7.3 not starting at all - Diesel Forum

blabla · 03-22-2008, 05:51 PM

just bought a 88 7.3 non turbo looks great but it has a few issues. the owner before me said it was stoolen and ran out of diesel. this is my first diesel and im not sure where to start. it wont crank and when the air filter is off and tryed to turn over it blows white smoke out the intake. it is getting diesel, what could be the problem. any suggestions would be greatly apprciated

BuilderBob · 03-22-2008, 09:08 PM

Your description lacks details.
Please post the vehicle description. Is it a handshaker?
Does the starter engage the flywheel?
Has this truck been operating correctly recently?
Have you seen it run?
Is there fresh fuel in the tank?
How do you know it is getting fuel?
Details?

cdnsarguy · 03-23-2008, 01:00 AM

I wish I could understand what.........

Quote:

it wont crank

really means.......

to crank an engine means to roll it over on the starter in my day.......

If it does smoke out the intake and does not roll over (crank) then you could have hydrolocked engine. The smoke could be from the GPs with a valve open......

Does the engine turn over on the starter, do the GPs work.............

blabla · 03-23-2008, 01:54 AM

i am new to the whole diesel thing this would be my first one so please parden my lack of termonology. its 1988 ford f250 3/4 ton 4x4 7.3 non turbo, so far iv perged fuel system rolls over by the starter but will not run. i have checked oil, fule level, not sure on glow plugs (dont have tool to check), have run the block heater to see if it would help but so far nothing.

strayder · 03-23-2008, 04:16 AM

You REALLY need good batterys, if not you just keep on whining with no start. Charge your batterys over night and jump start it with another car when you try start it the next day. Glow it twice before start... With new charged batterys and another car jumpstarting it you will do it I think.
But good batterys, atleast =>180 ampere is a MUST with this cars!!!

(Before I bought the last batterys I had the exact same problem with my van and after I had tried and tried starting a little rice cooker stopped and asked if he could jump start my van with his car. I should have said no, but said yes and after less than 30 sec the guy cryes out and pulls of the cables in a hurry, coz his alternator was melting!!!! I'm not kidding!!! So be carefull with what car you jump start your vehicle with

)

Are you sure it gets diesel? (I made a fool of myself once over just that one....

) Its normal btw that it blows whitish smoke where the air filter is during start, atleast both my IDI vans have done that...

trampsdieseltruck · 03-23-2008, 10:19 AM

be careful when trying to start the truck.you could take the starter out.dont run the starter more the 15 second at a time then give it 2 minutes for the starter to cool down before you retry.have you done a vacuum test on the fuel pump?have you tested the glow plugs?