My 95 has been dragging a little when I start it. I have suspected the batteries or the starter fading. Now lately it has been running rough at first almost like a gas motor does when not hitting on all cylinders. It seems to run fine once it is a little warm. Not sure what it might be but any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

How long does it take for it to run normally?
I would guess this has to do with glow plugs/ GPR, but I'm far from an expert (Pretty new to the 7.3). Someone else may be able to point in a better direction.

 

Unhook the batteries from each other and get them load tested. If they check ok, make sure your grounds and cables are ok too. If all that checks out, your starter is probably shot. Get it cranking like it should first.


You can test the gp's at the vc connections. Outer pins on the vc gaskets. Should read real close to 1 ohm each. GPR can be tested too. With the key on, there should be no more than .3 volt drop between the big posts.

 

It acts like at first it might be a low voltage problem like batteries or starter but i am unsure if that would make it run rough on the older trucks. The ucvh are all pretty new maybe a year old. still could be the problem i guess but I was hoping maybe something different. The last time i checked the oil it didnt have that burnt smell like they get. Also the glow plugs are about the same age. The hard start doesn't seem to have anything to do with the way that the truck runs it has done the hard start long before it was running rough when cold. Like I said the thing that is odd is it seems to run fine when warm. Maybe about 10 minutes of idle time at the most. I don't change the oil very often as the truck doesn't get driven much but I have heard the oil can get thick just from age and not miles but I'm not sure.

 

the whole "runs fine once warm" is why glow plugs and gpr came into question, try plugging your truck in and see if it skips the running rough part, if you dont see your heater cord it comes out by the oil filter base as a red cable and turns into a insulated three wire group with a wire guard around it, it should end up around your core support and grille area, changing your oil if it is old would always be a good idea even if it has low miles, these trucks have a heui injection system that runs off of oil, good luck!

Also when your starting it is it a fast crank or slow crank? and letting your glow plugs warm up longer than the WTS light doesnt hurt since they actually have different timers ( glow plugs having the longer timer )

 

If it begins to run better once the oil temp rises it is likely warn injector oil sides. Once the oil warms up and thins out it can flow better through the injectors. When it is cold and thick it can not flow well enough to completely inject the full amount of fuel as requested. How many miles on the injectors/brand/oil change intervals?