New beast won't start
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 241
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From: North Dakota
New beast won't start
Purchased another excursion this fall, a 2000 7.3. No problems with it until the weather dropped recently. We hadn't driven it in a few weeks and now it won't start. Batteries seem to be at least part of the issue as they die even after being charged overnight but I'd hate to spend 4-500 on batteries and still have other issues. Do these trucks have issues in cold (North Dakota cold) weather? Tried searching but with such vague terms too much info pops up.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: North Dakota
I should add that it sounds like the glow plugs are kicking in and that we had a similar issue earlier in the cold but were able to get it going that time. Seems like I had to pump the gas, which probably isn't a good thing?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Rothesay, New Brunswick
Shouldn't need to pump the gas, if anything you hold the pedal to the floor until it starts while cranking (that's what I've done with older diesels, don't know if that applies to newer'ish ones). Sounds like you have glow plug issues. Can you move it into a heated garage for the night to see if it will start in the morning?
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Moved this one over to the 7.3L PSD forum.
Cold is relative, even when you qualify it as North Dakota cold. What temps are you talking about? Have you tried plugging it in overnight?
And why the heck would you spend 4 to 500 dollars for two batteries? Where the heck are you buying them that they cost so much?
Does ND have any Costco's?
Stewart
And why the heck would you spend 4 to 500 dollars for two batteries? Where the heck are you buying them that they cost so much?
Does ND have any Costco's?
Stewart
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,678
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From: Central Tx.
Purchased another excursion this fall, a 2000 7.3. No problems with it until the weather dropped recently. We hadn't driven it in a few weeks and now it won't start. Batteries seem to be at least part of the issue as they die even after being charged overnight but I'd hate to spend 4-500 on batteries and still have other issues. Do these trucks have issues in cold (North Dakota cold) weather? Tried searching but with such vague terms too much info pops up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 1
From: Central Tx.
Purchased another excursion this fall, a 2000 7.3. No problems with it until the weather dropped recently. We hadn't driven it in a few weeks and now it won't start. Batteries seem to be at least part of the issue as they die even after being charged overnight but I'd hate to spend 4-500 on batteries and still have other issues. Do these trucks have issues in cold (North Dakota cold) weather? Tried searching but with such vague terms too much info pops up.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Puget Sound
I don't know if you have Costco there, but they carry the Interstate batteries we need for just a hair over $200 (for a pair of them) with the core and sales tax. I'd really start there... because all the glow plugs in the world won't solve the lack of juice to power them, or the lack of oomph to convince the starter to crank up to the needed RPMs to get the cold oil-a-flowin'.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: North Dakota
Thanks for the advice guys. Looks like I'm gonna get some batteries and go from there. The 4-500 I was talking about was because I planned on getting some Diehard platinum group 65s. I have them in my V10 and love them, can leave it sit for weeks and months on end and regardless of that or temp it turns right over. This 7.3 is my 3rd vehicle so it may be a couple weeks before I make it my priority.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,760
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From: Hampton, Maryland.
You shouldn't even have to plug in at those temps if your batteries and GP system are in working order. You need to cycle the glow plugs long enough to get heat into the cylinders. At those temps, I would turn the key forward and wait for at LEAST 60 seconds 20 degrees, closer to 120 seconds at 0 or below.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: BoCoMo
Get you one of these at Wally World. It will tell you your batteries power... tell you if your glow plugs come on... tell you the draw down when the GPs come on.... tell you when the glow plugs go off.... tell you the output of your alternator. this will keep a lot of the guessing out of the equation.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: North Dakota
Get you one of these at Wally World. It will tell you your batteries power... tell you if your glow plugs come on... tell you the draw down when the GPs come on.... tell you when the glow plugs go off.... tell you the output of your alternator. this will keep a lot of the guessing out of the equation.
Robot Check
Robot Check
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
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From: Seattle
For less than the price of one of those, you can get two batteries at Costco, 850cca. I believe last time I looked they were $90 each. I'm going on 6 years on my set, and they still load test and crank over strong. My truck also sits for weeks, sometimes months at a time. Heat is what shortens battery life, so as stated already, you really want to make sure your glow plug system is in proper working order.
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From: Central Coast of CA