F350 Box ex-U-Haul, won't start

[rildin]

Hi,
I've been lurking and enjoying the forums, but now have a problem of my own.

I have a 90 F350 box truck, ex-uhaul. It's been hard to start for awhile, but has now quit. It cranks, but doesn't try to "fire". White smoke comes from the exhaust during cranking. Upon turning the key on, the wts light goes out almost immediately.

After reading here, I concluded that I had a 7.3l IDI (I know it's 7.3L from the docs that came when I purchased the truck). But as I'm looking at the glow plugs, they are not under the valve covers, but rather sticking out of the manifold to the (inside) of the valve covers. They appear to be about 10mm diameter, like tiny spark plugs.

I pulled the right side valve cover to be sure, and there are no plugs inside.

I picked up a replacement glow plug controller, based on a "90 Ford F350, 7.3l IDI" and replaced the old one, with no change in symptoms, except that the wts light stays on approx 1 sec. The gpc matched the one on the truck.

I'm going to change the glow plugs, but was wondering about the whole "under the valve cover - outside the valve cover" question. Does that affect which glow plugs I need or which diesel I have, I know it's internation 7.3l, but not much else.

Thanks for any help,
rildin.

[Mr_Roboto]

You have a 7.3L IDI, which is all there was till the PowerStroke (International T444E) was introduced in the 94 model year. There's nothing under the valve covers but valves.

Your problem is most likely burned out glow plugs. Even one bad GP will cause the controller to not work properly, because it operates based on the total GP resistance. Go to Autozone, and buy a set of 8 Motorcraft GP's (marked "Beru" on the plug). Do not use any brand as they can fail and damage your engine.

Use caution in changing the GP's. The tips can swell on the GP's, and if forced they will break off, and drop into your cylinder. DO NOT attempt to force any GP that does not come out easily.

I suggest doing a search on "Glow Plug" in the 7.3L IDI forum to get a better understanding of replacement procedure and tips/ tricks.

[tim94f250]

Go to an Autozone store and ask for Motorcraft ZD9 glow plugs. I think you will find your starting problem will be fixed when you change the glow plugs. Change all eight plugs. The wait to start light should stay illuminated between 7 and 15 seconds. Don't let them sell you anything else as some brands of glow plugs are sub-standard and can swell in place, then you would have to pull the head to get it out. The Motorcraft glow plugs are made in Germany by a company called Beru.

[BuilderBob]

[ QUOTE ]
Go to an Autozone store and ask for Motorcraft ZD9 glow plugs

[/ QUOTE ]

Go to an Autozone store and ask for Motorcraft ZD9 glow plugs,only.