1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty diesel 7.3L won't start died suddenly

I started up my truck and it was warm and I headed down the road. As I was going down the road it just completely died and I heard a slight pop. I put it in neutral and I cranked it over while I'm coasting down the highway and it just cranks hard but won't start. Once I got to a stop I put it in park and cranked it over some more and it won't start. The more you know about these engines the more problems you can think of that it might be. Not because they are bad engines. The 7.3L is one of the greatest diesel engines but because of its age and high mileage and having never done anything to my engine other than glow plugs, it is getting to the point of needing some TLC.
Not knowing much about these engines I got underneath the truck right below the driver's seat and grabbed ahold of the transfer pump or the fuel pump which is on the main rail of the truck. I grabbed it while a friend turned on the key without cranking it over. I didn't feel or hear anything so I bought a fuel pump while I was in town to put it on hoping that it would fix the problem.
What I found out while researching on KZbin was that it was possibly a fuse so I checked the fuses shown in the video and it ended up being the second fuse that I checked and the truck started right up :D

[@44blacksilver]

Thank you so much for uploading this video my stepdad has a truck same color as yours he was giving me a jump hooked up cables then went into the house to get warmed up as i walked by his truck it just shut off and it would turn over just fine but no start so he started say that it was the fuel filter and pump i decided to research the problem first and came across your video and damn if that was the problem a new fuse saved my stepdad lots of money and made me feel good to help him after being there for me . thank you

[@allanmiller]

Starts the video like every other 7.3L vid - with a shot of a janky old Ford in the country then spins around to show the house from Dynasty. Caught me off guard.

[@Lawdogbeagles]

You my friend are a genius. I’ve replaced relays and was about to put another fuel pump on the truck that I had replaced a few years ago. My truck only has 160k miles so it’s like new for a 1999. So thank you so much for making this video.

[@jorgenldesmadre1335]

My trucks just died on me right now and stuck on side of the road found this vid and I'll be dammm it was this fuse I was already thinking glow plugs and other stuff thank u very much it was great to know

[@angelaracino6236]

I had same problem, however, was not blown fuse at that location, it was the female part of fuse holder that lost tension to hold onto fuse, you would drive and fuse would loose connection with fuse holder Your video did direct me to that location and greatly reduced my diagnosis time, thank you very much I replaced fuse box with oem from ford. God bless you sir!

[@dingdangwallawalla4249]

You just saved me a whole lot of headache. Thank you.

[@justicebruno5249]

What year is yours? I'm gonna check mine connections if I find the fuse

[@david-nn8oj]

i just wanted to say thank you for such a awesome video. My Dad had the same thing happen to him and he called me at home and i saw your video and you helped us expidite the problem. Thankyou

[@chestermorrison7160]

You are the GOAT You just save me HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, my 03 7.3 Just died in my driveway Working on it all day , changeling All kinds of parts , then saw your Viedio, went back and check them Out , guess what ? I had a Blown 20a Run to the store ,and swap it out Cost $4.50 for a box of 5 Within a minutes the job is done For less than a dollar Thanks man , just subscribe to you Channel, GOD is good all the time Wish I could send you an early Christmas present ! Take care brother and thanks !

[@laynechristopher2488]

You saved me a major headache. Walked me right onto my problem. Thank you!

[@chris5957]

Just got lucky

[@Dd13200]

Me too. Great video

[@bobdon6802]

Thanks for the video, Fixed my issue, Went out and got a 30 mini fuse breaker from amazon

[@rosendonunez6024]

Very helpful video thanks alot exactly what happened to my 99 model , very helpful when left in the middle of the street and cars cant go by, thanks alot!!

[@meedan85]

About a year ago this video save my ass, and I never posted a comment to thank you so, thank you!

[@zoomanmi]

Thanks, you saved me a lot of troubleshooting. This brought me right to the issue,

[@carlosthurlkill1144]

I have 2003. Just pushed fuses in for better contact and it worked. Thanks

[@leesroom]

This is almost always caused by the fuel bowl heater. UNPLUG it and the fuse will stop blowing. The heater coil costs a pretty penny but is easy to change if you really need one. I unplugged mine years ago and the truck will still start in below freezing weather.

[@StrikerxCast]

Where do you unplug it at

[@BryanBB440]

​@@StrikerxCastconnector at rear of fuel bowl. 1 is heater, other connection is water in fuel sensor.

[@Babbazeebah]

Thanks this was very helpful.!!

[@billygildark4565]

The issue was the fuel bowl heater shorted out and blew the interior fuse which also allows the pcm to fire the injectors. The main clue is the no wait to start light....have seen many 7.3s do this. Doubtful you needed gpr but glads it’s fixed.

[@joeford9233]

Billy Gildark my truck had done this and so had my friends it's common

[@charleshonore7303]

@@joeford9233 so do you think it is a fuse? I bought a new pcm still no wts light

[@robertkurtz7587]

I have no wait to start - hydra has no power - would that fuse cause this? Checked under the hood but not int ones

[@darrrolle2570]

Where is the fuel bowl heater

[@billygildark4565]

@@darrrolle2570 in the bottom of the fuel bowl underneath the filter.

[@javierdguez9928]

Thanks man. Same thing just happened to me in the middle of nowere and i was lucky i had a spare fuse

[@theodorecarbajal2975]

Beautiful house my friend

[@charleswilloughby8472]

You were right on point with this video thanks for saving me money and peace of mind I appreciate you 🤙🏾

[@robertpaulson208]

Wow that house is nice

[@peterm3964]

Check resistance on fuel bowl heater . If faulty, the resistance will be zero.

[@macaroni707]

Thank you you saved my life

[@TCovey210]

Fuses just don’t fail , just because…. You will eventually find out why. Good luck

[@GeneralMechanicGA]

Good video! And very nice house! Thanks for the info!..

[@XEGTDodgeMagnum]

On mine (2001 7.3) the large 20 amp Max fuse for the pcm under the hood blew when the fuel bowl heater shorted out. I unplugged the electrical connection at the rear of the fuel bowl replaced the fuse to get home. Than I ordered a new fuel bowl heater. Problem fixed!! Don't get an aftermarket heater. I bought mine from Riffraff Diesel, an International OEM part. $39.88 best price anywhere. My original heater lasted for over 17 years with 328,000 miles.

[@territowner8350]

My 2001 7.3 has no lights, no ding, no wait to start, no nothing and the batteries are fully charged! Is this what happened to you? I will try this. I have never had a problem until today!

[@XEGTDodgeMagnum]

@@territowner8350 Yes, no lights on the dash except one red light. I believe on the left side of the dash. No other warning lights.

[@XEGTDodgeMagnum]

@@territowner8350 do you have your original fuel bowl heater from 2001? The insulation on the heating element wire decayed and touched the inside metal of the bowl driving down these nice rough roads. I could have put shrink tube on it but it wouldn't hold up to the fuel.

[@territowner8350]

@@XEGTDodgeMagnum, As far as I know, it has never been replaced. I had my son go out and start to test for power and there was no power to the PCM fuse. That said, while he was testing things the lights came on and then we could start the vehicle! We think it is a loose wire. That is scary in and of itself as you never know when it will make a connection or not. I will show my husband the wire tomorrow. I really need to use the truck. LOL!

[@XEGTDodgeMagnum]

@@territowner8350 Maybe he should change both fuses, the location 24 the 20 amp under the hood, and the 5 amp location 15 under the steering column. Have him check how tight the fuses go into the holder so they make good contact. I had a problem a while back where my headlights would just go out and leave me in the dark, it took a while to find the problem. It was a bad connection in the fuse holder, I took a pliers and put a little twist in each fuse leg and it went in nice and snug. I did it this way because I was on the road and couldn't see how i could repair the fuse holder at that time That was three years ago and no problems since. Good luck with it. Let me know what happens. I hope it's not a loose wire somewhere, that can be difficult to find.

[@marvincolemam5221]

thanks lthe same fuse blew on me. I was just driving on a muddy road and died.

[@michaeld954]

Wow you have nice house

[@johntrotter7889]

Ummm... when fuses blow, it is due to a problem in the system usually. So, yes the new fuse may have you covered for a bit, but you might want to investigate / replace the item that is powered in that circuit as it may blow continue to blow fuses until it is fixed.

[@mikekowalski1982]

Thanks for the info video on changing fuses pro fuse changer

[@crosbymason1790]

Unplug fuel bowl and replace fuse

[@andersonjatoba7026]

Wow. Thank you very much. You save me today

[@arambula35ify]

Fuel bow heater is bad just unplug it the same happened to me

[@user-yf5wy8eu6t]

the 30 amp fuse keeps blowing out when I turn the key. that's the wait to start light what do you recommend

[@josephpuchel6497]

It’s grounding out

[@frankpizzo9067]

Man my truck is on the side of the road right now. Hope this works

[@KX125dirtdemon]

you just saved me so much money

[@jfitzerelli]

Fuel bowl heater issue. Intermittent problem. Change the heater.

[@diegoaguirre8944]

Thank you very much!!! I fix my problem

[@dougrogillio2223]

Fuel bowl heater shorted out & popped the fuse. If you did not unplug it permanently it will do it again.

[@alexlualua167]

Thanks u for your help!!

[@shawnsorensen]

I had a repair shop replace the fuel heater and the glow plug relay and I haven't had a problem since. The new fuse repair only lasted a few days. Call Tim's Diesel Repair at 435-245-3330 for more info.

[@cevan4156]

That fuse controls both the fuel bowl heater and power to the PCM. If this fuse blows, simply disconnect the connector at the back of the fuel bowl until you can replace the fuel bowl heater. I once ran a truck with this heater disconnected for 2 years because I forgot I disconnected it....

[@Chrs-cd5jw]

This really helped, my 99 7.3 was warming up because it got cold and it just died, it was able to crank but no rpm or any sign of turning over. I looked at the fuse and it was it, but the only problem i have now is that it keeps blowing that fuse. Anyone know why?

[@harveynailbanger]

Crank posistion sensor, injectjon pressure reg or fuel bowl heater shorted out.... lets see....

[@tamirwilliams9472]

I have no codes but it died on me and wouldn't start back up! Getting up real early to check that fuse!

[@TRICITYTRASHOUTS]

yeah, I found my number 30 fuse popped, but wen I put in another fuse it popped again, wat should I do???😕😕😕

[@mclouth623]

Unplug your fuel bowl heater

[@za-jm8wf]

Replace fuel bowl heater

[@XV_TV]

Noticed your fuel level is at around where a broken pick up tube might not get to it anymore. Did you eventually have to replace that?

[@kevincraig8257]

these things can really be a mystery especially if they haven't ever givin a problem and suddenly die and wont start Ive learned if you dont have a proper way of anylizing one find someone that can it will save you alot of money oh and if you happen to go over some rough roads and trouble starts check the injector connections under the valve covers just might be a loose connection

[@antidiz]

Dude, nice ranch... That yours?

[@briancook2185]

The same thing happened to me, i replaced the fuse. Still not starting funny enough i replaced my fuel pump and the big 20 amp #19 fuse a week before. Trying everything before i have to get a new pcm. Did your fuse work for a long term fix, or did you keep running into problems.

[@mikemazza6133]

Dont start these trucks with the wait to start light on you ruin the glow plugs that way

[@lumberjaketreeservicellc4002]

You're kidding right?

[@DogDaze66]

What is the GVWR on your truck , it says it on the door sticker. Just asking because I have a 99 f250 7.3 super duty but the door sticker is not there from when I bought it a couple years ago.

[@jedclampett6466]

Thanks

[@box9361]

i pulled the other fuse under the dash think it was #14

[@robertkurtz7587]

So was your wts light out - mines out and so is my hydra , I thought ecm

[@treyivey5431]

Did u find out what’s wrong

[@oxford7.357]

That im pretty sure is the big 30 under the hood on #17

[@JoseRodriguez-yp2ss]

@@oxford7.357 were you getting any power to the cab? I’m having an issue with mine,batteries are good but no power to the cab.

[@oxford7.357]

@@JoseRodriguez-yp2ss yes im gettingg power everywhere throughout the truck just not firing

[@victormorgan5508]

I have a 99 f250 Super Duty,, Did this fuse ever blow again? I had the same problem, but the fuse kept mysteriously blowing, turns out by accident I figured out the cause. One day while changing out a leaky fuel bowl drain, in the bottom of the the fuel bowl, the fuel heater is a single 18g wire grounded by solder to dime size tabs, ""probably the original heater coil"", the solder broke loose from the wire causing a bad ground blowing my fuse. I live in Central Texas, I removed the fuel bowl heater completely. AND WA-LA no more blown fuses.

[@victormorgan5508]

BTW - Not all fuel bowl heaters are a single bare wire soldered to tabs, at least in the 99 - 03 models. I thought about replacing it and realized there is a different style heater coil, more like a miniature circle heater coil, kind of like the one in your oven or electric water heater only smaller, instead of a single 18g wire.

[@justicebruno5249]

Mine is a 1997. Can't locate the fuse. Any idea

[@shawnsorensen]

No, sorry. I just got lucky :D

[@nivaldo758]

I had exactly the same issue but in my case the fuse continues to blow. Had the pump replaced but the same fuse still blowing. Now I don't know what else can be. Wires are not in short and normally fuse blow around 15 minutes after starting the engine.

[@harveynailbanger]

It's the heating element in the fuel bowl under your fuel filter shorting out. Replace the heating element ...about 60.00

[@nivaldo758]

@@harveynailbanger Yes, that was the problem. Thanks.

[@darrrolle2570]

@@harveynailbanger where is it located

[@zionortiz3229]

Which fuse is it

[@estuardo24]

I have 2002 the fuse box is different any body know which fuse is in 02 models thanks

[@johnknox5692]

fuse blown for reason most likely it was pump drawing to much amperage

[@jasons4715]

Which fuse

[@russellroberts4897]

Your misfortune found my problem. My fuse was blown also. Now the question is why did it blow in the first place?

[@shawnsorensen]

The repair only lasted a few days. I'll let you know the reason when I get to my truck and find the repair shops receipt.

[@russellroberts4897]

Could be fuel bowl header.

[@billygildark4565]

Yep fuel bowl heater shorted out

[@sun9912]

Need a new fuel bowl heater

[@xXRaStA187Xx]

Does this work for the 6.0 as well?

[@zackstephens54]

What were those fuses labeled for? I have a 95 7.3 im trying to diagnose that same problem

[@strokenobs___181]

Mine did the same thing my fuel bowl heater was popping the fuse

[@gizzyguzzi]

If your truck is not getting gas, that's a GOOD thing!

[@joystaelens6150]

I was thinking the same thing🤣