Won't start
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Won't start
Hello all. Covered in grime and diesel trying to get my truck started. I was gone working overseas when my wife told me that the truck wouldn't start if it was cold outside. Once the weather warmed up the truck would start. She parked my truck as it was low on gas. Now I get home. Checked the gpr and I get 10.30vdc on both sides. I have to charge my batteries now but the truck just won't crank. I found what appears to be a vaccum pump on the passengers side that was making a huge rattling noise, I remounted it as it was not in it's mounting brackets. Now that little pump doesn't run at all when turning the key on. Could this be part of my problem? Any suggestions or hints would be much appreciated
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
The truck probably won't start with 10.3 volts. The PCM wants to see a little more voltage before it commands the IDM to fire the injectors.
When you say "won't crank" do you mean the engine won't turn over at all?
If the engine does crank, do you see any smoke out the exhaust while trying to start?
Does your Wait To Start light come on?
Charge up your batteries and see if that helps. Dead batteries can and will cause 'no starts'.
When you say "won't crank" do you mean the engine won't turn over at all?
If the engine does crank, do you see any smoke out the exhaust while trying to start?
Does your Wait To Start light come on?
Charge up your batteries and see if that helps. Dead batteries can and will cause 'no starts'.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
Fuel in the bowl is good. No flooding issues to be concerned about.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
No white smoke means the injectors are not firing....usually because voltage is too low while cranking. (However, there could be other reasons.)
First thing is to make sure your batteries are healthy. What is your voltage while cranking? Measure inside the cab if possible since that is what your PCM is seeing. Do you have a thick set of jumper cables and another truck to try jump starting? Thin cables may not do the trick so you will need a good set of cables with heavy gauge wire.
First thing is to make sure your batteries are healthy. What is your voltage while cranking? Measure inside the cab if possible since that is what your PCM is seeing. Do you have a thick set of jumper cables and another truck to try jump starting? Thin cables may not do the trick so you will need a good set of cables with heavy gauge wire.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,069
Likes: 17
From: Melbourne, Ky
Check fuses. If there's no smoke, the injectors aren't firing. It could also be low voltage to the PCM as stated above. If the batteries have some age on them, the truck may still crank over fine, but without the right voltage to the PCM, it won't fire. I forget which fuse it is, but the fuse that powers the heater element in the fuel bowl also powers the PCM. When the heater element shorts out, it blows the fuse causing the PCM to loose power. It's the bottom plug into the fuel filter housing that goes to the heater. Just unplug it and make sure it won't hit anything to short out again if that is found to be the problem.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
Check fuses. If there's no smoke, the injectors aren't firing. It could also be low voltage to the PCM as stated above. If the batteries have some age on them, the truck may still crank over fine, but without the right voltage to the PCM, it won't fire. I forget which fuse it is, but the fuse that powers the heater element in the fuel bowl also powers the PCM. When the heater element shorts out, it blows the fuse causing the PCM to loose power. It's the bottom plug into the fuel filter housing that goes to the heater. Just unplug it and make sure it won't hit anything to short out again if that is found to be the problem.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
As a reminder....make sure you check to ensure your Wait To Start light is coming on. If you don't see that thing then your truck won't start no matter how strong your batteries are. (hopefully you have some spare fuses just in case you need them...)
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
If your Wait To Start light is coming on like normal and you have about 10.5 volts (or more) while cranking, fuel bowl is full and you aren't getting any white smoke out the exhaust then it's time to think about crank signal and high pressure oil. Unfortunately you need a good scan tool to perform the next steps.
I presume you checked all your fuses....correct?
