Friend's PSD won't start sometimes...

[RobG]

I posted about this over at ford-diesel.com, but they weren't much help.



A friend from SoCal has a new 2002 Powerstroke 7. 3L auto... six months old and 12k miles. Truck is 100% stock in every way.



Over Labor Day we went camping up in the Stillwater Mountains of central Nevada. To get to our spot, we had to traverse some badly rutted and bumpy roads.



We camped, had a blast, then packed up to head home on Monday. His truck wouldn't start. It cranked fine, but wouldn't fire.



Knowing nothing about PSDs, I couldn't do much but stand there and go, "dang," while trying really hard not to slam Ford.



We ended up having it flat-bedded out of there (that ate up much of the day), only to have the flatbed blow a tire and shred most of its hydraulic lines on the way to the closest Ford dealer, some 60 miles away.



While standing there next to the flatbed going "dang," I suggested that he try starting his truck. It fired right up. Figures, since he was stuck on the flatbed.



He sent me on my way, so I headed home to Reno, and he called later to tell me the truck ran fine all the way home. Then the next morning, it wouldn't start again. He had it towed to the dealer, and of course, it started fine for them.



They poured over it for three days and gave it back with a shrug. So now we figure our next trip to BFE will be met with the same results.



The only remotely useful though from F-D.com was CPS, which I'm guesssing is the crank pos sensor? Dunno.



Anybody here run into that kind of problem on a PSD?



Rob

 

[rob10858]

the exact same problem with both of our 550 psd's, 2002. no clues, but a power drain somewhere. we even checked the underhood light. let us know what you find out.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by RobG

I posted about this over at ford-diesel.com, but they weren't much help.

Sorry to hear about your friends problem, but Friends should not let Friends buy Ford trucks.



I think it is in the fuel system, and with all of the pressure problems in the PSD injection system I would say he is getting air in the system when it cools down. I would go through and tighten everything to spec. Like you said you went over some rough roads before the problem started, might of loosened something up Hope that's the problem. If not tell him to get it started and take it to the local Dodge dealer and trade for a new CTD.

 

[98rammer]

CPS=cam position sensor. it's a very common problem on the powerstrokes that goes. an often symptom is that the motor will cut out while driving then turn on a second or two later. the no start is another symptom. the cps has magnets and little bits of metal get stuck to it causing them to screw up (if i remember right). Ford has gone through 7 types of cps's and the last time i knew, there were only 2 still being used.



your friend could also have a glow plug relay going or maybe some glowplugs themselves? (although the truck probably would have started, just hard with blue/white smoke)

 

[Dennis Garrett]

My old 6. 2 Cyevy would do that on a nice day. If it was cool, or a cold start, the glow plugs would come on. If you ran it, then let it set a couple of hours, it wasn't quite cold enough to turn the plugs on, but wouldn't quite start without them. We replaced a $100. 00 water temp sensor that screwed into a water passage in the intake manifold, and that fixed it. Next thint that happened, the cheap glow plug relay came on & stuck on, burning out all 8 glow plugs at $9 ea. What a piece of crap that thing was.

 

[nickleinonen]

CPS=cam position sensor

that probably is the problem... if it is not under warrenty, check out the navistar dealer for the equal part for the t444e engine. may be cheaper. suppose to be a 10 min job to change. search for it on the ford-diesel forums for that and it should show up some info