Truck won't start! Any ideas? - Diesel Forum

Rudebob · 03-03-2005, 10:41 AM

Posting for a co-worker whose truck would not start this morning. He has a 2000 7.3. This morning it would not start. All guages seem to funtion except the "wait to start light" does not come on. Truck cranks but does not fire.

He maintenanced it last week including changing of the fuel filter and pressure washed the engine. It has ran since the last few days until this morning.

Any ideas on where to start? Possibly a glowplug relay? Any thoughts would be appreciated. He did replace the cps about 8 monthes ago.

Thanks,

**klhansen** · 03-03-2005, 01:18 PM

WTS light not coming on is a bad sign. At best it means the PCM isn't getting power. Have him check the PCM fuse and PCM power relay. Worst case is the PCM is fried.

Pressure washing the engine may drive water into electrical connectors and cause them to corrode (problem may show up days or weeks later). I have to admit to pressure washing the engine before I knew better.

Also if the batteries are low, the engine will crank, but there won't be enough voltage to power the PCM and IDM. Load test the batteries. If original batteries, they are probably on their last legs.

Need more information for a better diagnosis. Any smoke at the tailpipe when cranking? If yes, then might be glow plugs, if not then maybe batteries.

Glow plug relay is easy to check. See if voltage is available at the large terminal with yellow and brown wires attached when key is first turned on with a cold engine. If yes, then GPR probably OK, if not then replace GPR.

JimTJr · 03-03-2005, 07:03 PM

What Klhanson said,, lol The fuse to check is the number 30 fuse inside the truck,,under the drivers side. This fuse is located in the lower right corner of the fuse box..as your looking at it. It is a 30amp fuse and also powers the IDM AND THE FUEL HEATER.....my heater is shorted and the truck stopped while cruising down I-70 at 70 miles per hour!!! JUST SHUT OFF...lol I swore it was the CPS..but nope.
SO if that fuse is blown,,maybe try installing another one. IF it blows ,then under the hood where the fuel filter is ,,,behind it there is a plug right on the fuel filter housing....unhook it,,then put in another fuse...it will probably not blow.. The fuel heaters are known to short sometimes.
Good luck,,and let us know what ya find ok?
Helps us help others later!!!!!

Voodoo · 03-03-2005, 10:03 PM

I just went through a similar scenario. But , wait to stat worked on mine. The engine on my 2001 cranked so vigorously, I couldn't believe it was a battery problem. It was. Two fresh batteries and it's like a new truck.

shamuex2000 · 03-04-2005, 09:54 AM

Poor chip contacts would cause this also.

Wakegd · 03-04-2005, 04:30 PM

I bought a used 2000 PSD about a month ago and this week have had starting problems. I installed a chip Wednesday night and it ran great, tons of power and I was super happy. The next day when I went to leave work it wouldn't start. Finally after like 20 minutes of trying it fired right up. When I got home I pulled the aftermarket chip and put it back to stock, I tried starting it and it seemed fine. Today, I went to start it and nothing.

The "wait to start" light comes on.
I did notice it seems to be blowing a lot of smoke out the exhaust.

Any tips for me? What can I check on my own? I don't want to have to have it towed to the dealership.

**klhansen** · 03-04-2005, 04:45 PM

Welcome to TheDieselStop [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Check my post above in this thread. If it's cold where you are, you may be having glow plug relay problems. If the glow plugs aren't heating up, the injected fuel has trouble igniting. The GPR is easy to replace.

Since it did it with and without the chip, it's probably not related to that.

JimTJr · 03-04-2005, 07:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The "wait to start" light comes on.
I did notice it seems to be blowing a lot of smoke out the exhaust.

Any tips for me? What can I check on my own? I don't want to have to have it towed to the dealership.

[/ QUOTE ] YEP,, that sounds like GP problems....Relay like KLHANSEN said...

Wakegd · 03-05-2005, 05:29 PM

How do I check the GP relay? Where is it? I assume its not just a fuse.

I am new to diesels.

And if its not the GP relay how do I check the glow plugs? Are they easy to access?

Wakegd · 03-06-2005, 05:23 PM

Well, after searching this site I found info on how to check my GPR. It was bad, put in a new one and viola she runs. Great info on this forum, thanks everyone.

Also, put my chip back in after I got everything else working, man is that 100+ hp setting fun [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Rudebob · 03-07-2005, 10:00 PM

Got it running. Took it to a powestoke "expert" turns out it was the GPR which definately got wet. You could see it full of moisture. However, expert claims it also shorted the computer. Not certain if this really was the case or just because he originally said the computer was the problem and had already got one from Ford.

Well it runs now and serves as an expensive reminder as to why you don't pressure wash you engine.

Thanks for the replys,

'Bob