Won't Crank Problem...

[Mcathcart]

Drove my '99 7.3 to Charlotte NC today and got Stranded. It ran fine to for 120 miles, turned the engine off. Came back 15 minutes later and No Crankie! So... got a new fuel filter and a can of Ether, changed the filter and it still would hit. Sprayed it with ether and it would run but the throttle wouldn't do anything (wouldn't increase engine speed). Ran the entire can of ether throught it. As long as it had a squirt it would run but as soon as the ether ran out the engine stopped. OK welllll it's the CPS! Went and got a New CPS and now I'm Sure it's going to Crank but Nothing. It will still run on ether but that's it. I ended up unloading a wreck I was picking up and drove it 120 miles home. (I've checked the fuses and the inertia switch before getting the CPS and all were good.)

Additional piece(s) of the puzzle;

About 5 months ago it pulled this same stunt. It was running, then quit and wouldn't crank at the time It Quit, The Radio or A/C stopped working. I didn't think to check either today to see if the A/C blower worked or radio. It did this about a 1/2 dozen times and the problem went away. Even at that time I thought CPS.

Now the other bad part of the puzzle, I poured about 3 gallons of burnt oil in the truck yesterday. (Yea, don't tell me I shouldn't have done that. So far the total is $125.00 wrecker bill to pull it 1.5 blocks to a big truck shop and a buck fifty for the new CPS that didn't solve the problem.) I topped the tank off with diesel this morning before I left. Sooo... I'd say it had 3 to 4 gallons of burnt oil and 25 to 28 of diesel before I drove it 120 miles.)

I'm almost to the pont that I think the electrical bug I had 5 months ago is back or is it the burnt oil?

I would greatly appreciate any knowledgeable opinion(s) on what to do or try.

Thanks,

Mike

[Mcathcart]

No ideas... I thought this was the Powerstroke Forum?

Headed back to Charlotte Thursday to check

1. The pump oil level
2. Fuel shut-off soleniod
3. Fuses to the PCM
4. Pressure regulator
5. Fuel pressure

If it still won't crank

6. Pump 28 gallons of fuel out and install new clean filter and fuel


Thanks for all the help!

Captain Mike

[vitalidle]

Make sure your batteries are good. You pcm needs 10.5 volts to fire the engine. Your batteries might have enough juice to crank the motor over, but not enough to start.

[vitalidle]

Never mind I read your post again and you said it will run on ether so you had it running. I would say it could be a fuel related issue. Does your fuel pump work? Can you hear it running when your turn the key on?

[Mcathcart]

Problem Solved.

Checked all the stuff above.

Fuel Shut-off solenoid, Good.
Fuel pressure 50 psi.
All Fuses Good
Relays (swapped 30 PCM,31 Plower Relay and 32 Forgot this one does!)
Fuel Pressure Regulator (good, see #2)

Pumped out the nasty fuel and burnt oil. Installed New Clean Fuel. Purged pump and lines, purged injector supply.

And NO STILL WOULD NOT FIRE. (I did think about a Match...)

Since it ran before I turned it off, I was still thinking Electrical and Since No Fuel Vapor Came out of the exhaust... This also said NO FUEL. I started running the power from the ignition switch, to the fuse, then to the PCM. All was OK. Decided to pull alllll the fuses in the power distrubution block under the hood. The first fuse I pulled seemed to have a Silicone Grease on it, the legs (or tabs) looked kinda coated and didn't look to have good continuity. Ceaned the fuse (19) decide to pull them all out one at a time and reseat them about 3 times each after wiping the funk off them. Sat in the truck and hit the switch and IT's RUNNING! The engine didn't turn over 1 revolution and Vroooom (or clackity clackity clackity). To clarify what the problem was... The sending side (male) of the fuse going to the PCM relay was not connecting to the female side in the connector. I had checked all the fuses three times and they all were good (w/a test light on both pins). I was to the point thinking the High Pressure Pump was history or it had burnt the glow-plug harness into.

Total cost for 1 bad connection? I'm going to say $500.00.

$125.00 towing for 1.5 blocks w/loaded car trailer
150.00 CPS
60.00 Fuel Filters
65.00 pump to pump out fuel tank
35.00 Ether, 1/8" fuel gauge conection parts (I had a gauge)
60.00 Gave the shop Mgr and 1 mechanic a few bucks for helping de- bug at VehiCare and I need to buy my pal who is president VehiCare dinner for sending his Shop Manage to my rescue.
25.00 Gas to drive a car back up
175.00 6 Hours loss of work

If your Powerstroke refuses to crank. PULL THE FUSES OUT AND RESEAT THEM! (Before You Spend a bunch of doe on a CPS and other junk.)

Just for the record, yes the burnt oil laded fuel runs like a champ. I pumped 15 gallons back in the tank after it was running. There's about another 10 gallons still in the drum that's also going in or I could pour it in the boat.

Good day Mates!

Captain Mike

[vitalidle]

Glad to hear your up and running again

[Mcathcart]

I didn't mention Spanking a Chevy who was pulling something I'm sure that weighed less than my car and trailer. To make it worse there was a car following behind him so I passed'em both on a slight grade (two lane road). The Chevy was dropping off to 45 going up hills! Yes it was a fulll size.

[ipz2222]

Do i understand that you added burnt oil to the fuel tank?? What for?? preston

[SCUFFY828]

seen alot of people running burnt oil or trans fluid , i run 100% burnt trans fluid in a idi 7.3 i have ,193,000 miles and runs fine , i wouldnt recommend it in a di 7.3

[Hayman]

A bunch of my logging buddy's use to run trans oil in the diesel all the time said it was good for it, keeps the injectors clean.