so i was wrenching on the bird today and my dad rolls up in his ford diesel , shuts it off goes inside and comes out to start it again and WHAM !!! , this loud grinding noise and the diesel wont start . so i asked him , you ran it without oil again didnt you ? , he says , cant remember the last time i put oil in it , so what im thinking is that his engine is seized thus it is to much for the starter to handle . he poured in some oil and tried it again and no luck , just grinding nois . is there any way to un-seize it ?

 

you sure the starter's not broken. and it sounds like time for an overhaul.

 

it's an 03' diesel , and he said when he started the truck " 20 miles away from home " he heard a snap .

 

Starter break @ a bolt? Flexplate snap @ the crank bolts?
IDK- start at the easy stuff first. I'm sure the oil level was checked by now??!??
The last time my starter was grinding was because there were some teeth breaking from the flexplate while it was trying to start!!
Good luck!!