like low compression due to lack of oil to the rings, but i could be very wrong. i'll check the tach and such tonight but does that help? i'm going to hook up my ranger to it to help with battery power next time
 
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 09:03 PM
  #8  
F350-6's Avatar
F350-6
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
The only time oil on the rings means anything is if you drop some oil down into the cylinder while doing a compression test. If you fail a compression test, but a few drops of oil help the numbers, then it's the rings.

Was the 11.1 volt reading taken while sitting, or while cranking? If voltage drops too low while cranking (sometimes as little as 10.5volts), then the IDM will not fire the injectors so you won't get any smoke out the tail pipe and the truck won't start.

Ignore the compression thought for now. You're military now, have you been taught KISS? (keep it simple stupid). What about fuses and HPOP reservoir?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-2

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

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

 Brett Foote
story-4

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

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

 Brett Foote
story-8

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 22, 2010 | 11:38 PM
  #9  
redman84's Avatar
redman84
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 6
From: College Station, TX
I'm gonna have to go with F350-6 all the way on this one. Even if you think that you're sure that you know that it maybe could probably be a major problem just start at the easiest simplest things first. You want to troubleshoot your problem not give yourself trouble. Start small and follow the trail to the problem. I find a weird correlation between trucks and medicine. NO MATTER WHAT the problem presents as we start at the A,B,C's - airway, breathing, & circulation. This is just advice to try and save you a larger headache and if it ends up being what you initially thought then you may hand slap me and laugh. Good luck bud and thank you for serving.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sosasser
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
76
Oct 11, 2019 04:19 PM
therigwelder
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
14
Dec 30, 2016 08:56 AM
timathis
2004 - 2008 F150
4
Sep 21, 2015 09:30 AM
mjj7
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
16
Aug 24, 2011 02:07 PM
Big Mack Daddy
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
1
Jul 18, 2010 09:41 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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