Hard starting 2003
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Senior User
Joined: May 2011
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From: Rockland co. N.Y.
Hard starting 2003
Recently my truck has been having a real hard time starting from a cold start. I live in ny and it has been in the 40's witch is not that cold for the truck to be having a hard time. I will let the truck glow 3 times befor trying to start it because if I just let it glow once it will never star. I will crank for like 10 seconds at a time and some times it takes about 4 or 5 times cranking to star. As I am cranking the exhaust will start dumping white smoke and when it finally does start it smokes white for a little while. Mods on the truck are dp tuner intake and exhaust. Truck has 38,000 miles. Any ideas? I'm assuming probably glow plugs but I want some input for some other people.... Thanks guys
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Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Oakdale, CA
Your truck really only has 38,000 miles on it?! If so, that thing is rare!
Anyway, to your issue... I would say a defective glow plug relay/GPCM or wiring going to some of the glow plugs. You really shouldn't be having this issue at 38,000 miles, and that is why I do not think the glow plugs themselves are bad.
Does it do this if it is plugged in?
Anyway, to your issue... I would say a defective glow plug relay/GPCM or wiring going to some of the glow plugs. You really shouldn't be having this issue at 38,000 miles, and that is why I do not think the glow plugs themselves are bad.
Does it do this if it is plugged in?
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Portland, OR
I'd agree with you on the glow plugs. Do you have a GPCM (silver box near the AIH relay) or a GPR (two relays that look almost identical)? CA model trucks have the silver box.
Regardless of type, ohm out the glow plugs to make sure you have good plugs and continuity to them by checking resistance at the top plug on each VC harness. Unplug the pigtail, use pin 5 (center) as the common and ohm out 1,2,8,9. All should be under 2 ohms.
If that checks out for all 8 and you have the GPR, try jumping the GPR by connecting the two large poles for about 15 seconds (heard an open end wrench or large screwdiver works nicely) and then see if there's any change in starting. Let us know what you find out and we'll take it from there.
Alternately, check for 12V present at BOTH large poles on the GPR KOEO and 12V present at only ONE pole with key off. This will indicate proper function of the relay itself. The previous method is simply a way to defeat it.
If you have the GPCM (like me), let us know that, too.
Regardless of type, ohm out the glow plugs to make sure you have good plugs and continuity to them by checking resistance at the top plug on each VC harness. Unplug the pigtail, use pin 5 (center) as the common and ohm out 1,2,8,9. All should be under 2 ohms.
If that checks out for all 8 and you have the GPR, try jumping the GPR by connecting the two large poles for about 15 seconds (heard an open end wrench or large screwdiver works nicely) and then see if there's any change in starting. Let us know what you find out and we'll take it from there.
Alternately, check for 12V present at BOTH large poles on the GPR KOEO and 12V present at only ONE pole with key off. This will indicate proper function of the relay itself. The previous method is simply a way to defeat it.
If you have the GPCM (like me), let us know that, too.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
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From: Hampton, Maryland.
That sounds earily similar to the way my situation started. I hope its not the same thing, although we haven't figured mine out and it may actually be something simple and not costly, I am thinking mine is gonna be spendy. 
Here's hoping yours isn't.
Here's hoping yours isn't.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Morehead, Ky.
When you say "I will let the truck glow 3 times befor trying to start it" , do you mean I am waiting for the dash light to go out for 3 times, or are you waiting 1 minute between
key cycles. Dash light on and glow plug time on are not connected.
Try waiting 1 minute before starting.
When I got my .03 it had 120,000 and a bad GPR.
Just my .02
key cycles. Dash light on and glow plug time on are not connected.
Try waiting 1 minute before starting.
When I got my .03 it had 120,000 and a bad GPR.
Just my .02
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 659
Likes: 1
From: Millstone, NJ
Most likely your Glow Plug Relay is shot and it's time for a replacement. Pretty common for these devices to fail especially for those who live in the colder temp areas.
I had replaced my GPR relay because of the exact same symptoms you described. I replaced it with a Stancor GPR, a heavy duty GPR. See here: Welcome to guzzle's Stancor GPR replacement Mod Web Page
Here is a video of what my truck was doing at the time of the problem. Maybe your truck can relate.
I had replaced my GPR relay because of the exact same symptoms you described. I replaced it with a Stancor GPR, a heavy duty GPR. See here: Welcome to guzzle's Stancor GPR replacement Mod Web Page
Here is a video of what my truck was doing at the time of the problem. Maybe your truck can relate.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Morehead, Ky.
That will surely get a starter quick. Seems like you need a GPR. or glow plugs.
Short across the glow plug relay large post for a minute. and then start.
Short across the glow plug relay large post for a minute. and then start.
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From: Rockland co. N.Y.
Yes the truck really only has 38,000 me's it was my grandfathers. He naught it new in 03 and babied it since. Unfortunately he passed this past October and I got the truck. The beginning of this winter I replaced the batteries and the glow plug relay witch were original from 03. The glow plugs are also original so I don't know if it is time for new ones. I'm hoping its not a costly repair I don't have much money right now. Now here's a question for dp I know I might catch some flack for this but here it goes. I was on a park way by me and wanted to get on it a little. I had it in the 80 e tune and got into it good. I pinned the speedometer all the way to the gear select and then all of a sudden the needle shot all the way over to 0 on the speed ometer and the odometer just turned I to dashed lines like this -------. Could I have messed something computer related up and that is what is causing the problem? Just thinking out loud
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From: Rockland co. N.Y.
I am in Florida right now so I can't really try anything until Sunday when I get back. I just started having the problem the past week or so. The thing that I thought was weird was it has started warming up were I live like in to the 30's or 40's. over the winter I wasn't plugging it in everyday and I started it in close to 0 degree temps with out it plugged in this year. The truck was t to happy when it started but it was starting alot better than it is now in 30 to 40 degree temps. And all the white smoke I'm getting whe it is cranking is that just fuel dumping in and not being burnt? I love this truck and I hope it's not something serious. I got rid of my 6.0 because I didn't want problems but hopefully this is not something serious
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,404
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From: Wheatland, Mo
If you pinned the speedo then it could be possible that you just hit the limiter...if it is still in place.
As for the cold starts... at only 38K, I would have serious doubts that the GPs are bad. You already mentioned that you replaced the GPR so I wouldn't think that is the issue. But to be sure, I would bypass the GPR for about 30 seconds and try to start it.
Also, try plugging it in for about 2 hrs then try to start it. Those two will help to tell if it is a Glow plug system issue or not.
Alot of us on here, including myself, have changed out to running full synthetic Rotella T6 oil. This helps with easier cold starts and helps to get rid of the cold start "romps".
As for the cold starts... at only 38K, I would have serious doubts that the GPs are bad. You already mentioned that you replaced the GPR so I wouldn't think that is the issue. But to be sure, I would bypass the GPR for about 30 seconds and try to start it.
Also, try plugging it in for about 2 hrs then try to start it. Those two will help to tell if it is a Glow plug system issue or not.
Alot of us on here, including myself, have changed out to running full synthetic Rotella T6 oil. This helps with easier cold starts and helps to get rid of the cold start "romps".
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From: Oakdale, CA
Yes the truck really only has 38,000 me's it was my grandfathers. He naught it new in 03 and babied it since. Unfortunately he passed this past October and I got the truck. The beginning of this winter I replaced the batteries and the glow plug relay witch were original from 03. The glow plugs are also original so I don't know if it is time for new ones. I'm hoping its not a costly repair I don't have much money right now. Now here's a question for dp I know I might catch some flack for this but here it goes. I was on a park way by me and wanted to get on it a little. I had it in the 80 e tune and got into it good. I pinned the speedometer all the way to the gear select and then all of a sudden the needle shot all the way over to 0 on the speed ometer and the odometer just turned I to dashed lines like this -------. Could I have messed something computer related up and that is what is causing the problem? Just thinking out loud
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