Hello everbody. This is my first time posting here, or anywhere for that matter. I need some help on a diesel problem. 2001 7.3 liter diesel. The water in fuel light came on today while a couple of my guys were using the truck this morning. They said the truck cut out and stalled on them two or three times this morning. When they called me I told them to wait and I would be by shortly. When I got there I drained the water from the filter housing, cycled the key, and drained the filter housing again. We recycled the key a couple of times to fill the housing back up with fuel, but the "wait to start" and "water in fuel" lights would not go out and the truck would not start. It would turn over just fine.

I then got a new fuel filter and installed it. Cycled the key a couple of times and the truck started up and ran rough until the air was out of the system. The guys then drove the truck back to our shop and parked it. 30 minutes later the truck would not start and the "wait to start" and "water in fuel" lights would come on but not go off.

I really need this truck running tomorrow. We are planting cotton and the truck is used to haul water and chemical to the field.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

RHL

 

The wait to start light staying on has me a bit tripped up... Is it cranking when you turn the key to run?

 

souns like ya got a real big dose of water instead of fuel

 

If you are asking if the truck tries to crank when when the key is in the run position, then no. But when you try to start the engine, it will only turn over, not start. We run several diesel trucks and I've never seen one where the "wait to start" light would stay on. Could it maybe have something to do with the glow plug circuit?

 

I doubt it has to do with the glow plug circuit, the WTS light is a dummy light and doesn't actually show you the length of time that the glow plugs are on, they stay on much longer than the light.

When you crank, are you getting smoke out the tail pipe, is the tach moving at all?

 

WTS light is a weird one...

Turn the key on and open the drain valve, you should have fuel coming out while the key is on (for about 20 seconds, then the pump turns off if the truck is not running). Try that and see if you have a good supply of fuel dumping on the ground.

 

Thanks guys for your help. We were able to get the truck going this morn. When I went out this morn and turned the key, both the WTS AND WIF lights stayed on again. I drained the filter housing again and caught the fuel and could see no water in the fuel. I then cycled the key and the WIF light went out and a couple seconds later the WTS light went out. The truck started as if there had never been a problem.

Anyway thanks for your help and input. Hope I can return the favor one day.

RHL

 

Glad you got it figured out. Stick around here, this is a great place to come with your questions.

 

One thing I would do is pull all the electrical plugs you can get your hands on, one at a time. Clean them well and fill them with Dielectric grease. About 80% of your electrical issues on these trucks is bad connections.