Very hard starting

[James60]

2000 7.3l turbo 250K miles. 6 spd.

won't start unless i crank it over until smoking, then hit the glow plugs several times. after warm up it's no problem to start. don't want to hurt anything (starter, etc) using this procedure.

how do i replace the glow plugs? i've worked on gassers but never a diesel.
have tools. what is the procedure for this motor?

could it be some other problem? would leaving the block heater on help?

thanks
james

[AJF]

to the .org

Can't answer all your questions but leaving the truck plugged in always helps

[buckshotbil]

You may want to have your batteries load checked, truck will turn over with a bad battery but glow plugs don't get enough amps to heat up.

[nunly81]

If you do have to do glowplugs, pull the valve covers get some needle nose pliers and remove the electrical connectors on them. Then get a 10mm socket and loosen the glow plug. Easy way to pull them out is with a piece of vaccum line that will fit snug on the glow plug connector and use that to pull them out, if you loosen it all the way the socket will hit the rocker arm and will cause you headaches. or you can just do what I did and grind down a deep well socket to make the outside a little round where the ratchet goes and that works great.

[Fort Collins PSD]

I would try the batteries first and foremost. If you have loose connections or dirty terminals it could produce this problem. Glow plugs take alot of juice to get them to heat up properly. Thats why Ford uses relays to help with that problem. A bad relay will prevent the glow plugs from getting the correct voltage that it needs to heat up, ie hard starting. These relays are located just behind the fuel filter housing, there are two of them and they look similar to the old Ford stater relays that Ford used on there gas models back in the day. Hope this helps.

[daboostcreep]

in a warm weather climate such as san francisco are glow plugs really a help or essential to starting these trucks? Ambient temp of 65 degrees. Lately my truck takes quite a few cranks to start.

[daboostcreep]

anyone have a suggestion???

[RowdyOutfitters]

Originally Posted by daboostcreep

anyone have a suggestion???

Daboostcreep.

Yes, you need glow plugs. When mine went bad it wouldn't start in 80 degree weather without plugging it in for twenty minutes or cranking it for a long while, bad on the starter though.. I have read on a thread that you can put a switch inline on the Glow Plug relay that way you can turn off the glow plugs after starting that way they don't stay on for the two minute time period.