I am having problems with my truck starting in cold weather when it is not pluged in while I'm at work. Any ideas for help?

 

Welcome to FTE. Alot of good info here you might need to give a little more info on your situation though. How cold, when was the last oil change and what weight oil, current temps, etc.

 

Another welcome to FTE, stick around, alot of great info here and family oriented. I agree with Jamin, we need more info. Just off the top of my head, battery output, glowplugs, glow plug relay are just the start of it..

 

If it usually starts with it plugged in, then go with Mike's suggestions - battery output, GP's etc.

Welcome and hang around.

 

Where in Kansas are you located? Like said above, make sure your batteries are nice and strong. Use a good diesel fuel additive with a cetane boost to help with the cold starts. Check your glow plugs & glow plug relay. Consider using a 5W-40 weight oil during the winter - definite cold start improvement. Was -8 OAT here in S.D. this morning, a little rough on the initiat start but still fires up.

 

Cycle the glow plugs by turning the key on, wait, key off, key on, wait, start.

 

Any smoke when it finally starts?

 

mine is doing the same thing 8 new plugs new control moduale. burned out the starter the other morning trying to get it to start. plug it in and starts right up. never had to plug my truck in untill this year. not sure what to try now.

 

have your batteries,and alternator checks,needs lots of volts to start in cold weather!I was king of cold weather no start lol!Always plugged in me truck below 60 then one day i had to jump my truck to get it started in cold weather!Got it started and went straight to the auto parts store and had them check my batteries,and alternator. MY alternator was bad now i can start my truck without plugging it in!Also make sure your glow plugs come on!

 

Batteries, Batteries, Batteries, Cold weather brings out the worst in weak batteries.

 

checked batteries, charging system, glow plugs and relay are all good. the manifold air intake heater relay is working but violet wire is not grounding to kick relay on. any ideas??

 

How did you check your batteries? Air intake heater don't need to work. Mines been out for years.

 

Guys,lets also remember that our glow plugs stay on for about a min. and a half for each cycle.My engine is in pretty good shape,(lol...i hope anyway right),but if its like 15 to 20 degrees out,i have to cycle my glow plugs one full cycle,then about 30 to 45 seconds of another cycle,then she fires right up,but i have never had to use the block heater though.....Just my.02 worth

 

Was 4*F out with wind chill of -5 two days ago here in Southern Maine. Cycled the GP twice and it started w/o being plugged in. It started but the engine was REALLY cold, very little smoke and cleard up in about 10-15 seconds. I run 15W-40 all year long, I wonder if the thinner oil would make an appreciable difference.