1997 7.3 help

[doublemm]

A little history first

1997 7.3 I have owned it for a bit over a year. 236k miles, I have put on about 6K with no trouble at all (until tonight)

It has always started & ran great, no issues & uses no oil.

I had a blackstone report done at last oil change (2K miles ago) came back great.

Drove it about 8 miles tonight, it sat about an hour. Started back up & drove off with no problems. 1/4 mile later, it starts missing & shaking real bad.

Engine is clattering like its a -10 cold start, shaking like hell & no power.

Limped it home, removed fuel filter, fuel looked murky to me. Drained filter housing & started it back up.

It was hard to start, but she fired & still ran like crap. Like a V8 gasser that has 1 or 2 dead cylinders.

My first thought was that I lost compression in a cyl ?? !!

Could this be a fuel or injector issue ??

I am very mechanicly inclined (built many gas engines) but new to diesels.

I dont know if the CPS has been replaced before, but I cant imagine that it is the original one.

I bought this truck from my company, so I know a little history on it.

Like I said the truck has given me no trouble at all until tonight. It was just like you turned a switch & presto its running like crap.

I really look after this thing & have done a lot of maintenence to it. All filters, fresh oil change etc. even changed the oil in the HPOP

4K miles on the last oil change & it did not use a drop, which was amazing to me for 236k miles.

Any help, or ideas where to start would be greatly appreciated.

[Tyler]

What is your temp outside in F? It could be the CPS, but normally it would cuase it to not start at all.

[doublemm]

It was warm today, about 65 f

Last week it was below zero & it started just fine.

Also, I might add that it did not throw any codes. Check engine light did not come on.

Thing that got me was how bad it was clattering. my neighbor thought that was because it was starving for fuel.

[sldghamr]

pull the valve covers off and check the wiring harness going to the injectors to see if they are loose.

[2005F250]

Check your oil level.

[doublemm]

I had just checked the oil last week & it was full.

I guess an injector o ring could be leaking, but the truck ran great up until this happened.

What should the fuel look like ??

I put some in a glass jar & it is a bit murky looking - a greenish-yellow color.

I last filled up about 2 weeks ago, so I dont think its a fuel prob, more so a injector problem.

Can the CPS cause this ?

The thing that really got me was the vibration & the clattering sound.

[Tyler]

It should look like greenish-pee with an oily residue. So it seems your fuel is fine.
Pull your rocker covers and check to make sure your wires are good and tight. You may need to replace the gaskets when your done though, and they are about $100 a piece

The CPS would cause it to shut off, then start up and run fine, eventually totally disabling the truck from starting.

[CHUCK]

i 2nd the checking the harnesses under thr vlve cvrs....

[SMKSTAX]

I think it's the CPS. Easy part to change and inexpensive. Try that before you take your valve covers off. JMO.

[Jarrod B]

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