Hard starting, new glow plugs
 

Okay well after putting new return line down to the frame i put new Motorcraft glow plugs and relay in the truck also new fuel filter. Still starts like crap takes about 10 rotations and foot held to the floor to pop off after it has been running for a 2hr drive. My old 88 after its been started once for the day pops off no need to cylce the glow plugs. In the mornings its hell takes 5 minutes or so to get the stupid thing started. What do ya think could be wrong that its starting so hard? This is the 92 in my sig

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OKay I have a feeling that its gotta do with my fuel system but not sure. I tried turning up the injection pump and got nothing no smoke no extra pep. I turned it up 1 flat nothing tried 3 still nothing backed it back down to 1flat. Has 204,000 miles on the ticker and someone before me had put a rebuilt international fuel systems injection pump on it but its cruddy looking so im guessing its been on there a while.

Not sure what or where to look next?

Hmm:humm: Not Familiar with the 7.3 idi but sounds like a Fuel supply problem to me...

how old is the lift pump

I dont know how old the lift pump is actually i just bought the truck last november.

i had to change mine cause it was doin the samething after i changed it worked like a charm but i still need to change my gp

been working on the idi motors a long time
take off the fuel solonid cover,look at the coil,sometimes you cn here them click,but
if the coil epoxy is funkey it wont make enough power to pull the arm back all the way,also there is usualy crud down in the bowel and around the springs ,clean it good
rule#1 if an idi has fuel in fuel out and no air it will run push start in 3d gear,allways works

I would say your Lift Pump has Gone South on vacation with no intentions of returning ha ha :chess:

not always. the last one i worked on for a guy on here, not going to mention any names james, put his IP on 180 degrees off. had fuel in and out, had air. no matter how hard he tried it wouldnt start. lol so that rule isnt always true.

Well i know its not 180 degrees out bc the truck runs just fine once it gets started. Actually runs really smooth like a powerstroke and dont have the choppy idle like the idi's usually do.

I took off the fuel line coming from the fuel pump to the filter and just jumped the starter solenoid and it shot a good large stream all the way across to the driver side of the truck and kept a steady flow after i got a piece of rubber hose on it into a bucket. It seemed to be pumping a good amount of fuel so im not sure if that means the lift pump is good? guess my next step is to try and test pressure at the filterhousing. I guess if thats good time to take it into the shop and have them test the Injection pump and injectors.

Lift pump is good. I'd check the return solenoid as mentioned above. But you don't really need to remove it to check it. If the click is pretty strong it's good. If it's weak, it's no good. If it doesn't click at all, make sure you got power to the wire. If no power, just run a jumper from the fuel cutoff (larger wire).

Try checking for air in the fuel lines.

Well i really doubt its sucking air or has a hole in the fuel line checked and theres not wet spots on the fuel lines and they are newer with no rust on them. Im really leanin towards the lift pump cause the oil in the trucks really thin and has a more than normal diesel smell in it like the diaphrams ruptured. I havent been able to tear into casue of workin too many hours gonna wait and try replacing the lift pump this weekend if it stays dry.

Lift pump replaced still starting like SH@# any other ideas on what to check next guys?

Weak injection pump, bad injectors,bad pump timing, low compression, and restriction in one of the fuel lines. How does the truck run after it starts? Does it blow a lot of white smoke or chug for a little while?

Im not too sure on the injection pump i know its been replace before but not sure when. I doubt its timing bc it runs awasome really smooth like the powerstrokes. Has good fuel lines just went through that ordeal. Smokes grey/white heavily right when it pops off after cranking for a couple minutes to get it running then clears up imediately no chugging or anything.

First thing I am checking is the injectors. They are not hard to get out of the 7.3. I would take them down to the local pump shop and have them tested. If they check out good I would then say the pump is laying down on it.

still sounds like air somewhere

Okay well i havent updated but im starting to think im sucking air somewhere too. just gotta figure out where.

I had it in the local diesel repair shop at $90 a hour and After 10 hours of them dicking around with it not doing what they were supposed to be working on im really pissed and bringing the truck home. Wanted a compression test done and my injectors flow checked. They tested and burnt up my brand new glow plug controler caught my glow plug wiring harness on fire and burnt up the starter. The only thing they fixed was a burnt out marker light.. not what i brought it in for. Im having a talk with the shop owner when he gets back in town bc they did nothing but break more stuff and want me to pay for it plus i told them to stop at a centain price and not to go any farther without contacting me which they didnt do. This is a really well recognized semi and light truck repair shop here local not like its some hack in his back yard workin on it.

Im gonna try sucking fuel from a diesel can to see if im sucking air somewhere between my lift pump and trucks tank like they were gonna do but didnt, to see if ive got a leak in my fuel lines. too busy replacing a marker light. anyone know where i can get a compression gauge for the 7.3 idi? Or a shop that youve had good experiance with in the northwest ohio area?

Hey I'm one of those hacks that fixes peoples junk in the back yard. I've got a compression gauge but I'm all the way on the South West side of Indiana. You can buy a chines one for not to bad.

How does the truck start after its ran for a little while? I think the injectors are laying down. When the truck sets for a while the fuel runs back to the tank because the injectors are not sealing up. When you go to start the truck it air in the line and must pump it out before it will start.

Even once the trucks been ran and is good and hot it still cranks alot to fire up. Not as long as when its cold but takes a couple dozen revolutions to start.

back yard hacks probably aint a good phrase ,

Yes back yard hacks maybe wasnt the best way to phrase it. IM a back yard worker too but im talkin about the guys who think their a mechanic bc they can change their lawnmowers oil and say they can fix anything. Then go wait this things diesel how does this work???

Well got it back from the shop today with $450 less in my bank account. They still didnt find anything wrong with it said it must be bleeding down fuel pressure. All they did was install 4 spade connector bc apparently they caught a connector on fire that goes to the glow plug controller underneath the power distribution box. They said they could check to see if it was sucking air somewhere between my fuel tank and lift pump by installing a fuel can of diesel and siphon it from that directly to the lift pump. But it would take them about 5 to 6 more hours to do that.... I dont think so i changed the lift pump in about a 1.5 hours its not gonna take that long to do that. So im back workin on it by myself. Im wondering if im bleeding down bc of the fuel filter housing that leaks. I got thinking of it last night that theres always fuel on the valve cover after it shuts down. I also have to really crank on the fuel filter and use my oil filter wrench to tighten it down bc you cant spin it on by hand so i think somethings messed up with the filter housing causing it to loose its prime.

If the filter housing is leaking it could be your problem.

Just a thought--
if it was me, i would pull the injectors ,have them tested for pressure and pattern&drip
most shops around here dont eaven charge to test injectors,you will have better results if you quit jumping around with your test procedures,do it by the numbers,go to the Diesel Care web site and look at ther test procedures,talk with there techs ,i like to talk with Billy Williams he Knowes his stuff

Im lookin for a place that will test my injectors cant seem to find a place around here. Im right in the corner of Ohio Indiana and Michigan. Everyone wants to seel me new injectors. Cant seem to find a place that has the equipment to test them. International wont even do it they just say buy new. If i buy new which should i buy theres (d) injectors for 83 to 92.5 and (e) for 92.5 to 93. both are brand new running about $35 a piece

start it and get it up to temp.run long enough to make sure all air is out of the system
then park with the nose pointed down hill I know this sounds stupid ,but humor me
it needs to be a pretty good grade,then tell us how it starts the next morning

does your fuel filter hosing leak? if so, thats your problem. it is alowing the system to drain down and let air in. can not have ANY leaks in fuel system, feed or return.

When I first bought the truck the filter housing was leaking. Now it appears to not be leaking. I still believe theres something wrong with the housing bc i have to really crank on it to get a filter on let alone even get it to seal up . I can get it on about a turn then have to use my oil filter wrenchto turn it on the rest of the way. cant tighten it by hand and yes im positive im not cross threading it. Im still trying to find a place locally that test injectors. Aparently in the middle of the cornfield we dont have these kinds of services.

UNOH in lima can do it. give em a call, see if mr silvers or sarge can do it in class. lol


also u have northwestern fuel injection up near findlay. something grove. cant remember.

Okay cool. Thats a plus on findin a place that will test the injectors. Do you know if they do injection pumps too? I take it you went there?

i found that place. fuel injection service in columbus grove.

Northwest Fuel Injection Service: Diesel Fuel Injection Repair


they can do it all. prety good shop

sounds like your not gettin any glow plugs..... if it smokes when it starts then your gettin fuel...... also try a baldwin bf1222 fuel filter it has no bowl on it that cured my 7.3 idi starting issue it was bleeding pressure off wich was sucking up air.....:humm:... let me know i will come to u if possible
i live in tacoma wa

The glow plugs are working thats what the shop played around with after i told them i had tested and replaced all the plugs and controller. It doesnt start to smoke right till a second or two before it starts after cranking for a couple minutes. Im gonna try loosing the fuel filter with the screw on bottom. Still trying to play around with this truck really getting tired of dealing with it and about to put a different engine in with less miles if i cant figure it out. I can pick up the engine less than i can get a injection pump for so im kinda leaning towards that. Also noticed it has a miss in it when it starts up and continues for a few miles even after its sat and warmed up.

My guess is the engine in my truck isnt original since it doesnt have the serpentine belt system on it and ive been told this one has had the heads replaced cause it was over heated yada yada. Was told it maybe a engine out of a bus by the diesel shop i took it too.

my filter housing was doing the same thing and leaking down the bottom cap nut don't always seal the first time you tighten it when changing the filter.