Cold weather starting problem
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Cold weather starting problem
I have 1999 F-250 Super Duty, 6.8l V10 gasoline engine with 146K miles. Third owner, although original owner kept great records. My issue started in January 2016. Temperatures reached single digits and the truck refused to start. Determined there was no fuel pressure at the shrade valve on the intake rail. Checked all the fuses and relays, replaced the fuel filter. Truck would turn over but not start. Kept putting off dropping the fuel tank to change the fuel pump. Come March we had a day where the temperature reached 60, turn the key and the truck started. No more issues until December 2016 when temperature hit single digits again. (Started fine after temperatures read mid teens). Same problem now. Cranks but refuses to start. Not sure I want to wait another 3 months for nature to take its course. And I am not sure the fuel pump would operate intermittently like this. No codes are being thrown except a misfire on the #1 cylinder. I suspect the cold weather is affecting something else (IAC, MFS, etc), which in turn cuts the power to the fuel pump. I do not hear the fuel pump for the 2 seconds when you turn the key.
Anyone else have a similar issue and how did you resolve it?
Anyone else have a similar issue and how did you resolve it?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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I'm no mechanic, and this is a real wild shot in the dark, but I wonder if you have a bad/loose electrical connection (or chaffed wires) somewhere that contracts just enough in the cold so that it no longer makes good contact. Maybe just go around snd check all your grounds and all of the electrical connections and harnesses that you can find.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
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It almost sounds like you have just enough moisture in the tank to allow the pump to freeze at low temps, I have seen this happen a few times. Have you tried any fuel deicer? Just don't use yellow bottle Heet, use any of the isopropol based deicers, it may not work but is an inexpensive thing to try. If that works I would recommend getting the tank drained completely and replacing the fuel pump as at 146K it probably is at least close to being due.
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Water in the fuel is something I hadn't considered. It would seem that when the ambient temperature is over 40 it should melt. Unfortunately we are having single digit temperatures for the next week, so all I am doing now is looking for components to test once is warms up a bit. The truck is too big for my garage, so everything is done outside.
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Had this exact same problem with a 99 F350 V10. No problems starting all year long in warmer weather but when the temps dropped below freezing, the truck would turn over and over but wouldn't start. It happened to me a few times until I figured out it was related to the outside temps. I lucked out once on top of a tall mountain in the snow. Drove fine all the way up, parked, and then when it was time to leave, it wouldn't start. After cranking for a long time, it started sputtering and finally got enough gas to start.
I dropped the fuel tank right after that trip and put in a new motorcraft fuel pump. That solved the problem. I've since been in freezing temps and have not had that happen again.
I dropped the fuel tank right after that trip and put in a new motorcraft fuel pump. That solved the problem. I've since been in freezing temps and have not had that happen again.
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Just an update. I replaced the fuel pump assembly and everything is working great. Dropping and reinstalling the tank is not an easy job for a handicapped person, but I was able to do it.
Does anyone know why Ford put the fuel pump in the tank on the gas version of the F250 and put the fuel pump along the rails for the diesel version?
Does anyone know why Ford put the fuel pump in the tank on the gas version of the F250 and put the fuel pump along the rails for the diesel version?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Any fuel injected vehicle, ford and others included, have the fuel pump in the tank. Diesels have a low pressure pump outside the tank, then a high pressure pump at the engine.
Gone are the days of engine powered mechanical pumps.
Glad you got it fixed!!
Gone are the days of engine powered mechanical pumps.
Glad you got it fixed!!
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