A few problems with 95

[jamesh23]

alright boys, yesterday I snagged me a 95 f250 powerstroke extended cab, long bed, automatic, 220,000 miles.

heres the problems

PROBLEM #1

first off the guy lost the keys so he has a box under the dash that you can switch it from auxilaries, off, on, and start, in that order, but sometimes when I go to start it, the starter just clicks? and it wont turn the truck over, but when you jump the solenoid it fires right up?
what can this be? and how do I fix it? Better yet how can I fix this problem and fix the no key problem so I can start it like a normal truck?

PROBLEM #2

the truck would not start this morning at all, it sat over night and I went to start it around 2pm, it was around 60 degrees outside, the truck would just crank and crank and crank, smoke was coming out the tail pipe and around the turbo? A shot of starting fluid up the intake and it started right away?
what can this be? and how can i fix it?

thanks for the future help

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by jamesh23

alright boys, yesterday I snagged me a 95 f250 powerstroke extended cab, long bed, automatic, 220,000 miles.

heres the problems

PROBLEM #1

first off the guy lost the keys so he has a box under the dash that you can switch it from auxilaries, off, on, and start, in that order, but sometimes when I go to start it, the starter just clicks? and it wont turn the truck over, but when you jump the solenoid it fires right up?
what can this be? and how do I fix it? Better yet how can I fix this problem and fix the no key problem so I can start it like a normal truck?

PROBLEM #2

the truck would not start this morning at all, it sat over night and I went to start it around 2pm, it was around 60 degrees outside, the truck would just crank and crank and crank, smoke was coming out the tail pipe and around the turbo? A shot of starting fluid up the intake and it started right away?
what can this be? and how can i fix it?

thanks for the future help

Problem 1 Sounds loke a poor connection. I would go to Ford and get a new ignition lock cylinder and door locks cylinders. You can buy them in a kit, aren't too expensive and easy to replace.



Problem 2 It sounds like a glow plug relay issue. I know it was 60° but the 7.3's don't like to start without glow plugs. For future reference, NEVER use starting fluid or anything else to get started. Can cause serious damage on a glow plug controlled engine.

[jamesh23]

oh did not know that, and ill check with ford on monday to get a price, and how am I supposed to get it started than? once it starts the first time it will start all day long, just wont start the first time. How do I test a glow plug relay to see if its good and where is it? thanks im a newbie to diesels.

besides where should I check for a poor connection?

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by jamesh23

oh did not know that, and ill check with ford on monday to get a price, and how am I supposed to get it started than? once it starts the first time it will start all day long, just wont start the first time. How do I test a glow plug relay to see if its good and where is it? thanks im a newbie to diesels.

besides where should I check for a poor connection?

Take a volt meter, put positive lead on one of the big lugs and the negative lead on the other lug. Have someone turn the key on and see if your volt meter reads any voltage. A lot of times the plastic housing cracks by the terminals. Here is a pic. Ford 7.3L Powerstroke Relay

Your bad connection sounds like it has something to do with the "temporary" switch that was installed. I would get the new key cylnders and replace them and take the other junk out.

[jamesh23]

I was thinkin the switch he had in there was actually stock, like a rod connects it to the ignition cylinder? maybe idk, ill test the relay when I get to class on monday thank you, and the truck is only hard starting in the morning, once its started the first time it will fire right up every other time, still a glow plug relay issue you think?

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by jamesh23

I was thinkin the switch he had in there was actually stock, like a rod connects it to the ignition cylinder? maybe idk, ill test the relay when I get to class on monday thank you, and the truck is only hard starting in the morning, once its started the first time it will fire right up every other time, still a glow plug relay issue you think?

Yep. They are really tempermental on cold starts. I'm not sure what's going on with the switch setup. Maybe you can post some pics.

[jamesh23]

ill try and get some up tomorrow, im gonna get some shut eye for now, thanks for the help so far.

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Originally Posted by jamesh23

ill try and get some up tomorrow, im gonna get some shut eye for now, thanks for the help so far.

No problem

[jamesh23]

startin to think I made a mistake trading my daily driver for this truck

now all it does is click whether I go to start it from the inside or go to jump the solenoid, just clicks or sometimes nothing at all, I couldnt start it today it wouldnt even turn over. the lights and the radio still work, the wait to start light comes on and everything, just no start?

[jamesh23]

ok so i took a picture and asked my instructor what the switch was, its just the stock ignition switch but its missin the rod that connects it to the tumbler, He told me to check the batteries and than check connections