Starting Problems
 

Even with my GPs not working at all I figured that it would start in the 70 degree weather without a problem. Well it starts up with ether but I'm getting tired of feeding that nasty shit to it because I dont wanna blow a piston. I know the IDIs have super high compression but seriously?? Shouldnt it start right up at 70 degrees? I bled the inj lines that seemed to make it idle better but it didnt help the starting problem. Im pretty sure my IP is gettin real tired too so would that be the problem??

I had a similar problem last year check your batteries I had a bad cell in one battery and it would not start without cranking it endlessly or using either best way to check is either take them to a autozone or equivalent have them tested or if you have a multimeter unhook the cables and look for drops (2.1v per bad cell)

Ill try that thanks. I just read that if the motor isnt cranking fast enough then it wont create the heat needed to make combustion.

No problem anytime and yes the 7.3 has a higher compression than most due to the V design I know this is a simple suggestion and I don't want to Insault anyone's intelligence but make sure your air filter and your inter cooler are not plugged up the motor gets ignition from the heat of compression so if there's not enough air to compress there's no heat

Replace the fuel filter, check the air filter, the glow plugs are nothing but starting aid, if you cannot successfully start the truck then it is something else. More than likely you are loosing prime over time, when was the last time your return line fittings and the orings were replaced? Do not replace the filter with the same 2 piece water separator bowl with filter, get a one piece filter, a little more pricey, but well worth the money. Also what is your oil level at? Low or high oil has affected these engines too. Go to the store, and buy a bottle of 2-stroke oil, runs about $1.98, use at 4oz/8gallon, wish I had used this when I first bought my truck, it burned right through the old injector pump from bad fuel.

Ok I replaced the fuel filter not too long ago. But I'll try the rest of that. It hums when it's running its just hard to start. So ill give it a shot. Not sure bout the o-rings so ill replace those anyway

anything ??

No not yet. I ordered a complete glow plug wiring harness because mine is shot. I'm hoping that'll get it to start w/o ether. I know my IP pump is going bad. and I know its getting fuel to it because when it cranks it white smokes. Why is it that the old IDIs are real hard to start esp w/o Glowplugs? is it because of the high compression? i figured high comp would help it start bc its a diesel.

How did your batteries check out? I had this problem with my '93 IDI and my wife's '03 PSD, check the start too, if these things crank like 50 RPM's less than perfect, they're a battle to get going. The change in engine speed is barely audible, but makes a difference.

Oh, and stop using ether, not only is it bad on pistons, it has no lubrication to it and can wash the cylinder wall of oil. And then your rings will wear faster and can cause the engine to become "addicted" to ether. I had instructors tell me about old caterpillars that had to use ether in 90° weather because that's how they where always started and the engines were addicted because of ring wear. Once they fired up and heat got in them the rings would reseal.