I recently changed the GP's and GP relay in my 96 PS but I noticed something strange the during cold weather starts. This morning is was down to 8 degrees (record low for South Carolina). This morning when I went to start the truck the WTS light didn't come on. I waited for about 10 seconds and the truck started right up with no issues. The block heater was plugged in and no issues starting the truck except for the WTS light not working. I noticed a few weeks ago during another cold morning (mid 20's) the WTS light didn't work that morning either. All other times (except for cold SC mornings) everything is working great.

What would cause the WTS light not to come on during "cold" start?

 

EOT sensor( Engine Oil Temp) could be out of wack. When you turn on the key watch the wts and see if it blinks.


Do you have a scan tool that can see live data?

 

Also you can watch the volt gauge to see in the GP's are turning on.

Turn the key to the ON position and watch the volt gauge it should be low.
The the GP's turn off the gauge will jump up.
WTS light is a dummy light. GP's can stay on for up to two mins. even if the WTS isn't on

 

If I plug my truck in over night the WTS light does not come on for very long. Could have gotten warm enough from the block heater that the WTS light did not come on if the EOT was warm enough.

 

The WTS light is an IDIOT light. The glow plugs stay on LONG after that light goes out.


I laugh when I hear people cycling the key multiple times to "cycle" the glow plugs again. All they have to do is leave the key in the run position after the light goes out and found to 10 or 20 or 30 and the glow plugs will STILL be on

 

Brad, I think we all get that it is just an IDIOT light with no real indication of when to start and not to start the truck. The original post was a questioning why sometimes it comes on and sometimes it doesn't even though it was really cold out.

I usually give a good 10 count or longer after the WTS light goes out myself but it is nice to have everything functioning as it should on your truck. Sometimes the little insignificant things bother people.

I would want my WTS light to work properly because someone may drive my truck and not really know to give a 10, 20, or 30 count after it goes off or if it doesn't come on. I know maybe that person shouldn't drive it but not everyone reads these forums everyday.

 

You are kidding, right? MOST think the GPs are ONLY one when that light is on.


I am going to say the WTS light went out as soon as it came on because the EOT was warm enough

 

Brad that was my though that I stated above.

 

The GP's are working. I did watch the voltage gage after starting and needle was in the "normal" position after starting. After approximately 1 minute the voltage gage jumped up to the "normal" range as when I'm driving. The WTS light was not blinking, it just wasn't on at all.

This morning the WTS did work. The temperature was 16 degrees and I had the block heater plugged in the same amount of time as night before when it was down to 8 degrees. The other time the WTS light didn't come on the temp was in the mid 20's (with no block heater), a true cold start so the EOT was not warm.

I do not have a scan tool, only a multimeter.....

I did not cycle the key several times. I know the GP's stay on long after the WTS light goes out. You can see the voltage drain on the gage until they turn off.

I know this really isn't that big of deal. I'm the only one that drives the truck but I do like everything to work as it is suppose to.