Hard to start sometimes

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Oct 7, 2014 | 10:44 AM

BB_FORD03

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Hard to start sometimes

2003 F350 with the 6.0

Truck can sit at the airport in the garage for a week and start right up first crank.

Then the next day it is rough to start, cranks, white smoke, eventually starts. Some mornings it will just starts right up.

I have one shop that wants to pull the valve covers, two hour diag at $85 an hour, saying they think it is a high pressure oil leak. Another shop says maybe but it could be a wiring harness getting brittle. This shop said it will take a look and firsts 30 minutes is free. Should be able to figure out what it is.
Truck runs well otherwise.

I have also heard it could be the glow plug relay.

Any thoughts?

Oct 7, 2014 | 11:02 AM

r2millers

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From: Southern Cal

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_FORD03

This shop said it will take a look and firsts 30 minutes is free.

Any thoughts?

My shop does the diagnostics for free. They know that once hooked up, chances are, you won't take it home and do it yourself or drive to another shop.

It shouldn't take them no more than 1/2 hr or so, to run through their live diagnostics to help determine cause.

Not sure why a shop would pull the valve covers off before running their diagnostics first?

In my case, the live injector test showed a failing injector with a code from another injector failure prior. Other tests such as the egr test helped narrow down the issue.

Oct 7, 2014 | 11:04 AM

BB_FORD03

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Which shop do you work for? I was going to take it to Quality Transmissions and Auto care, they said they would do the free 30 minute diag. They are more expensive per hour though.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:06 AM

r2millers

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From: Southern Cal

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_FORD03

Which shop do you work for? I was going to take it to Quality Transmissions and Auto care, they said they would do the free 30 minute diag. They are more expensive per hour though.

I just stated the facts. Not sure why you would think I'm advertising?

Don't work for any shop, just trying to help.

Maybe you should start with your HPOP, IPR, EBP, MAP, oil rail o rings, ICP, CAC boots, unison ring, injectors, etc. I'm sure others could add more.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:12 AM

BB_FORD03

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Ah..I didn't think you were advertising. I was just asking what shop in order to consider taking my truck there. I guess i thought "my shop" meant you owned/worked at one not the one you take your truck to.

My confusion.

Oct 8, 2014 | 10:18 AM

Money-Pit

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Joined: Dec 2012

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From: SW Florida

If you don't have any "OBD gauges"....you should invest in one. That will help us to help you.

Here's some info on the different types.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...eral-info.html

Oct 8, 2014 | 02:55 PM

2006powerstroke90

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_FORD03

Which shop do you work for? I was going to take it to Quality Transmissions and Auto care, they said they would do the free 30 minute diag. They are more expensive per hour though.

Honestly, it seems like they may be better at figuring out transmission issues....it pretty much says it in the name