COLD START ISSUES 6.0
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 214
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
COLD START ISSUES 6.0
I have a 2006 f350 6.0 150000kms on it. Every since its been gettting below freezing my truck has a hard time starting. It will fire for half a second but doesnt stay running, you have to keep trying to start it and eventually it will continue to run. Once its running it blows black smoke and runs real rough until its warmed up. Once truck is warm, it runs great and will be good for the rest of the day. The next morning, this all over again. I just recently changed the oil to rotella t6 5w40. Motorcraft everything for filters and cap.
If I park the truck in the garage were its about ten degrees celcius, it starts fine.
I tested the ficm, on a morning start, but only in the garage, it read 48 volts while cranking and running.
Where should i start? I need to get some projects in my garage and need my truck out! Thanks
If I park the truck in the garage were its about ten degrees celcius, it starts fine.
I tested the ficm, on a morning start, but only in the garage, it read 48 volts while cranking and running.
Where should i start? I need to get some projects in my garage and need my truck out! Thanks
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 82
Likes: 1
From: Central Maryland
I'd be looking at the glow plug module- my '03 had a similar issue (mine ended up being the module plug wasn't fully seated in the module after taking it to a dealer for warranty work)....
how does it start if you leave the block heater plugged in while the truck is outside in the cold overnight?
how does it start if you leave the block heater plugged in while the truck is outside in the cold overnight?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 214
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
i am plugging it in tonight. I have been parking it in the garage because of this issue. Leaving it outside tonight plugged in. Is there a way to test the glow plugs? I will reseat the plugs in the module to be sure its not as simple as that!. The injectors also buzz since i forgot to say that above. Will the glow plugs normally throw an engine code?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
Recommend getting a capable code reader and see if there are any codes stored. As others mentioned, a glow plug issue should be investigated.
My '06 F350 starts just fine in below zero temperatures. Yours can too.
My '06 F350 starts just fine in below zero temperatures. Yours can too.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 214
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
Do any iphone apps read codes that dont come up with an engine light that my obd II scanner would pick up? I am going to get my buddy to read the codes on the truck for now, he has the ford scanner. But I would like to be able to pull the codes myself in the future without spending an arm and leg on the reader. I am going to order some rev x and a wifi obdII plug, Figured my truck could use some rev x regardless, so cant hurt to buy it. Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
I use a Scan gage 2 for normal monitoring. It is a decent monitor, but is limited in diagnostic ability. For diagnosis I'm using Auto Enginuity with the Ford module. That unit is a bit pricy, but works well.
My guess is that your truck has a glow plug module, egr valve or injector problem. A decent code reader is a logical first step. Many folk shoot the parts cannon at a problem, spend many dollars, and get poor results.
The best solution is to find the *specific* problem and fix only that. We don't need to go nuts throwing dollar bills at problems that don't exist.
Just my $.02.
My guess is that your truck has a glow plug module, egr valve or injector problem. A decent code reader is a logical first step. Many folk shoot the parts cannon at a problem, spend many dollars, and get poor results.
The best solution is to find the *specific* problem and fix only that. We don't need to go nuts throwing dollar bills at problems that don't exist.
Just my $.02.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Salt Lake City, utah
Do any iphone apps read codes that dont come up with an engine light that my obd II scanner would pick up? I am going to get my buddy to read the codes on the truck for now, he has the ford scanner. But I would like to be able to pull the codes myself in the future without spending an arm and leg on the reader. I am going to order some rev x and a wifi obdII plug, Figured my truck could use some rev x regardless, so cant hurt to buy it. Thanks
Yes if you have an iPhone download ForScan lite it will read the codes for the PCM,TCM,ABS, etc. Another option if you have a laptop is to download the ForScan program free at ForScan.org.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
I agree, I have the egr delete, hopefully it's glow plugs. WAs hoping I could find a way to narrow it down tonight without the special scanner. I agree, I am not one to throw parts at anything in hopes it fixes the issue. Last winter it was slow to start, not same symptoms just more like a five second crank before it fired. I took it in to get looked at and they said they fixed it by cleaning the egr. I was confused because it's deleted. I had just bought the truck and didn't know much about diesels at the time so I never questioned it further. But the egr is deleted for sure, so wouldn't cleaning the egr valve do nothing? Whatever they did, they made it start better
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,468
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From: Salt Lake City, utah
The EGR doesn’t do anything to help start the truck it stays closed until 160*. Plugging the block heater in will help if the glowplugs aren’t working well or at all. Is there a parts house close that can scan for codes?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
My obd 2 scanner shows nothing for codes. I am from a small town in Northern Canada not much here parts stores. From my understanding these trucks will show codes with a ford scanner that our obd readers won't? But to answer your question, no there is not lol. I got no codes on my reader other than no flow to egr from the delete
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Salt Lake City, utah
Not all scanners will read the codes. I would just get a timer that can be set to turn on a couple hours before you need to use the truck and wait until you get your OBDii plug and get the codes read. You could ohm out the glowplugs in the meantime IIRC they should read around 1.5ohms but I need to check that number.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Lloydminster, Sk, Canada
I will see how she starts tomorrow after having it plugged in. And let everyone know the results. if glow plugs are the issue would you replace them all or only ones that show up on a ford scanner. Have you changed glow plugs before? If I have to change then out, would you go at them through the wheel wells or from above? Which is easier
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Salt Lake City, utah
When I replaced my glow plugs I did them all along with the harnesses which most times break because heat and plastic don't mix. When replaced I removed the inner fender wells which made it much easier to access them. Also I replaced them so I knew they were new. I got them from WBLautonation for $190 for the 8 plugs and the 2 harnesses.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,974
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From: Millersburg, OH
I will see how she starts tomorrow after having it plugged in. And let everyone know the results. if glow plugs are the issue would you replace them all or only ones that show up on a ford scanner. Have you changed glow plugs before? If I have to change then out, would you go at them through the wheel wells or from above? Which is easier
If you end up needing to replace glow plugs I went through the wheel well. They are pretty easy to remove and gives a straight shot to everything. There are videos from Diesel Tech Ron where he does it from above but there was not way I was doing that.
You will probably break the harness so make sure to pick up a new one. I would replace all the glow plugs on that bank since they are cheap and the harness is the expensive part.