1990 E350 Ambulance w/7.3

[sneal251]

I teach auto mechanics @ a community college. Rec'd a donation of an older Ford ambulance, 7.3 auto. previous instructor said not run in awhile but needed to by pass glo-plug relay to start. Seems I've heard of these problems before on the old Fords. Students are on spring break, I don't have access to my usual aldata etc. Need to get this thing running to rearange the yard. Can anyone advise what the quick/easy version of this fix is to make this work temporarily? I'm going to jump start this thing with 2 sets of cables from a big diesel truck with 4 batteries. Spray w/start fluid? I don't want to destroy anything, just get it running to move it around (by myself)
Thx Steve (sorry guys I identified the engine size wrong the 1st time)

[james7977]

use wd40 not starting fluid and u should be good

[FordGuy100]

The glow plug relay is at the back of the intake manifold. If the glow plugs are still good and relay is bad, take a 12 gauge wire from a positive side of a battery (just hold it there), and hold it to the terminal with the small white wire. You should hear it click. Hold it on for about 8-10 seconds, and either have somebody crank it, or take the 12 gauge wire off and run inside and crank.

If the glow plugs are shot, plug it in. Wait a couple hours. Should fire off if temps arent too bad.

Or you can try starting fluid. If so, disconnect small white wire on glow plug relay, that makes the glowplugs inoperable. Give it a SMALL shot of starting fluid. Be smart about it. Then crank, should roar to life.