1985 ford truck won't run. please help
 

So, I am helping a friend get his truck ready to sell. I kind of want to buy it so I have interest in getting this truck running. This truck is only used for running around town and doing trips to the hardware store but, is driven several times a week... When it is running.

1985 ford f250 diesel, 2wd, auto trans, all stock and in great condition.


Here's the skinny...

About two months ago the truck died while driving.

It restarted and he drove it home out of concern for future failure.

The next day the truck started but died again while driving.

The truck got towed to a shop where they replaced the glow plug controller and told him his glow plugs are all working fine.

Shortly there after the truck died while driving and refused to start.

Again the truck was towed to the shop and they replaced the fuel water separator. The shop was concerned there could be air getting into the fuel system at the fuel water separator.

The truck drovr great... For a half hour. Then the truck died and would not start.

The truck got towed to his house where he replaced the fuel filter. There was no effect.

The truck currently doesn't run.

I went over yesterday and got it started using some starting fluid. After pulsing stating fluid into the intake for a minute to keep it running, it stayed idling nicely on its own for several minutes.

I then put the trans into reverse and held my foot on the brake and applied throttle to introduce a load on the engine. The engine rpms pulsed then the engine died and would not restart without stating fluid.

The battery died so I stopped for the day.

I have a couple ideas of what could be the problem but, I really don't have experience working with diesels so any ideas would be great!

Thanks guys.

-Tom

Anyone have any ideas?

that old of a trk. its ether going to be 6.9 or 7.3 diesel..in any case i would check power to the pump selnoid..big red wire..make sure its not interminted..withe the key on it should have batt. voltage..with the key on i would pull the red wire off and see if u hear a klicking sound..if so then the selnoid should be good...two things come to mind...ether injection pump..or ing. key....this should give u some place to start...scott:pca1:

It's a 6.9 and the fuel pump is mechanical so, would it have a solenoid?

I figured I would take the guts out of the Schrader valve on the fuel filter, put a hose on it draining into a jar, and see what kind of fuel volume in getting from the pump.

If that checks out, I might try bleeding the fuel lines at the injectors

After that... I'm stumped.

the solenoid is on top of the injector pump...should be a med.size red wire there...scott....under the cap of the injecton pump...

outcome
 

Very interested to see how this is fixed

progress?
 

Okay so the solenoid on the injection pump clicks when I pull the power wires on/off with key on, engine off.

I put a hose onto what I assume is the fuel filter bleeder. (Brass fitting on the drivers side of the filter housing just above the mating surface for the filter.)

I ran that hose into a bottle that I held while I cranked the engine... Expecting to get some fuel... I got nothing after 10 seconds of cranking. I did this a couple times and got no fuel from this fitting.

How do I post pictures as part of my reply?

I assume at this point, I need a new fuel pump... Maybe replace the mechanical pump with an electric pump?

sounds like ur on the right track:tu: