[DougHughes]

I am at the point called desperation.
I have a F350 7.3 ltr.
The truck will not turn over if it has not been run for a day or more. If you plug in the block heater cord , it will turn over. Ford, in the past three weeks have replaced the glow plugs, the glow plug controller on the second visit and last week, replaced all the wiring to the injectors. The tab thus far is over 1,500.00 and the truck will not start unless you plug it in. There are no readable codes and went as far as towing it to the dealership when it would not start so the problem could be duplicated.If you start the truck at least once a day and let it run, it will start the next day, if you go any longer, it will crank til the cows come home but not turn over. Once you plug it in, it will fire up. The exhaust will pop a few times and the engine will proceed to a proper idle and runs perfect after this ritual. I am at a loss as to why Ford cannot figure this out and continually charge me to replace parts that do not resolve the issue.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NotHere]

Did you replace the batteries?

 

[DougHughes]

Yes sir
Two new batteries
and cables.

 

[Jacek82]

You might want to check the level of oil in the HPOP. I could be the check valve slightly open.

 

[stackedpsd99]

Fill in your signature so we can help. Include more info on your truck, miles, mods. Most importantly the mods.

 

[DougHughes]

Thanks for the speedy suggestions, The last thing I can boast is being inclined mechanically. Ford has had the truck 7 of the last twelve days and assured me they have checked everything and cannot figure out the problem. Any suggestions I will pass along directly to them as there are two dealerships that cannot resolve this issue.
Keep them coming, all tips and advice are noted and appreciated.

 

[DougHughes]

Sorry
first timer
2002 f350 auto 7.3 litre stock
310,000 kms
short block and turbo and heater core all replaced
3 rd transmission.
any thing else pertinent, please clarify,
am by no means a mechanic.

 

[drmiller100]

so when it is cold.

have friend crank it over, watch exhasut pipe. After about 15 or less seconds, do you see significant white smoke coming out the exhaust pipe?

i'd bet you do.

How cold does it get at night?

If it were mine, i'd replace starter just cuz u haven't yet, and they can spin slow.

if you have smoke, no start, then i'd be betting on glow plug circuit or fundamental lack of compression, or both.

glow plug circuit shoudl "fix" it so it will start. surprising that the ford stealer can't figure it out.

 

[TheWrecker]

Any updates?

 

[DougHughes]

Sorry guys
Out of town working
just to update
In the last three weeks
glow plugs have been replaced
glow plug controller replaced
all the wiring to all the injectors
WhenI say cold, I am referring to the truck not running for more than a day, It gets to -35-40c here in the winter, block heater is the only way to start here lol.
There is no longer white smoke since the controller was replaced, I let it sit for a day and a half and it took three cranks to turn over. Ford tells me to bring it back in , I told them I will take it to a proper shop that knows diesels. When it finally turns over , the smoke is the proper color and not heavy at all. The bottom line is , with all they have done, plugging the block heater in will assure it turns over and noone can solve this mystery. I told them to view this site as it seems the people here have a better idea of what is going on with fors than ford does.

 

[Tina]

this may be out in left field but what kind of oil are you running?

 

[grounder]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry guys
Out of town working
just to update
In the last three weeks
glow plugs have been replaced
glow plug controller replaced
all the wiring to all the injectors
WhenI say cold, I am referring to the truck not running for more than a day, It gets to -35-40c here in the winter, block heater is the only way to start here lol.
There is no longer white smoke since the controller was replaced, I let it sit for a day and a half and it took three cranks to turn over. Ford tells me to bring it back in , I told them I will take it to a proper shop that knows diesels. When it finally turns over , the smoke is the proper color and not heavy at all. The bottom line is , with all they have done, plugging the block heater in will assure it turns over and noone can solve this mystery. I told them to view this site as it seems the people here have a better idea of what is going on with fors than ford does.

[/ QUOTE ]As mentioned it is possible The HP Oil reservoir may be bleeding off.I know It doesnt make sense about plugging it in and relateing it to a Possible Oil issue But, being that the entire glowplug system has been supposedly replaced and checked over this and Fuel pressure would be the next step..Has anyone actually checked the glowplug operation with a meter to see if they are actually working?.Do you have the usual wait to start light.There also could be PCM and Oil temp sender issues too related to the glowplug system operating.

 

[DougHughes]

Here again
Ford's diesel "specialist" has had the truck 7 days in total and has supposedly trouble shot the vehicle to death. Am running 15 40.
Two shops have checked the plugs whilst running and confirmed proper operation.
The ticket for the truck is over 1500 dollars and I do not care for filling fords pockets with any more of my money while they replace one good part at a time.
I am at a loss to explain or understand why they cannot resolve this
issue. I need my truck at hand as I am on call 24 7 and things are busy.
If I start it once a day and let it run, it will start on its own the next day. Any longer than this and it will not crank unless you pluig it in for 10-15 minutes. someone mentioned the fuel heater, this I will mention to Ford. This dealership is now saying that they will have to replace the injectors next.C'mon , I said, and then what the motor and all the electrical?

 

[Down South]

It still sounds like you have a problem with the glow plug circuit if you can plug it in and it will start. You need to check to see if you are getting voltage to the glow plugs with a meter. Also wait another 30 sec or so after the wait to start light goes off before tring to crank it.
And as mentioned above you possibly may have a starter problem.

 

[duallyduty]

[ QUOTE ]

WhenI say cold, I am referring to the truck not running for more than a day, It gets to -35-40c here in the winter, block heater is the only way to start here lol.


[/ QUOTE ]

That seems pretty darn cold to me. What's wrong with just using the block heater? In places where the temperature stays well below sub freezing temperatures they leave their machines and vehicles running 24 hours a day in fear of the freezing weather not allowing them to start back up.

 

[Down South]

You know, that is mighty cold. I didn't read close enough I guess. I think I would wait at least a minute after the WTS light goes off before cranking. Maybe that would help.

 

[grounder]

[ QUOTE ]
You know, that is mighty cold. I didn't read close enough I guess. I think I would wait at least a minute after the WTS light goes off before cranking. Maybe that would help.

[/ QUOTE ]I also missed that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[DougHughes]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It is unfortunate and unacceptable that this dealership was not able to resolve this issue.I drove it back to the same dealership and traded it in on a 2006 f350 xlt 4 door longbox with the 6.0 litre. Purchased 150000 km bumper to bumper and will let the truck go after this point to save the frustration in the future. As
much as they cheesed me off,I still favor the ford trucks for the work I do in the oil patch. Chevs, I hear, are going with the solid beam in the front end starting in late 2007, like their transmissions, automatic that is and might consider giving the duramax a go next year.Will stay in touch.
Thanks again.

 

[DougHughes]

Glow plugs
Contorller
all wiring to injectors
all replaced by ford
All normal function
all voltage correct.
Tried waiting thirty seconds, no effect.
The truck will crank until the batteries are run down but will not fire.
As soon as you plug in the block heater, a couple cranks and she goes.
Someone mentioned the fuel heater , can anyone tell me how to go about checking it?