DIESEL BLOG
Crank No Start 7.3 Power Stroke
March 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

Help my 7.3 Power Stroke cranks but will not start.  So lets put down that can of starting fluid and figure out why it won't start instead of causing more damage.  The first step in a 7.3 no start is to simply check the oil level.  Yes the oil level.  Your engine could be low by just 3-4 quarts causing a hard start.  Unlike other diesel engines the Powerstroke has two oil pumps.  One to lubricate the engine components and the other to operate the fuel injectors. 

    Next lets sit in the driver's seat.  Turn the key on, does the "Wait to start light" come on?  If the light does not light up check the 30 amp fuse under the steering wheel.  This fuse will operate the fuel bowl heater and a power circut for the powertain control module.  A common 7.3 PSD problem is the fuel bowl heater shorting out under the fuel filter, which in turn blows the fuse. 

   Try and crank the engine.  If you have a tach guage does it move?  If the computer does not see a tach signal it will not turn on the fuel.  The truck must also crank fast enough.  If it is not cranking fast enough it won't generate a signal for the camshaft position sensor.

  Next step is checking glow plugs.  Generation one and two powerstrokes will vary in their glow plug control, but I will keep this simple.  On most PSD on the passenger side on the engine on top there will be a relay.  This relay has four terminals.  (note sometimes there are two relays next to eachother one is for glow plugs and one is for the intake heater.  Also on some models the glow plug relay will look like a mini control module.  do not go poking around on these wires it requires a different set of tests.)  Most PSD's have the 4 post relay.  One wire will have B+ all the time, across from it on the other big post this is the feed to the glow plugs.  The Two other terminals smaller in size, One is key on power from the ignition switch and the other is a ground controlled by the Powertain Control Module.  Verify That the relay is working.  Even if it makes a click noise, verify the relay has really switched power.  Now the glow plugs will need to pull about 180-190 amps when cold.  This is total for all eight glow plugs.  Yes that is alot of amps so be sure your battery and charging system is up to par.  When your truck losses one glow plug it will become harder and harder to start.  It is only a matter of time till all the glow plugs fail.  Can't see the glow plugs.  That's because they are located under the valve covers.  AAAhhh do not use starting fluid on a hard start.  If you have only 3 glow plugs working and you use starting fluid on it you are going to cause engine damage very quickly. 

  These are just a few 7.3 Power Stroke problems issues to keep in mind on a crank no start.

Posted in PowerStroke 7.3 by Jim Heintz
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sam and bj  says:
September 28th, 2009 at 7:43 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

hi jim,sam and bj here/your info helped us get our truck started/pcm neded to be flashed and changed out crankshaft position sensor/now we don't have alt/overdrive or guages any suggestions/thanks waiting to hear from you and powerstroke/we work on a lot of them and own 2   thanks again sam/bj

Jeff miller says:
November 18th, 2009 at 5:59 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

hey. i tried all the above before reading ths site. i ran codes and it threw a p1212 and a p1280. i figured my icp sensor is probably shot. i replaced it ($140 at wholesale price BTW) and still nothing. i plugged in the block heater overnight to see if the glowplugs were shot. nothing. heres what happened: i went out to fire it up in the morning. i didnt drive it the day before, but the day before that it ran great. so i go to crank and wait for the light. it cranks but no start. i wait for the light again and still no start. so i went through everything listed and still nothing. after swapping icp sensors, it doesnt throw a code anymore. there is fuel in the bowl and its clean. do you have any ideas??

thanks!

jeff

Kwong Chew says:
December 6th, 2009 at 9:18 am   starstarstarstarstar      

I have the same thing as Jeff. I last stopped the engine when it was showing signs of gas deprivation, then cranks but no start. New fuel filter, verified that diesel is pumping out, new CPS, tried heater for a few hours ... yes engine oil, NO CODES! Any ideas?

buddy says:
January 7th, 2010 at 7:15 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

i have a flashing check engine light and wait to start light relays and fuses are good cranks but no start. tried to hook a computer to obd2 and it says communicating error do u think it needs a ecm

Josh says:
February 27th, 2010 at 6:31 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

I have to plug my 01' 7.3 up from about mid oct. until may. Otherwise it won't start after sitting for more than 6 hours. I live in Alabama so climate is warm enough. fuel check, glow plug relay is working, compression checks out good. no codes, glow plugs are working, any ideas? Also, I have twin Optima 1000 amp battery's and a new starter so it spins hard and fast. Runs like crap for about 5 min after startup. Help? any ideas would be great

gkup says:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:45 am   starstarstarstarstar      

I have a 1996  Ford 7.3 powerstroke turbo shuttle bus. It always starts when the WTS light is on but that light doesn't always light up. I assume that the 30 amp fuse under the steering wheel has not blown otherwise it would never start. Correct?  Is the oil level and the wait to start light related? Would low oil pressure cause the Wait To Start light not to light up? Can the cam sensor work intermitently and can it cause the WTS light not to light up? Thanks for your help.?

philip  says:
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:18 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

What about oil preasure? the truck has been sitting for two years and now shows no oil preasure on the gauge. I checked the oil level and tried filling the inj. oil tank, after cranking, it drops alittle but i'm not getting any fuel smoke and the exhaust doesn't smell of fuel. I'm afraid of testing it to much w/o preasure, Ideas?

zach  says:
November 21st, 2010 at 1:53 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

i have a 99 f-350 just put in a 2000 7.3 in it is crancking but wont start got smoke out once but very breff. got fuel to fuel filter and oil to hpop new hpor oil press gauge goes up but tack dont move. also new cam position sen. any suggestions would be appriciated.

David McDonald says:
January 2nd, 2011 at 6:42 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

I have seen tons of postings like this but i have never found a diffinitive answer. Had the 'no start' this morning again. It got down to 20 last night and I did not plug the block heater in. I found out that while it is rare, it might have been the IDM (Injector Drive Module) but I borrowed my wifes and no change. Great, fully charged batteries, good glow plugs and relay, full fuel bowl. Any one take thier truck to Ford on this one? Don't have the coin currently to take mine in but I could fix what ever it might be.

Any experiences would be a plus.

Thanks, David in Tucson

cammelspider says:
January 28th, 2011 at 4:41 pm   starstarstarstarstar      

I have an early 99 7.3 that wont start when warm like you shut it off to fuel it up then it wont start for a couple hours!!!! any ideas? cranks pretty good though. starts great in sub freezing temps....

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