This is a serious plea for help. My brother is travelling around the world in a converted Ford all terrain vehicle. A Ford Econoline E350 diesel. It is a US model only so may run into problems with UK based (as I am) technicians. We got a text from his satellite phone yesterday from somewhere in Bolivia. In essence he is four hours from anywhere and has broken down. Engine is not getting any diesel to it. Unsure of how serious a position he is in as we don't know if electricity generator works via engine or separately. From my limited knowledge base, the pump could be broken, there maybe a blockage in a filter or there could be an air bubble. However, does anyone here know of any really good diesel/ford commercial technicians? It may come down to said technicain talking repairs or alternatives through with my brother over the phone.
Hello Izza, I have some information that might help your brother out and also the need for somemore information. Silly as it may sound but did he or someone add diesel to his fuel tank before he broke down? Did he drive though some fairly deep waters? When he broke down did he attempt to add somemore diesel to the fuel tank? Did any warning lights on the dash light up before he broke down? A few things that he can check that might help us help him. Ask him if the alternator belt is still on the engine? Ask him to check for any blown fuses? or relays? Ask him to crack all 8 injectors on the head and crank the engine over, Ask him if there is any diesel squirting from them as he cranks over the motor or is it spirting air? If it is squirting diesel keep cranking the engine over as he tightens up all the injectors to bleed the diesel system of air Look under the vehicle as the fuel tank, follow the lines and look for any splits or signs of damage, follow them to the filters and remove them also, tip out the liquid if any and look for contamination like water and debris, tip out contents through an old shirt helps for filter out contamination Most diesel systems have a manual primer pump on the suction side of the fuel system, ask him remove the fuel supply hose off the fuel pump and pump the primer and to check for any aeration of the fuel delivery, if none visiable ask him to reconnect the hose and prime the pump continuously while someone is cranking it and see if it want to half start running See how you go with that, Hopefully he is on his way by the time he gets these questions off you and not by means of Llama either
There are litteraly hundreds of things that could stop a diesel engine. First off we dont know if its a powerstroke or not, thats a whole different system from the old conventional diesel injection pump. The powerstroke is more like a gas engine electronic fuel injection system. I know there is some problem with the primary fuel pump on powerstrokes, that uses engine oil pressure to boost secondary fuel pressure, and there is some simple thing you can do to get it going if that was the trouble. I'll look around and see if I can recall the situation. Sad to say, but if he wasnt "techy" about the vehicle before getting into the middle of nowhere, it could be hard to get it running. Other than obvious problems like water in the fuel, out of fuel, or a broken or pinched line, it could become increasingly difficult to get it running. If air gets into the sytem, on a conventional diesel pump system you can just about kill a battery before you can get it running again trying to purge the air, and thats if you caught the problem right away. For some reason they stopped putting hand pumps on diesels to prime the system and purge the air. If you cranked it a lot before knowing it was full of air, you may have already used up the battery supply needed to get it going. Like the flight of the phoenix or apollo 13, you need to conserve starting power.
one simple issue is a clogged fuel filter. Bacteria grows in diesel and can clog filters in a heartbeat. That's why all jet fuel has additives.
If its a Powerstroke a common failure is the CPS, (Crank Position Sensor) $50-60 part, 10mm wrench to replace. It can be easily done, that is if you have a spare. I have a spare in the glove compartment, which is probably the reason mine hasn't failed yet. Have him check the filter located in the "V" atop the engine towards the front. If no fuel there check the lift pump located inside the left frame rail behind the drivers door. There is also a strainer in the tank, which might be clogged. It might be possible to blow back through the lines blowing the algae back into the tank as an emergency fix. (take fuel tank cap off first) Without knowing more its hard to say what's wrong.
After he gets this problem fixed, and he will (even the Powerstrokes are simple to troubleshoot), make sure he picks up a glow plug relay the next time he is near civilization. That's the only thing that has failed in over 100,000 miles on my Powerstroke. Mine failed on Tincup Pass in Colorado at 12,000 feet when temp was in 20s. I used a Leatherman to short across the relay and heat up the glowplugs. This one sounds like fuel pump or more likely a clogged fuel filter. Injectors are fine. They fail one at a time.
Greatly appreciate input and ideas. Cut, pasted and emailed but unfortunately he has gone into radio silence so now have concerns on the health of truck and owner.
BINGO!!! I was going to say the exact same thing. All my buddies who have a Powerstroke carry a spare in thier trucks. Guaranteed to go out at the worst time. Darrell.
Depends on the year, is it and IDI powerstroke 7.3, a DI power stroke 7.3 or a 6.0 powerstroke. If its a 6.0 he's screwed. Im the 6.0 specialist at my ford dealer.
Unsure myself as to spec but as and when we hear something I may well PM you for advice. Thanks to all for your inputs and advice.
Radio silence over. Brother OK. Haven't heard exactly what details are of mechanical issue (something about cut off switch is only thing I have heard). Thanks all for your input/ideas and help.
Glad to hear your brother is ok. That sounds like a faulty fuel cut off switch on the pump? Is he back on the road again?
