I drive a 2000 F-250 4x4. The truck will not start in the morning unless it was plugged in the night before. This started in the summer when it was warm. Even when plugged in it takes a while for it to run properly. My guess is the glow plugs. There are 2 fuses (one for each glow plug bank) in the wiring harness for the glow plugs. Where are these located. Also, is it possible to ckeck the glow plugs without removing them. Any help would be appeciated.

Thanks,
Josh

 

Thread moved to 7.3L PSD section.

Welcome to FTE, Josh!

Do you see white smoke coming from the exhaust while you're cranking it but it's not starting?

If so, try this: when you park the truck at the end of the day, don't plug it in. The next morning, turn the key to RUN but don't crank it. While it's at RUN, take a screw driver and jump the two large terminals on the glow plug relay (GPR) with the screwdriver blade. The GPR is the large relay to the left of the fuel filter bowl when looking from the front of the truck. Hold the screw driver there for 15 seconds or so, and then go back and crank the truck to start it. If it starts up like it should, then you need a new GPR. The screw driver engergizes the relay where a bad relay would not pass current like it should on its own.

Report back on what you find!

 

Ryan's got it

The GPR is a more common failure for the glow plug system. It's also a cheaper and much much much easier fix.

 

i agree with the gp relay i just changed mine had the same problem my relay would close and have bat voltage on one side but the disc was fried and wouldnt transfer to the gp side. get a voltmeter or a test light and check that.

 

i have that same cold starting problem replaced my ford oem relay and still have to plug heater in. no problem starting in warm weather!

 

Yup, glow plugs was my demon. Just did them last weekend and a driver side UV harness. If you have to replace the GP's, use quality parts. My mechanic used autolite and they crapped out very quickly!! I used OEM this time. Goodluck and welcome to the forum!

 

Does it start normally the rest of the day, especially in the warmer days?

 

yes mine will start the rest of the day unless it sits for 8 hour work day than its hard to start again

 

opps thats in cold days

 

I gotcha, the advice so far is spot on. If it is 70* or above, I can just turn the key and crank mine w/out GP activation. Just wondering if you had a problem there.

 

Might sound dumb but have the batteries checked.

Mine was doing the same thing. Except I never plug in. It would be hard to start... Finally start, then chug, etc... run rough, loss of power until warm....

This morning it wouldn't start to save it's life. Voltage was so low the relays under dash were chattering, Overhead console powered down from low voltage. The PCM or IDM must've powered down too. I bought the truck 9 months ago and thought it started fine. WRONG!!!!!!

One battery tested bad immediately! I put 2 new ones in it at lunch. When I fired it up for the ride home it ran smoother, pulled better, idled quieter.... All of my problems were gone. Oh, and it spun over about 300% faster.........

I would've never thought it was the batteries. Apparently it was.

Just my 2 cents.....