Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

No start, bad ground??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 09:46 AM
  #1  
Pest007's Avatar
Pest007
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 4
From: Goodyear, AZ
No start, bad ground??

Last night I went to start my truck, I opened the door, the dome light came on full, turned the key and the lights came on, but as soon as the glow plug relay tripped, everything went dead, and then when I turned it off all the lights were very dim, I moved and pulled on the battery cables trying to see if it was a bad ground, but nothing changed, and then all of a sudden power came back, and I was able to start it. I got home and turned it off and when to restart to see if it would and same thing again, it's acting like a bad ground, has good cables, but not sure where the ground wires go.... Any ideas?
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 01:58 PM
  #2  
Pest007's Avatar
Pest007
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 4
From: Goodyear, AZ
seriously, no one has had this happen??
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 02:41 PM
  #3  
Neal 97 250's Avatar
Neal 97 250
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
I believe the ground goes to the block to ground. It sounds like some strange thing with the GP's. Sounds like it does it when the GP's are heating.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 02:48 PM
  #4  
Pest007's Avatar
Pest007
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 4
From: Goodyear, AZ
well I don't think so because the truck started fine when it did finally work, it just happened when there was a big enough draw of amps to short out
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 03:02 PM
  #5  
ajbeiler's Avatar
ajbeiler
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Lima Ohio for college
could you have blown the mega fuse? just a though i have never seen this before
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 04:09 PM
  #6  
c00nhunterjoe's Avatar
c00nhunterjoe
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
ground cable, check the one on the block, they tend to corode
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 05:01 PM
  #7  
Action4478's Avatar
Action4478
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 39
Have you checked & cleaned ALL the battery connections?....
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 05:40 PM
  #8  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Check the starter connections too.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

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

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

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

 Brett Foote
story-5

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

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

 Brett Foote
story-9

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

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 06:37 PM
  #9  
Neal 97 250's Avatar
Neal 97 250
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
Originally Posted by Pest007
well I don't think so because the truck started fine when it did finally work, it just happened when there was a big enough draw of amps to short out
Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize it starts fine sometimes. I would do like they said. Check ground at engine and all connections. That is atleast a start.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 07:32 PM
  #10  
1997F-350's Avatar
1997F-350
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 2
From: SHELTON, WA
sounds like maybe you have a bad gpr. while it has power going to it for however long the pcm tells it due to eot and then once it shuts off your problem goes away. a new gpr is like 15 bucks at napa. i think the part # is gpr 109(not sure i have been gone for about 8 months). good luck
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2007 | 09:04 AM
  #11  
Pest007's Avatar
Pest007
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 4
From: Goodyear, AZ
Well I messed around with all the cables last night, and they all are very clean and have a solid connection to the block and to the starter, so I decided just to take off the cables from the battery and even tho it was relatively clean looking it turned out to be the pos wire on the drivers side to be the problem. I didn't have my little wire brush terminal cleaner on me, but I will clean it up today, I was able to start it though.

So even though it looks clean, make sure to clean your terminals if you see your voltage drop a little
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2007 | 04:50 PM
  #12  
ajbeiler's Avatar
ajbeiler
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Lima Ohio for college
thats great to hear you solved the problem.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2007 | 05:52 PM
  #13  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Originally Posted by Pest007
So even though it looks clean, make sure to clean your terminals if you see your voltage drop a little
Good advice, these beasts need a lot of battery to get them going, Glad you got it fixed. Oh! and thanks for posting the fix, maybe they next guy will find this and fix a problem too
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TexFinn
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
36
Jan 31, 2011 09:16 PM
flashover604
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jul 26, 2010 05:42 AM
tobacco farmer
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
1
Jan 24, 2009 10:15 PM
gbeach
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
1
Sep 10, 2007 10:12 PM
hammerdn
2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 4.0 & SOHC 4.0 V6
1
May 28, 2005 05:06 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:35 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

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


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