My shuttle has been sitting for a few weeks and the mechanic was having issues getting it started in the cold. He shot some quick start into the air filter and she will start, and start running....for the rest of the day it will start fine, but the next morning it requires the quick start again... from my searching i suspect the Glow Plug Controller... Would this be the first place to start in the opinion of this forum. used one runs about $75... new aftermarket online about $100.

 

I wouldn't spray that stuff in your intake!!! Not good.
Do you have a code reader to get dtc's? Post some readings when trying to start cold.

 

Get some readings before throwing money at parts aye? B.

 

I mean I assume it was the intake, it started right away. Didn’t have any engine lights on. Just long crank.

 

It was the intake, and that's not good, so get the codes and share them here. Don't just buy parts. It's not hard. It can have codes without showing a CEL.

 

gotcha, I’ll take my reader over there and see what’s up.

 

I know I'm a little late to the party, but from reading the symptoms described in the original post, the cause of the difficult start may be due to weak/faulty injector(s) and/or weak FICM_M voltage. Neither of those issues would necessarily flag DTCs (diagnostic trouble codes). Slow to build and/or insufficient ICP could also cause your hard to start/no start symptom as well. To pinpoint either of the above mentioned issues would require data logging live data while attempting to start the engine in order to determine the out-of-spec data. A simple code reader is not going to suffice, to give you those answers.

I'm in the same camp as those above, to discourage the use of starting fluids in attempt to start the engine. If you "must" use a starting aid, Brake Parts Cleaner is far less volatile and much less likely to cause mechanical damage. Swapping out a glow plug module will equate to nothing more than a $100 guess that will get you no further ahead unless there is in fact an issue with it.

Sidebar: when replacing parts (in which times there are going to be many), avoid using anything aftermarket. I've seen too many issues first hand, caused directly by the install of aftermarket parts. Years ago, a van was brought to me by another shop expecting the turbo to be replaced under warranty to correct a lack of boost condition. Not even five minutes later, did it take for me to determine the brand new aftermarket air filter just installed, had bottomed out the air filter restrictor gauge. Out with the aftermarket filter, in with the new Ford/Motorcraft air filter and turbo boost was restored. The shop that brought the van to me refused to believe it was fixed!