1994 7.3 idi turbo having trouble starting.

[jkramar022]

Hey guys my truck is recently having trouble starting when it is cold. Before this problem occured I replced all the injector orings and also all the fuel lines a few months prior because they were laking. I also replaced 5 or 6 of the glow plugs about 2 years ago. I would have replaced all of them buti couldnt get to them because the stock turbo was in the way. The truck was starting great until about 2 weeks ago. When I turn the key i can hear the clicking of the glow plugs getting hot. Then i try and start it and i takes about 10 to 15seconds to actually start. Once the truck has started or warmed up you can shut it off and it starts up immeditly like it used to. Also the truck can sit for 4 or 5 hours and it will fire right up. When the engine is cold it will turn over for about 3 seconds and fire up if I use a little starting fluid. Any ideas?

 

[Wyreth]

FIRST THING!!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER give it starting fluid if the Glowplugs have not been disabled. That can destroy your engine.

Now on to diagnosis. Are you getting white puffs out the tailpipe while it's trying to start? Have you tried plugging in the block heater for an hour or so before you try to cold start it? Have you tried cranking it for like five seconds, then pushing the stem on the schrader valve on your fuel filter to see if you get air or fuel?

The problem could either be air in your fuel lines, or your glow plugs are no longer working correctly. Now if you get white puffs of smoke out the tailpipe when it's cold, that means your getting fuel, and you have a problem with your glowplugs. If not, then when it's having trouble starting, crank it for a while, (not enough to start it) then check the valve on your fuel filter. If you get air, then you have air intrusion. That's almost always a sign you need to replace your return line caps and o-rings, they're picky so even a fresh set can go bad quick. If you get fuel, then plug in the block heater for a while, then try it. If that lets it fire right up, then you're again, looking at a problem with your glowplugs.

at this point we need more info.

 

[icanfixall]

Welcome to the forum.
I know someone that works at the dam in that town....As posted above... Useing starting fluid and the glow plugs can easily bend a rod so please don't do that. If anyone tells you a tiny little shot of ether is ok please walk away from that information. Reason for this is what is a tiny bit to you is maybe not the same amount to others. I know someone here that has burned out all the glow plugs so he uses starting fluid without isssues but.. The glow plugs are not working. I can't tell you how to do it either. Its a learned feel when useing this method of adding something very explosive to the cylinders. The posting about white smoke out the tail pipe is important. That tells us your getting fuel in the cylinders but there is not enough heat to ignite the fuel. Diesel requires 940 degrees to lite off. Just the fast turning of the crank creates enough heat from compressing the air to lite off the diesel usually. Does the wait to start lite stay on for about 7 seconds. Then start clicking... If not then you need some glow plugs. What were the brand of plugs you installed and what was the brand you removed...

 

[cowboytueller]

If your glowplugs are new and check out all good a thing to check after that would be the controller. If the controller is worn out or has a long life on it, it will start to drop on the voltage it gives the glowplugs. Therefore even though the wait to start light is on for seven seconds the glowplugs might not get enough voltage to get hot enough for a cold morning.

 

[Pino2234]

If your glowplugs are new and check out all good a thing to check after that would be the controller. If the controller is worn out or has a long life on it, it will start to drop on the voltage it gives the glowplugs. Therefore even though the wait to start light is on for seven seconds the glowplugs might not get enough voltage to get hot enough for a cold morning.

What would be enough voltage? Do you know how it would affect heating if there is not enough voltage supplied? I.E. - If you have 8 volts going to your 12 volt glow plugs, would it be equivelent to your glow plugs being on for 2 seconds instead of 8.

 

[jim_22]

First you need to get at the 2 plugs that are hard to reach.

 

[Blind Driver2]

Which turbo do you have? I have no trouble getting to mine with my 088.

 

[HS108]

Quick question, I too was having some trouble starting it this cold afternoon (34 degrees)

So once my WTS light goes off, I hear the clicking and can see the voltage drop with each click, Should I wait for the clicking to stop before trying to crank the motor?

After doing some reading I think it might be air intrusion, but I want to make sure I have the starting process down

 

[HS108]

So today I tried to start the truck, it was a no go, it would just crank and crank. The PO said he had the GP and GP controler replaced at the dealer not too long ago, the GP controller looks new, I havent tested any of the GP's yet, but when I went to start it this afternoon (32 degrees) The WTS light stayed on for 4 seconds/Mississippi's then I could hear the relay click for 40 seconds after. I tried and nothing. I repeted the process of turning it off waiting etc etc.
I ended up running a cord out and plugging it in, after 45mins Fired right up.. stumbled a bit, puffed, then idled smooth

What I want to know is: The WTS on for 4 secs then relay click for 40, is this normal. I am busy with work and prob cant test my GP's until this weekend.

 

[cpdenton]

Try to crank it as soon as the WTS light turns off. The other clicks are a slow cool down cycle (while the truck is supposed to be running)of the glow plugs that are meant for emissions or something like that. 4 seconds does seem a little short though. Mine stays on 6 to 8 seconds at that temp.

 

[HS108]

I will try that tomorrow morning. Yea I turn the key and counted out 4 "mississippi's" then waited for the clicking to stop, I will try to crank as soon as the WTS light goes off.

I thought it may have been leak down, but I notice lil white puffs coming from the pipe, so from what ive read that means fuel is in there just inst hot enough to burn, when I finally do get it to pop off an run I usally get a pretty big cloud of light black smoke.