Start and Idle problem

[venturesomerite]

p1) When I go to start my e99 7.3 it takes a few cranks (sometimes a few tries) to start, even if you let it glow long past the WTS light.

p2) When it does start, at idle it surges, as in it revs between 700-1500 rpm, and when it gets to 1500 rpm, it makes a whine, (which I can only relate to a PS pump when it is completely maxed out to one side at a low rpm) then goes back down to 700 and starts all over again. If you rev the motor up and then let off, it temporarily goes away and then comes back in a minute or so.

I have put some anti gel in the tank, and have a new fuel filter yet to install (when I get time). I'm thinking maybe a vaccum leak? possibly bad glow plugs/ relay/fuse? I haven't had a chance to plug it in and try heating it first to see if that helps with the starting, gonna try and do it tommorrow, as I am not currently driving the truck (not registered yet).

Would the WTS light still come on if the glow plug relay is bad?

I figure that people who know these motors better than me should have some ideas of what to look out for .


What are you guys thinking, I'm looking for directions to head in. Any help is appreciated.

[paulgl26]

here you go
Troubleshooting GPR & GP's

also thinner oil will help if you don't plug it in

[venturesomerite]

Thank you, I'll have to whip out the meter and take a look. What do you guys think about the surging?

[paulgl26]

how many times does it surge
mine does it if is really cold and it is not plugged in
a video of yours will help

here is what mine sounds

YouTube - F250 needs glow plugs

YouTube - F250 needs glow plugs

[venturesomerite]

I'm not sure exactly how long it will do it, has done it for 10 min before I drove it, but I can faintly hear the PS sounding while wile driving. Seems to be better when It is cold. I will try and get a video of it.

It is definately not the initial start up surge as seen in the video.

[paulgl26]

A video will be better then trying to explain

[venturesomerite]

Well went to take a video and it wouldn't do it. I'll try again tom.

Also, when I does whine, It sounds like a jake brake coming back through the air filter housing. You can also hear it while driving around town, and feel a loss of power when it happens.

[PolarBear]

The Exhaust Back Pressure Valve is probably operating. It will close in an attempt to help warm the truck up faster. They don't always operate properly and will randomly close while driving all sorts of other inconvenient times. My 99 was giving me those problems so I deleted it all together and no longer have those problems. When its parked and the idle goes up does it sound like a jet engine at the exhaust tip? Plugging it in should definitely help your hard start ups. The Wait to Start light will still come on as normal even if the GPR is bad.

[venturesomerite]

I was thinking that once I started hearing the jake brake noise. Any good threads on plugging/bypassing/repairing it?

Is it something one just removes and is done, or do block off plates need to be fabbed? Would the truck still pass emissions?

[paulgl26]

You can just unplug it if it is not leaking any oil
I took mine out