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Old May 1, 2015 | 03:02 PM
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Start issue

Well I am new to the forum and could use a little help.

I have. 2001 excursion with a 7.3l deisel. 167100 miles

It runs great but if it sets over night when the motor is cold it will not start.

You have to plug the block heater in for about an hour or more for it to start.

To me it seems like glow plugs are not working? It had new glow plugs out in from the po.

Help please.
 
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Old May 1, 2015 | 03:43 PM
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May be a bad GPCM but that would throw a CEL, at least it did in my F-250.
 
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Old May 1, 2015 | 04:44 PM
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Is there a way to rest I don't have and check engine lights or anything
 
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Old May 1, 2015 | 10:07 PM
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If you know someone with a 6.0 you could take it off of and try it on you Ex, it's the same part, that's how I figured mine out years ago.
 
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Old May 2, 2015 | 08:54 PM
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Is there any other way to test the gcpm?

I checked for power to the glow plug and I have 10v
 
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Old May 2, 2015 | 09:20 PM
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You can test the GPCM and glow plugs with an ohm meter, but you don't need to unless your check engine light bulb is burned out. If your truck has a GPCM (all excursions do), then it will throw a code and trip the check engine light if you've got a bad glow plug or GPCM.

That means you don't have a glow plug issue. (unless the previous owner installed autolite glow plugs which might turn into a big issue down the road). Might be worn injectors. What's your comfort level in pulling the valve covers to take a look see?
 
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Old May 2, 2015 | 09:38 PM
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Well it would be my first te getting into a deisel.

What would I be looking for taking the valve covers off
 
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Old May 2, 2015 | 09:54 PM
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Btw it was 50 degrees out in the morning and the truck did not start until I plugged it in for about an hour.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeffkniseley

What would I be looking for taking the valve covers off
Oil discharge coming out of the spout at 11:00 on each injector while cranking or when it finally starts.



While cranking or when running, each injector should be spitting about the same amount of oil as the others. If you've got several injectors not spitting oil on a cold start, but they do start to spit oil after the engine warms up or has been plugged in for a couple of hours, then that indicates worn internals on the injectors.

That of course means time for new injectors.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 04:09 PM
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I will have to look into the injectors and the oil flow.

So if they star flowing and working warm wouldn't they be just clogged???

Not trying to ask dumb questions only want to understand how they work more.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 06:01 PM
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They're not clogged. You don't need some magic injector flush to clean them. The injectors on the 7.3 use engine oil to hydraulically actuate the internals and ramp up the pressure of the diesel fuel for injection. If the injector isn't spitting any oil, it's not injecting any fuel. The issue here is on the oil side of the injector, not the fuel side.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 06:09 PM
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Ooo ok makes sense. I did not know that it had 2 sides to it.
I suppose that is why having the block heater plugged in make the truck start.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 08:06 PM
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You're catching on. But remember, just because your truck matches these symptoms doesn't mean this is your problem.

The visual check on the oil spouts should tell you for sure. Might take a little time to do it, but it beats throwing money at it.
 
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Old May 3, 2015 | 08:49 PM
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I will check them before I throw money at it. I'm going to shoot for Friday to get on it.
 
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Old May 9, 2015 | 10:24 AM
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I'm not going to have time this weekend. Forgot it was others day.
 
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