new 88 ford f 250?

Question

im about to get a 88 ford f 250 diesel for free,the guy told my dad that it wont crank over,it tries but it cant,my dad thinks that the batterie is old,but that guy sad that it is a new batterie ,i dont know, but the car was outside for like 6 month because the guy didnt know wahts wrong with it.

Answer 1

If the engine isn't spinning very fast it could either be bad batteries, or a worn starter. Also cycle the key a couple of times for the glow plugs. I'm betting that all 8 aren't working, and if you wait for the 'wait to start' light to go out, turn off the key then turn it back on, this will restart the glow plug time and help the motor start in the cold weather.

Even though many people are against this, you may need to spray some ether or starting fluid in the intake to help it fire. Diesels are high compression, and very much ether can cause them to over-rev or blow the heads. Don't spray near as much as you would in a gas motor!!! About enough to coat a penny is about all you will need, not even half a second of holding the spray nozzle.....

Good luck

Answer 2

If it gives a "grunt" and stops almost immediately, or the lights dim so you KNOW the starter is sucking juice, a cylinder could be filled with coolant from cavitation (cyls 7 & 8 on 7.3), blown head gasket, or cracked heads. Since liquid is not compressible, it locks the engine. You can do some damage if you crank it over that way.

So first, before even trying since you've already been told it won't turn over, pull the glow plugs and crank it over by hand - get underneath, find big nut on the front of the main pulley, turn by hand with socket and breaker bar several complete turns. If it turns, no really odd noises, and nothing shoots out the glow plug holes, it should be safe to use the starter. If it won't turn or if fluid comes out of the glow plug holes get help.

BTW, that should be TWO batteries, big batteries. Good luck - those were wonderful trucks, I still miss mine.

Answer 3

hey, if it free, what the heck. bring it home work at it a litlle, some diesels need 2 high crank amp batterys to get them to crank. i have a f150 ford, '90, gas, i had to go to a 950 cold crank amp batery to get it to go, it has over 200,000 miles. it start everyday even at temp. of zero. like it or not ford is a tough truck. good luck.

Answer 4

It's a good engine. They are a good engine to learn to do your own work on too. There is room to get to things. Rebuilt or used parts are available and most of the accessories are heavy duty and last forever.. Guess that's why the only old trucks on the road today are Ford. Gas mileage sucks big time. 112k on engine is nothing. My last one had 250k on the rebuilt engine when I sold it.

Answer 5

If It Has Been Setting Outside For That Long I Suggest You Drain All Of The Fluids Oil, Diesel,Transmission Fluid, All Of It And Replace It Buy New Plugs, Check The Spark Arrestors To Make Sure When Its Turned Over Your Actually Getting A Spark If Not Its Doing You No Good And You Will Probably Need New Cords For The Spark Plugs, Also Maybe Try To Get Another Battery Because My Dad Had An 89' F-250 And He Needed To Get 2 Batteries So That It Would Start And Try To Just Run A Regular Maitenence Check All Major Fluids, Tire Pressure, Turn Signals, Brake Lights, Headlights, ETC. And She Should Be Good To Go

Answer 6

I also got one for free and sold it to some poor fool and made a total killing!!! So fix whatever could be wrong with it (God knows with these particular trucks it could be anything!) and sell it quick- this should be a very fast sell too.

Answer 7

try replacing the battery.. make sure the truck has gas too! (ive dont that before!) try replacing the spark plugs as well!

Answer 8

battery, starter, or if its cold outside, the diesel may have gelled up.

make sure its giving spark/fuel.

Answer 9

Maybe a frozen starter motor. (BTW, if that's the problem, do I get paid for diagnosing it??)