Ford 7.3 powerstroke diesel

Having problems starting my '97 powerstroke diesel. I changed the glow plugs back around 2005 and still had trouble, so I took it to a diesel mechanic and they replace the actuator for the glow plugs. I figure I'll try that first, CAN ANYONE tell me where it is or looks like, and is their anything besides the glow plugs and the (actuator) or whatever it is called to help with starting ?

I thought that was just a relay? Don't have any diesel experience to speak of except with the Duramax to a limited extent. Enough to know I won't work on any Duramaxes!

If it were me, since I don't understand how the system works, I'd engineer my own system. Momentary switch (horn button) connected to primary side of relay, secondary side to glow plugs. Hold button in for 30 seconds and crank away.

EDIT: I found these complete systems in a search: http://www.accuratediesel.com/shop/52.html

Its right behind the fuel filter...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-sqAJ_Kh50

More info on the testing procedure: http://www.helium.com/items/982577-trou ... glow-plugs

Great vid there Carnage - now I understand it. Pretty simple system. I like that. Think I know what my next truck will be when my current one starts feeding me daily check engine lights.

Yeah the actuator, looks like a starter relay. behind the fuel filter, under the little plastic powerstroke cover. Your valve cover gaskets could be bad, they house the wires for the glow plugs. If you could find someone with an amp clamp, you could check how much the plugs are drawing, or ohm check the plugs that will tell you if one is open.



Eric

Coalfire wrote:Yeah the actuator, looks like a starter relay. behind the fuel filter, under the little plastic powerstroke cover. Your valve cover gaskets could be bad, they house the wires for the glow plugs. If you could find someone with an amp clamp, you could check how much the plugs are drawing, or ohm check the plugs that will tell you if one is open.



Eric

It can be other things - glow plug controller, valve cover gasket connections/under valve cover wiring or the relay, or the switch or a bad wire, or weak batteries. A weak battery(s) will not be readily apparent, it will turn the truck over fine, usually a bit slow, but still fire and run - untill it gets cold. Typically it's either the relay (1st thing to throw a part at) and if not then a battery or under valve cover wiring - esp. on high milage vehicle. I'm not sure about the pre-1999 powerstrokes, but on the later ones, pulling the valve cover to replace harnesses, glow plugs, or the gasket itself is a very easy straightforward process - if that's the problem.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[ID]=5807e728a4cf7e5ebf7b1bae1f73977a&ck[idlist]=5807e728a4cf7e5ebf7b1bae1f73977a

It could be, but the Glow Plug relays are really common to go bad. There was a write up on ford-trucks.com about using a different type of relay to beat the reliability problem with them. But I couldn't find it...

cArNaGe wrote:It could be, but the Glow Plug relays are really common to go bad. There was a write up on ford-trucks.com about using a different type of relay to beat the reliability problem with them. But I couldn't find it...

I'm with you, anytime I've had problems cold starting it was either my batteries getting weak (3years like clockwork, regardless of brand) or the relay (replaced twice). But it can be other things - start with the relay or batteries however.

did you by chance recently add and additives to the oil? a guy i work with last fall added lucas additive to his oil. when it got cold his 7.3 would not start. come to find out you have to use the synthetic version of the additive in powerstrokes, or guess what... it will not start when cold!

Boots wrote:did you by chance recently add and additives to the oil? a guy i work with last fall added lucas additive to his oil. when it got cold his 7.3 would not start. come to find out you have to use the synthetic version of the additive in powerstrokes, or guess what... it will not start when cold!

I've never heard that one. But I could see how that may happen. The injectors run off the HPOP (high pressure oil pump).

anyone that adds lucas anything to their oil should be taken out and shot.

cArNaGe wrote:

Boots wrote:did you by chance recently add and additives to the oil? a guy i work with last fall added lucas additive to his oil. when it got cold his 7.3 would not start. come to find out you have to use the synthetic version of the additive in powerstrokes, or guess what... it will not start when cold!

I've never heard that one. But I could see how that may happen. The injectors run off the HPOP (high pressure oil pump).

Yes, I added some cetane boost with water remover,and some of the sulfer (lubrication attive) I don't drive the truck much, just broke in at 100,000 miles.

Berlin wrote:anyone that adds lucas anything to their oil should be taken out and shot.

No I did not add any lucas. Thanks for all the info, guess I need to do an investigation. It was only down to 36 and it was hard to start, had to hit the key and wait to start 4 times till she was purring

http://youtu.be/MVem76fFe6s?hd=1

That's a cold blooded 7.3

After 1 1/2 minutes of the video of -19, I saw enough,that's just foolish. I wouldn't attempt that. When I drove the diesel to work, I would plug it in when the temps were low 20's. I would not DREAM of trying at -19 without the block heater. I set up a timer for my block heater not to waste electric all night.

cArNaGe wrote:http://youtu.be/MVem76fFe6s?hd=1

That's a cold blooded 7.3

I don't know what he's done to that truck, but I've started mine that cold and colder and I've never had that much trouble. He's probably got some very low compression or bad glow plugs etc. When it's been colder than -20 and it's sat for some time, I just cycle the glow plugs a few times THEN put my foot to the floor and crank it until it starts; once it fires I keep my foot in it for a while to keep it running - switching to 5w40 mobil 1 made a BIG difference as well.