So i have a 97 powerstroke and in the mornings it won't start. The wait to start light will only stay on for a few seconds. i took it to the shop and they fixed the relay on it. It didn't help they said my glow plugs were good. But it still won't start like it used to. its starts fine when i plug it in!!! Someone please tell me they know what is going wrong with it. I'm tired of it not starting.

 

Check the glow plug relay... get a test light and with the key off check both sides. One should light up, the other not...

Now turn the key on and check again. The other side should light up as well. I dont care how many times I have heard people say the GPR has been replaced, 9 times out of 10 thats the issue.

 

well they replaced it just a week ago and its still is doing the same thing. So i took it back and told them to check the glow plugs and they said they were fine. He said the light in my wait to start light was going out making in shut off with in ten sec. But they are full of **** because it still doesn't work. But starts right up after i plug it in over night. Could it be the glow plugs or did that relay go out again?

 

How old are your batteries? How's your starter? Do you get a good crank?

 

weak batteries will not allow the truck to start, but it will crank. maybe try waiting to start a little bit longer after the light goes out as the plugs are still hot. the volt guage will stay towards the low side while the glow plugs are on.

 

Do You have the Updated CAM sensor in it I Know My 7.3 wouldnt start like that and swapped out the CAM sensor and everything was fine Also They Make an Updaited Glow Plug relay Aftermarket But Sounds to me like the shop is feeding you full of it.. sounds to me like glow plugs did they pull them out and individualy test them ?? There Made kind of like a fuse There ether good or bad really ive seen extreme weakness but most of the time hard start is due to 2 or 3 bad glow plugs

 

If the engine is turning over strong, but not firing, I'd look at the glow plugs after testing the glow plug relay.

You can test the GPs by disconnecting the electrical connectors at the valve covers. Use an Ohmmeter to test the outer pins on all connectors. I did this test when my truck wouldn't start. Found out I had three bad GPs on the right bank. I took that as a sign and replaced all eight GPs.

My readings were between 0.5 Ohms (that was the good one) and infinity (that's the other three).

 

If your glow plugs are not being turned on long enough, that tells me that your computer thinks the engine oil is warmer than it is. Could you have a faulty EOT sensor? I do not know if this is common or not, but it sounds logical to me.

 

check the fuel bowl heater

 

Both the fuel heaters in my truck have been disconnected for some time now with no ill effects.