alright Guys, My cousin has a 97 7.3, 180,000 miles runs great and is a very clean pickup. Well he says recently it has been getting harder and harder to start. Doesnt matter how much its glow plugged or weather its plugged in or not. The glow plugs and relay are good, the truck can even be parked in the heated shop and still does the same thing. He says in order to get it to start you just have to crank and crank and eventually it will take off. I was thinking hpop leak maybe or maybe a icp problem. I just wana get some input before i try anything. He says when it finally starts it misses for a little while and then runs great the rest of the day after it warms up. The truck is bone stock. Thanks in advance
Dillon

Check the simple stuff first.

HPOP res full? Take the plug out, stick a toothpick down in there and see how far from the top, should be no more than 1/2"

Make sure its got fuel. Make sure the starter wiring is solid. Make sure the batteries are good...

Any smoke on startup? What color? Any smoke while cranking? Color?

Hope this gives you a good start..

Starter is good, batteries are new, its cranks plenty fast. Has a new mechanical pump in the valley. Smokes blue and white while cranking and after start up so it has to be getting fuel. Will check the hpop res.

Check the fuel filter, make sure the fuel is clean... Could be bad injector orings...

I had the same issue with my old truck and it ended up being the hpop. good luck to you

Thanks guys, im gona go take a look at it tommrow and see what we find

Let us know what ya find. You could check the HPOP Pressure while you crank and see if it's got good oil rail pressure. Lemme know if you need anything too, I'm a Ford tech in western so dak, but i'm in milford ne...for training for the next 6 weeks. Check back with what ya find

Ya ill check back in tommrow, And Dave k96, I live in beatrice and a bunch of milford guys were down here at the 4 kegger we had here at our house thursday night. How you liken SCC?

Haha, it's too flat out here me. No hills, no nothing...nothin but wind...

Well went and looked at it 2day, hpop res was full and everythingelse seemed alright. Pretty sure he is gona pick up a T500 and throw it in, hes been wanted a better pump anyway so ill check back in after we get that in. And ya Dave, its kinda flat around milford but head either north or south and it get a little better. Little bit of hill country in both directions. Let me know if you need anything while your in the area.