Need some help

[C Gat]

I'm new to this forum and need some help. I have a 96 F-250 7.3 the day after Thanksgiving the wife and I were heading to the deer woods. I went out and started my truck, it started fine and ran for about 20 min while I was packing stuff. Got in and drove about 2 miles, it ran fine. Turned on the highway and it went to running rough and diddnt have any power. I went about another mile with it floored but it kept losing power and died and wouldn't restart. My brother in law brought some ether and we finally got it started and drove it home, it ran fine. I had a guy look at it, replaced cps, fuel filter and found the two rubber fuel lines that were leaking. He brought it back on last Thursday and Friday morning on my way to work it done the exact same thing but would not re start. Call a diesel shop, they came and picked it up. They called the next day saying it started that morning. They smoked checked the fuel system, did oil and fuel pressure checks and it all came back perfect and said they can't find nothing wrong. Picked it up yesterday drove it home, ran great. Went out this morning and it wouldn't start. Sure could use some help on this.

[C Gat]

Also thought I would include that it has new glow plugs, glow plug solenoid, two full tanks and fresh oil. Guys at shop thought it might be the tank selector valve but could not get it to fail. This morning after cranking on it for a while, till the batteries were almost dead it finally busted off and ran. It ran fine all the way to work. it has always started quick and easy. The rubber fuel lines that were leaking were on the driver side kinda by the fire wall. One it the supply and the other is a return. They have a type of quick connect on them.

[jackinggear]

Is it throwing any codes? Did you check to see if you have blown fuses? does the WTS light come on?

[C Gat]

No codes and fuses are all good. One of the first things we checked. The WTS light is coming on and I can here the solenoid close, the interior lights dim so I'm assuming the glow plugs are warming up.

[jackinggear]

spitballing here but i had the exact same thing happen to me but it was on a gasser truck. One of the wires to the fuel pump was frayed and when id turn or accelerate sometimes it would cause the the fuel pump to run eratically.. THIS IS A STRETCH.

Next time it wont start, pull the fuel filter and see how fast the bowl fills full of fuel.

[C Gat]

Well I thought about that too but it has a mechanical lift pump. This is the first diesel I have ever owned, and it's been a damn good truck. the A/C works good it doesn't leak or use oil and has not gave me a bit of trouble until this. I can work on gasser's all day long but this diesel is all new to me.

[jackinggear]

completely forgot about the older ones are mechaincal pump

[KMA Towing]

lift pumps still go bad... next time it wont start have someone turn the key while you kick the tank... if it starts you know what needs to be done.

[C Gat]

What will that do? The lift pump is on the back of the fuel bowl next to the turbo, unless there is one I dont know about.

[KMA Towing]

err.... my bad... was thinking of my buddies truck (little newer) and my F650 (much newer)...lift pump is located in the tank.

you are correct on your truck...

question.. while cranking is your fuel bowl filling up or is it empty and not filling during the times of no start?

your pump runs around $60 and all signs point to a intermittent pump issue.
be sure to check in the fuel bowl and report back.

until then I will leave the drinking to you