Fuse#22 Blown/Fuel Bowl Leaking Diesel

[Reel_Drifter]

1996 F250 7.3 Liter

So my tuck has been acting up latley and it finally left me stranded today. Only about a mile from home, could of been worse. Here's the deal:
Fuse #22 blown
Engine turns but wont start
Wait To Start Light NOT lighting up also
Replaced fuse and my Heater External Conector goes up in smoke/frys
Fuse #22 blown again and replaced, this time with both the Heater External Conector & Water In Fuel (WIT) disconected.
Wait To Start lights works fine and truck cranks right up.
Now diesel spills out of Heater External Conector

I've been reading up on the problem and I "think" I have the solution to the problem:
Heater Thermal External PN F4TZ-9J294-A
Gasket PN F4TZ-9C065-A

Is there anything else I should look out for? maybe replace the actual heater under the bowl? Any help would be appreciated & thanks in advance Fellas!

[White95f250]

Pull the bowl and do all new o-rings and hoses. It will be worth it.

[madpogue]

Are you fixin' on decommissioning the heater permanently? I would think there's an NPT plug you can put in its place; that would solve that leak issue.

[Patrick Feeley]

If it's leaking from the fuel bowl feed through, you will need a new one (about $50) and it is sealed by an o-ring/clamp deal (an o-ring will come with the new part). I've never looked to see if its possible to tap the housing for a plug and still clear everything like the water-in-fuel sensor (the fuel restriction sensor hole can be plugged). You don't really need the fuel heater living in Houston. Cheers!

[Reel_Drifter]

No I'm not going to decomission the heater and really did'nt want to plug the bowl. I did read that alot of people have pluged them with no problems though. I guess I just want to fix her up right. Called the Dealership today and seems like I'm gonna have to fork over about $70 after taxes for the sensor and gasket/o ring. This does'nt include the heater itself which I can buy cheaper at Oreilly's or Napa. Thanks for the insight guys!

[White95f250]

Go to the international dealer. Ford dealerships will rape you on the price

[stroke it out]

riffraff diesel has a special on fuel heater elements right now. they also sell fuel bowl rebuild kits