99 7.3 Starting Issues (never heard that one before)

[VetteGuy]

Hey guys I need some help. The truck has 218,000 on it. The truck has 2 problems. The first and most serious is it's becoming hard to start. I'll turn the key and it'll just crank and crank but won't start. I'll let off the key, wait a second, and it'll crank a bit more and then finally start. Sometimes I have to crank it 3 times.

The truck is totally stock other than a Tymar and a striaght pipe.

The second problem is an electrical bug. Whenever I turn the key off, the radio will still stay on, even with the key out of the ignition. Also it will intermittently leave the marker lights on, even with the switch off. The windows always work, too, regardless of key position.

I've just been popping the fuse under the hood that all of those accessories are on, but it's a real PITA sometimes.

I'm not too concerned about the electrical part right now, but please, I need some help with the starting issue.

[Im_Strokin_ur_Cummins]

You may have a few bad glowplugs, a bad injector or a worn out glowplug relay. Take it to your ford dealer or a friend who has a MODDIS and have them run a buzz test on it that should weed out any glow plugs or injectors that may be bad. I had the same issue with 99 f250, only it took upwards of 6 resets of the key to start. One injector, and glowplug relay later no issue. Most of my issues were solved after i replaced the glow plug relay. hope this helps

[VetteGuy]

Originally Posted by Im_Strokin_ur_Cummins

You may have a few bad glowplugs, a bad injector or a worn out glowplug relay. Take it to your ford dealer or a friend who has a MODDIS and have them run a buzz test on it that should weed out any glow plugs or injectors that may be bad. I had the same issue with 99 f250, only it took upwards of 6 resets of the key to start. One injector, and glowplug relay later no issue. Most of my issues were solved after i replaced the glow plug relay. hope this helps

Thanks for the info. I'll hook it up to the scanner at work. Will a regular SnapOn scanner work on diesel? I've never hooked it up to a coal roller. I can't see it being the glow plugs or relay, as it's been in the 70's and 80's recently. I have a feeling it's injectors, and if it is, I'm not looking forward to it.

[usnavyad]

The sad part is i have the same exact issue please post your results i hope its just the relay.

[VetteGuy]

I'll definitely post some info when I scan it. Problem is that I'm on vacation all week from work, so I won't be able to scan it until Monday.

Do you think this would be a good time to put bigger injectors in it? I don't have a tuner (yet), only because I'm worried that the truck has too many miles and if I start throwing more power at it, I'll end up breaking something.

Is 240,000 miles too many to start toying around with it? It's more or less completely stock other than maintenance, intake and exhaust.

[usnavyad]

If its the injectors then yeah it would be a good idea the tuner will tune to tthe new injectors

[VetteGuy]

OK just ran the scanner on the truck. It came up with code P1670 EF Feedback Signal Not Detected. From what I can gather, it comes from a communication problem between the PCM and IDM. Wtf is the IDM? lol I'm going to do a little troubleshooting and get back with more info.

[usnavyad]

Keep me posted im in the same boat