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I am intrigued by this engine and it's cold start issues so I am trying things out to see what works. If I plug it in it starts like summertime. If it's as cold as 30* out I run the glow plugs for two minutes and it starts without much effort and once running purrs like a kitten, no chug a lug, no romping, little smoke. When it gets down into the 20's I run the glow plugs for two two minute cycles, a little more cranking time but starts same as above. Down to 18* and I cycle the glow plugs twice for two minutes and it cranks, tries to start but won't. Key off, back on for two more minutes and it starts right up like a warm summer day. It hasn't been colder than 18* here this year so this is the end of my report for now. I haven't taken the time to check the glow plugs which is on my list but this summer it'll get done.
I've had good results with cold weather starting using Lucas fuel additive. I don't know what starter you have or it's condition but a faster starter helps a lot too.
I've had good results with cold weather starting using Lucas fuel additive. I don't know what starter you have or it's condition but a faster starter helps a lot too.
I am looking at that as the cold weather slows the cranking speed. Are there faster and slower spinning starters? I did add some additive from same company that makes diesel 911, forget their name though. One other thing that does seem to be happening when it cranks but won't start, when I go back to key on I hear what sounds like an ignition in a cylinder. Glow plug lighting some unspent fuel?
Sounds like it's time to renew your Glow plugs. 3 hours and you'll save your starter and batteries. I had a mirror image of your problem. Well below zero, as soon as 20 seconds Bam.
I am looking at that as the cold weather slows the cranking speed.
That could be an indication that your batteries quite up to par. Or it could be a result of how long the glow plugs have run. Either way, it does sound as though your starter speed is the culprit. A new starter won't help much if the problem is a lack of output from the batteries.
That could be an indication that your batteries quite up to par. Or it could be a result of how long the glow plugs have run. Either way, it does sound as though your starter speed is the culprit. A new starter won't help much if the problem is a lack of output from the batteries.
Batteries, bad ground connections and glow plug ohms are three things to check before throwing money at the starter. That starter looks good but if there are problems with any of those other three things it won't solve my problem.
Batteries, bad ground connections and glow plug ohms are three things to check before throwing money at the starter. That starter looks good but if there are problems with any of those other three things it won't solve my problem.
^^^ agreed. Here is a great write up from another FTE member on the onboard starting systems...
That looks like a winner, on sale and free shipping. Thanks for that.
I went through two db electrical high torque starters before finally going with a genuine Nippon Denso 4.36kW starter. That is the one that db's chinese copy is based on.
my 02 started doing the same thing. under 30 it will not start with the remote, and just barely start with the key.
plug it in for 2 hours and it fires rite up. last year it would fire down to 15, the year before it would cold start subzero.
i an pretty sure my problem is the injectors are tired at 194,000 miles, and the starter is tired and needs replacing.
A properly functioning GP system on a 7.3 should have no trouble starting unassisted below zero IMHO.
Wood-N-Things did a great job on that write up. I refer to it all the time......Rufushusky you are right on the mark, a properly functioning GP system (and healthy injectors) will have no trouble starting below zero. But plugging her in sure helps.
When I had my cold start problems with my F-250. It was taking a good 10 seconds to crank and fire up. After testing the glow plugs I had 3 or so bad ones so I replaced them all since I was going in there. I also had a bad GPR. In addition I would suggest replacing the UVC Harnesses if they have not been replaced yet.
I would test the GPR & ohm out the glow plugs as Wood-N-Things shows in one of the videos at the bottom of the web page. Load test the batteries and make sure they are putting out enough CCA's. Once all those items check out good, monitor the RPM's to see how fast your starter is turning her over. Even after replacing the GPR & GP's I still had a bum started and wound up replacing that as well. I should have took a video of how she started, it was nasty. She was cranky, slow cranking, chugging when she finally caught and took forever to smooth out. Now at sub zero temps she'll start without being plugged in.
Since the new GP's, GPR & starter. She's good to go
on a side note, we were working on a similar situation with my brother-in-laws F-350 last month. She would't start unless plugged in and smoked to beat hell when she did, has 310K miles on original injectors so we were thinking that the injectors were the issue. We found this when we went in the replace the glow plugs.
After new UVC Harnesses, GP's and a GPR she's been starting good lately.
There's no telling exactly what your issue is, but one thing for sure - after an hour or two of testing the cause will reveal itself.
