Ok, I have spent some time trying to find an answer without posting.

But there are several factors to all this.

Yesterday afternoon, I heard a noise that sounded like something was rattling in a fan. I was very worried, but thought maybe something got in my air intake. By the time I got home, the noise was gone, and nothing seemed to effect performance.

That night, I did an over due oil/filter change.

This morning, the truck started right up, even though it was a cold Ohio winter morning, and I did not plug her in. I let the truck warm up, and when I went out I found diesel leaking out of the fuel filter, which has been happening several times since I changed the filter a month ago. It slightly backs out, and and I give it a quarter turn or less and it is fine for a while.

Since I didn't want to be late for work or waste more fuel, I shut the truck off and took my gas suburban to work.

I left the key in the ignition of the diesel. I am pretty sure I turned it all the way off, but there is that possibility that I did not back it all the way out. (I live on a farm, so yes, it might not be smart, but leaving keys in cars does happen.)

When I came home this afternoon. I first take a screw driver and use it to tighten the fuel filter, and like before, it gave a little turn tighter.

Then I go to start the truck, and it sounds like the battery is dying. I end up trying until all I get is one click. I tried to jump it. One time it did give a slight sound that it was trying with a low charge, but would not again no matter how long I waited for it to charge.

When I turn to start, and wait to start, I see the battery gauge drop drastically.

Battery gets 12.2, even in start position. What looks like maybe the solenoid or glow plug relay next to the fuel filter housing gets 12.2, but at some point it looked like there was smoke while in start position.

Also, it is a 5 speed manual trans. I am not the best mechanic in the world, but can usually figure things out.

I haven't had any help to see voltage drop during crank. 20 degree whether with windchill, and the beast is too big for me to push it into the garage.

Any and all help is appreciated.


Thank you.

 

I seen you had let your batteries die. How old are the batteries? After leaving the key on in my 96 Powerstroke one day I killed my batteries and charged them back only to get a no crank and eventually a click. I was reading about the same on the volt meter around 12 and ended up getting both batteries tested and had one that wouldn't hold a good charge. I know that a 7.3 needs to turn at 900 rpm to crank so I just put a new battery on and have not had problems