Blog: Posts in PowerStroke 7.3

7.3 cold start issue

1965chevywagon@gmail.com (Samuel Culbert) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 17:41:05 +0000

Hi folks, new old guy here. I haven't been involved with a blog like this before but now have the need for advice. I have a 1999, 250, 7.3 with 260K, all easy driving. I now have a hard starting issue as follows.....I will say upfront that I replaced both batteries recently, they were still under warrenty as they were less than a year old.

Cold mornings after glow plug routine, engine will crank for 4-5 seconds, no start, no more crank. If I wait for a couple of minutes and continue this process 4 or 5 times it will eventually start and run just fine. After warming up, it will start fine all day long.

When idling I get about 14.5 volts at the batteries so Altenator seems fine, I have jumped the Glow plug module for 30 seconds and still won't fire when cold. I am thinking I may have a starter problem but it cranks just fine after warming up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I should also say that this truck is not a daily runner, perhaps every other week I will take it for a run, just to charge the batteries.

Thanks for your time......Doug

1992 Ford f350 no Crank no start

mariordz26@yahoo.com (Mario Rodriguez) — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 00:14:40 +0000

I have a 1992 Ford F-350 7.3 diesel. No Crank no start. I already changed out the starter solenoid , got a new starter. Motor moves freely. The only thing I haven't done is check the the voltage to the starter. I'm running out of options to figure out the problem. Can anyone give me some options to figure it out. Thanks

7.3 Running Hot

dwaynebritton19@gmail.com (Dwayne Britton) — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:03:25 +0000

I have a 99 7.3 with 160k miles, it has been sounding like an air compressor pumping air for a while then this week I noticed a lot of extra smoke coming out the exhaust while idling. Same day I noticed the smoke I turned the heater on and smelled antifreeze but the air was cold then going down the road it started running hot 230, I stopped pulled the oil stick out and white smoke was coming out the dip tube. I'm guessing a head gasket but not sure the best way to tell or what else to check, thanks

1995 f350 7.3 crank no start ready to set fire to it

Vitiated@msn.com (Dav Hunt) — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 09:57:23 +0000

All right I'm at my wits end with this truck it's a 1995 Ford F3 50 7.3 dually quad cab It's Tabs Dad he run it out of fuel twice then about a month or so it started idling rough and not really want to start in the morning that went on for about a week or so then he was driving it and then it's hard to drive and rough just as rough as it was idling then he drove it like that for about another month and then it he started having it to where it was dying on him occasionally then we were at a stoplight one day and it died on him and took her straight home then we brought it here why I've been working on it First thing we discovered it wouldn't get enough fuel because of the tank selector valve so I tapped on it got it to work for the time being then we went to getting enough fuel pressure to the fuel bowl so we figured it he burn up the pump so we replace the tank fuel selector Valve and the fuel pump and also I took out all the injectors open them bottom part only and cleaned him come to find out one of them had a piece missing and one of them had a broken spring so I fixed it and put them back then we will get fuel to the bowl and all the cylinders were hidden but it just still wouldn't run so I did some more research it some more tinkering and replaced die PR valve and ICP valve because my troubleshooting led me to believe that those may be a problem as well so so far it's got a tank selector valve a brand new fuel pump ICP valve and I PR valve then we were able to scan it somehow or another we figured out that we could scan it so then we got a scanner and scan it it was saying high side was open on the driver side I'll send u the codes So I troubleshoot it that and found the valve cover gasket was bad and we just replaced it back last year this time so what I did was I replace them both and I did a Home reading on the entire system and I have that as well I will send you and I follow that procedure and I ohms it out 3.8 For the whole system and I double checked the IDM and everything to that seems to be OK as of yesterday it ran for about a minute and a half it chugged really bad but it ran There's proper amount of oil and a high-pressure oil pump There is enough oil in the motor there's proper amperage in the batteries proper voltage in the batteries had to replace the starter because I guess us trying to get it to crank over the other day her but a week ago it burned up starter so we replace the starter and I will send you the last thing it showed because now I'm having an issue to get the tester to read it For no longer works on his old vehicles and have no way to scan them so if you know anybody that has an in-depth scanner to do it it's it takes an OBD two that's what it's been updated to because I don't know what else to do we done everything that I could fine as far as troubleshooting and what I can fine as far as the half ass manual so I can get here in there Here is a list of all I have checked or replaced: 1) changed oil and filter, checked oil level. 2) checked fuel bowl for the loose heater - good 3) checked fuel filter, changed it less than 1000 miles ago 4) check glow plugs out of the motor 5) checked all engine compartment fuses 6) checked wiring harness for frayed ends 7) replaced the ECP? (front sensor) 8) checked for oil on the ICP sensor - none 9) replaced several CPS's 10) checked HPOP it's up to spec 11) changed both VC gaskets & checked harness.

1988 Ford F250 7.3 International

1965chevywagon@gmail.com (Samuel Culbert) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 17:41:06 +0000

I just cant get this started! Parked it a year ago after barely making it home. Saw fuel under it and thought the fuel pump let go and it ran like out of fuel. Replace mechanical fuel pump and realized t he cam looked worn so added a electric fuel pump Nada!! Change all the glow pugs and controller! It back fired one time but wont start. Always been a paint t ostart after sitting a week.

Owned the truck since 1993 and has 150k miles. Yes it has always taken starting fluid to start and wondering if this has take a toll. Problyly have not put 10k miles on it since 1997. Thoughts are appreciated.

Aggravated

perkinsfarm@outlook.com (Earl Perkins) — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:50:31 +0000

The other afternoon truck idled 10 to 15 put in gear and died tried to restart noticed no oil pressure check topped off oil and put known good ipr just for chance no luck next morning fired up no probs any idea getting hard to trust it now

7.3 no start

benjaminhartranft@gmail.com (Benjamin Hartranft) — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 12:10:50 +0000

The other day I started my 02 excursion to let it warm up and it stalled. It wouldn't start back up so I was checking the battery and it seams ok checked the fuel filter and changed it. I checked and there is fuel pumping and now I'm out of ideas and my oil level was good

1997 Ford Heavy Duty F250

jgedel@comcast.net (John Edel) — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 12:02:48 +0000

I have a 1997 F250 with a 7.3 that keeps popping the #22 fuse. Drove just fine and was parked. Went to move the truck and it would not start. After doing some troubleshooting found the 22 fuse popped. Put a new one in and it popped immediately. Is this an indication that the PCM is bad.

7.3 wont start

1965chevywagon@gmail.com (Samuel Culbert) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 17:41:07 +0000

hi guys pulled a 7.3 out of a wrecked truck(but before i did started it and drove truck 4 times around lot over a week ) then pulled motor and installed in different truck , it wont fire up now , 1 got wait to start light , 2 tach moves to about 300 rpm when cranking , 3 got smoke coming out exhaust pipe , 4 , will run on wd 40 if sprayed in intake , swapped over idm and ecm from wrecked truck, even tryed orignal

idm and ecm from truck i put motor in , cranking great , changed oil and filter, swapped out cps from old motor , put the one from wrecked motor back incause it worked 2 days ago , and tach moved with either one , we are about 40 degrees out , have great fuel pressure coming to fuel filter housing , dont want to hang parts ,anyone got any ideas what i should check next to get this thing up and running any help would

be great , is there any way to test the hpop

1995 F350 4x4 four door 7.3 powerstroke

oregonhunter5962@gmail.com (Martin Hill) — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 18:31:40 +0000

I have a 1995 F350 Powerstroke 7.3

Sometimes it would take a few tries to start it in the mornings, unless it was already warmed up.

But the other morning, I came out to start it and it tried to fire, but then immediately died.

When I tried to start it again, there was no smoke from the tail pipe like it usually does before you get it started, and also the Rach did not move at all.

So I pulled the Cam positioning sensor and replaced it with a new one.

I then had the truck plugged in for the block heater for a couple of hours.

When I tried to start it, it still would only crank with no start.

And there was still no smoke from the tail pipe and the Rach still did not move.

I am totally lost.

I am out in the woods above Timber, Oregon, and I am on disability.

I am limited on hand tools and no shop.

I sure would appreciate knowing what to do next.

I am even checking around for a shop or something to fix or work on my truck and let me make payments.

7.3 wont start wait to start flickers all the time key is on

rcking007@gmail.com (rick king) — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 12:26:09 +0000

97 f350 7.3 truck was running great no missing or anything parked it in driveway went back out couple hrs later got in it wont start cranks fast but start wait to start light flickering like a turn signal have checked all fuses all are good fuel bowl heater good have fire on all the relays in the fuse box fuel pump is pumping fuel in fuel bowl tach is moving when cranked over with key on have fire on the high oil preasure no smoke at all but have smell of fuel also i will not fire on anything and tryed to get into pcm with snap on comp and all came back na

7.3 no start

william.blankenhorn@yahoo.com (william blankenhorn) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:30:53 +0000

just bought 2000 7.3 powerstroke drove 60 miles and stahled out and then died.replaced cam sensor,ipr,and idm.not building any oil pressure for injectors.ipr magnet is not getting energised.one wire to the ipr is getting 12 volts and the other wire is getting stray voltage when it should be a ground to activate the magnet.i have heard the wiring harness can short out over the valve cover.anyone had this problem before,and clues to start where to look?

2001 F-250 Cranking issues

johanhill4@gmail.com (Johan Hill) — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 21:53:44 +0000

Hey guys I have a 2001 F-250 w/7.3, drove home from work one evening cut off my truck came out the next day start and the trk would not crank. eventually I replaced the grounding cable to the block it completely corroided, replaced the starter, and fully charged both batteries. The truck tried to crank but after 15sec. I cut the truck off it would not stop trying to crank even after I turned the ingition switch off it was still cranking. I had to remove the neg. cables. what would cause that to happen? I tried to put neg cables back on and as soon as I touched the battery it sparked up so whatever it is that caused it to continue to crank is stilled engaged. What can be causing the truck to do that?

Johan

7.3 will not start

dbush@pldi.net (Dalton Bush) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:26:25 +0000

Hey i am new to this so bear with me. I have a 2000 7.3 F-250 that will crank but no start. I put a code reader on it and showed no codes. I replaced the wiring harness and it didn't help. Any suggestions?

97 powerstroke choppy idle on startup after zf5 swap

Mustang87@rocketmail.com (Trent Beach) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:04:15 +0000

Hey I just recently did the e4od to zf5 swap and ever since then every time I start the truck I have a really choppy idle from about 400-800 rpms I can rev it up for a couple of secs and it goes away and won't do it again until I shut it off and restart it? All new glow plugs, GPR, valve cover gaskets and uvch oil change and newer fuel filter please help

7.3 liter powerstroke changed high pressure line and wont prime

darkside_201@hotmail.com (Ryan McGinnis) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:33:54 +0000

i blew a high pressure oil line, i have changed it and couldnt get it to start. i changed the hpop and have been through numerous starters and one battery! i have over 1000 psi to the ipr and 500 psi and 17% on koeo at the icp, exactly what it is supposed to be. i have fuel to the seperator. it will not start. i have not done an injector sequence test yet. my rpm gauge does not register but it is turning over rapidly. IT will not even smoke there is no fuel to the cyliders. why would there be a problem with fuel if it blew an oil line???? there has to be a way to reset the system but nothing is working. HELP!!!!!!

2002 7.3 powerstroke won't start

larson.day@ttu.edu (Larson Day) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:59:09 +0000

I have a 2002 7.3 liter powerstroke that a friend ran out of diesel and ever since then(about a week) it ran poorly, rough idle, no power. I changed the fuel filter and now it starts and will run for a few seconds but dies after chugging black smoke out the pipe. I was told by someone on another forum that there are 2 fuel filters? One under the truck, I cannot find it but i can find something that warns of high pressure fuel. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

7.3 won't start, no oil preasure

pacrat1982@suddenlink.net (Philip Crockett) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:20:13 +0000

This 94 hasn't been run in two yrs. Had a buddy run the inj. system elec. test and it all checked out. The oil level is full, but not making preasure. Batterys full and being charged while testing. I even filled the inj. oil tank. got nay ideas?

2002 F350 Powerstroke 7.3 cranks won't start

darrylberenson@yahoo.com (Darryl Berenson) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:44:13 +0000

I have a 2002 F350 7.3 that someone borrowed from mr and added Bio-Diesel, and now it will not run. I have cleand out the complete fuel system from the tank to the injectors replaced filters and now have clean fuel to the engine.

The engine cranks freely but no fire.

Anyone have an y ideas.

Thank you

Darryl

6.0 Fuel Filter Drain

michiganjim4@sbcglobal.net (Jim Heintz) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:04:16 +0000

Well if you have had the pleasure of changing a 6.0 Diesel fuel filter, you know that on the F series it can be a bit messy. A quick tip to make life easier is to remove the fuel drain plug. This is useful in draining the housing as well a removing any water or debris from the primary fuel filter assembly along the frame. There is a hex plug located in the middle of the assembly towards the bottom. It will be partially blocked if you own a 4x4, but an allen wrench will remove the plug. Don't loose the sealing washer. Pull the plug, catch the fuel and any debris that comes with it. Less mess and your shirt won't smell like diesel fuel the rest of the day.

7.3l Power Stroke 1st Generation or Second Generation

Kevin@garrettauto.com (Kevin Brown) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:54:10 +0000

To determine if your truck is an early or late 1999 model year, locate the tag on the drivers side door. Vehicles built before 12/7/98 are considered early 99 and vehicle built after 12/7/98 are considered late 99. What does this mean? One difference between 1st and second generation is early(1st generation) 7.3 power strokes have a mechanical lift pump located in the vally of the engine. Horse Power and Torque increase for 2nd generation and servel other differences see chart below for horse power and torque specs

1st Generation	Details
Engine	V8 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Horsepower	235 @ 2700 RPM
Torque	500 @ 1600 RPM
Gas Mileage	-
Bore x Stroke	4.11 x 4.18
Compression Ratio	17.5
Fuel Type	Turbo Diesel

2nd Generation	Details
Engine	V8 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Horsepower	250 @ 2600 RPM
Torque	505 @ 1600 RPM
Gas Mileage	-
Bore x Stroke	4.11 x 4.18
Compression Ratio	17.5
Fuel Type	Turbo Diesel