Starting issue

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

I see im not the only person with a starting issue on here. =)

I have a 97 f250 that has a 78 f150 cab transplant. Its been a labor of love to say the least.

I moved to Florida from arkansas mid build and 2years later i just got it brought down about a month ago.

Ive been driving it no problems. Starts right up with ease.
I replaced the 16gallon side tank a few days ago and have been driving it no problems.

I rebuilt the leaky fuel bowl with a dieseloring.com kit. Wasnt too difficult, slapped it back in and fired it up no problem. It idled for a bit and cut off (i figured it was working air out and what not. Did that a few times. It idled for id say 10 15 min and cut off again and much to my dismay i believe it was because the fuel tank got to low. When i replaced it i only put 5 gall in just to get me to the station, but i ended up taking it to work and around town a bit (dumb i know). So now i cant get it to start at all. Once or twice it ran for 30 sec or so and cut off, no sputtering.
The fuel bowl is filling up. I took the fpr off again and just made sure everything was in right. And when cranking the motor over if i press the Schrader valve in fuel comes out quickly so i believe im getting good fuel delivery.
I looked through the fuses and nothing appears to be blown.
Im getting frustrated because im sure its something simple.

Any help would be appreciated.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

ju015dd · Dec 1, 2015

With it just shutting off like that I would check it by putting a new cps on it first. Cheap and easy to do. When I had cps issues mine would just shut off randomly like I turned the key. Do you have access to a scanner?

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

Yeah thats how it did, shut off like i turned the key. I can use oriellys scan tool.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

Ok i popped a new camshaft position sensor on a few minutes ago and still nothing. My batteries are starting to get low so ill get them charged tomorrow.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Magnum PD · Dec 1, 2015

Is there oil in the HPOP res?

Arisley · Dec 1, 2015

Go back to where you were when it was running fine. Check EVERYTHING you touched or might have touched. This is the Superduty section, you have an OBS. They have mechanical instead of electrical fuel system. Few other things different also.

For that reason, I am moving this to the OBS section.

Good luck.

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

I just checked the hpop and it is full.
Whoops i didn't realize i posted in the wrong section, dumb phone app is a little hard to use for posting.
I consider myself a thorough person on projects. I hate having to ask on a forum because i hate looking like an idiot when its something simple. This is my first diesel so im reading a lot and still learning.
Ive double checked everything and see nothing out of place. I took the fpr off again on my lunch break and double checked it just to make sure debris didnt get in or the spring was out of wack.

So one question i had is with the truck off, should fuel come out of the Schrader valve when pushed? More then a drip?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Magnum PD · Dec 1, 2015

Depends on how much pressure stays in the system.

Arisley · Dec 1, 2015

First diesels are fun, you get to relearn all about a motor.

Just remember, no spark, it's all compression. Fuel pressure is very important on these motors. You also picked the most difficult diesel motor system to learn and understand.

Quick synopsis. This is a HEUI system. Low fuel pressure to the injectors. Each injector is it's own hydraulic pump. There is a low pressure oil pump for lubrication to the motor and it also supplies oil to the High pressure oil pump (HPOP). This pumps pressure is controlled by injector demand (right foot). fuel pressure is supplied to the injectors at about 65PSi. Oil pressure is supplied at anywhere from 500 to over 3000 PSI. This is the hydraulic fluid to drive the injectors. The Injector Driver Module tells the injector to turn on for say 1.5 ms (it also varies). Which drives the fuel into the cylinger and incredibly high pressure (~20K PSi more or less). All of this is controlled by the Powertrain Control module (PCM) and many sunsors (It is an electronically controlled motor, even the throttle is electronic).

Parts house scanners will not help you out. If you really want to work on your truck, you need to invest in a quality scanner. I use AutoEngenuity (AE), lots of people on this and many diesel boards do, it is a quality tool, runs about 450 and loads on a laptop. You can get some apps that load on a smartphone and do pretty good for under a hundred.

Main part of this post is don't worry about feeling bad about asking for help. I have been working on cars for over forty years, got my truck and was lost till I found these guys. We like to help.

Arisley · Dec 1, 2015

BTW, no scanner will tell you fuel pressure, you need to find that out by the old school, hook a fuel pressure gauge up to it. On the OBS, I believer you can tap into the Schreader valve.

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

Good quick run through Arisley.

I've grown up around diesels and heavy equipment but this is the first for me turning a wrench in one.

I guess im a tad frustrated that everything was all gravy and after rebuilding the fuel bowl it decides to start acting like this. So ill put a fuel pressure gauge on this soon. So if i understand you correctly it should be reading in the 60s psi while cranking? Or would that be while running pressure?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Arisley · Dec 1, 2015

Bud, I am just not sure on the OBS. I am a Superduty guy, I turn the key on and I get 63 PSI. I start mine and at idle, I get 63 PSI. WOT, I get 63 PSI. Mechanical pumps, wish I could help. That's the biggest reason I moved it here. Somebody will be along that can answer this question.

I will be keeping an eye on this threads and helping when I can.

Magnum PD · Dec 1, 2015

If you use a mechanical pressure gauge, it will be all over the place. As long as it "pressure" versus not doing much of anything, you should be ok.

thetintguy001 · Dec 1, 2015

Ok, well when my wife was cranking it i pressed the valved and fuel was squirting out. So i dont see this being a fuel problem. Hmmmmm

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

79jasper · Dec 2, 2015

Check the IPR plug. Also unplug the icp and try starting.

Some say you can use a mechanical tire gauge to check fuel pressure. But it's said to ruin the gauge but you can at least get a close reading. But I don't know that it would be readable while cranking.

Easy test on the cps, does your tach move while cranking? If so, it should be fine. But won't hurt to throw a known good one in for giggle chits.

Can you hear the injectors clacking?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

thetintguy001 · Dec 2, 2015

79jasper unfortunately i dont have a tach currently hooked up because of swapping a 78 bidy to this frame. But i bought and i stalled a new cps tonight.

Im not sure i can hear the injectors making any noise. I hear the glow plug relay click when in the key is turned to the on position.
I wasnt sure the name of the plug but come to find out it is the ipr plug. Its real greasy being directly under the fpr, and getting diesel dripping on it. Ill try cleaning it up tomorrow. And also unplugging the icp.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

79jasper · Dec 2, 2015

Ah. Do you have the gauge cluster for it hooked up?
If so, is there a check engine light on?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

thetintguy001 · Dec 2, 2015

Unfortunately no i dont. I know this is making it harder to fix the problem. =/
Is there a way to test the icp with a multi to see if its working?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

thetintguy001 · Dec 2, 2015

Also maybe this will help narrow it down (maybe not) but the truck was idling nicely and just cut off like someone turned the key off.
I was thinking it was just working air out but now im thinking a sensor was going out.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

79jasper · Dec 2, 2015

Basically by unplugging it. If it starts with it unplugged, it's bad.
I would say it's definitely electrical then. Are you running the fuse box for the psd? Look for the pcm fuse. Fuel heater is on the same Circuit. It'll short out and blow the fuse. Heard of one that wouldn't blow the fuse, but it was drawing enough power away to cause a no start.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk