[MNfats]

2002 f-250 supercab 4x4 7.3d. 2 miles from home the truck spits and bucks and missed. (120,000 miles) I thought it was bad fuel, drained all and put 5 gal fresh diesel. Same problem, no fix. Checked this forum and decided to check the connections under valve covers. BINGO!!!! Thank you everyone that posts and helps here. This could have been costly. Now I want to put the clips in so it dosent happen again. I saw them here but lost the thread.
Also, as long as im in there is there a procedure for checking and replacing glow plugs. I know at least one is bad.
Thanks again.

 

[F350_6]

You can check the glow plugs with an ohm meter. Either by directly touching the end of the glow plug with one lead and placing the other on battery ground, or by removing the plug at the valve cover and checking the pins in the connector. If you test the front 2 and rear 2 pins in the pass thru connector in the valve cover against battery ground. A reading of less than 2 ohms indicates a good glow plug.

Stick with motorcraft glowplugs if you have to replace any. The Autolite's tend to have the tip swell up so they break off in the head.

 

[TIMLUTZ]

Now I want to put the clips in so it dosent happen again. I saw them here but lost the thread.

A hacked off quarter works good.

 

[klhansen]

If you are worried about them coming loose again, I'd recommend replacing them with new UVC harnesses. They're about $20 each at RockAuto, ~$30 each from International, or ~$70 each from Ford. The clips are about $10 for 3 little pieces of plastic, but if the harness latches are brittle, they can easily break right off while trying to install the clips (don't ask how I know that). The new harnesses have an improved latch that the clips won't work with.

I wouldn't relish the thought of a quarter rattling around inside my engine.

Retainer (Under Valve Cover Harness clips)
Ford 2C3Z-14A163-AB
Int’l 1844193C91

Wiring Harness, Injectors & glow plugs
Ford F81Z-9D930-AB
Int’l 1830844C93
DORMAN Part # 904200

 

[R.J.]

I tend to agree with klhansen. At the age and mileage of your truck I would go with the new harness assembly with the improved latch. My .02

 

[MNfats]

New harness and gasket on each side. New glow plugs, two were bad. Reassembled and on the road. However, on my test run I got on it after it was warmed up. Under acceleration it ran great until a snap as if something broke. Now there is a loss of power and it wont downshift when you get on it. The rpms go up but the tranny seems unresponsive. Any ideas?

Update. The boot connection came off drivers side up front. Reinstalled, runs perfect.

Thanks everyone!!!