Well I have read most of the starting problems and it appears mine is one of many with the same problem. I bought the 2001 with the diesel new and have had it through 2 winters. Never had a problem as far as starting the truck at all. At temperatures of - 20 C and sometimes colder (not plugged in) the truck would cycle once only on the glow plugs, crank over five or six times and fire right up. Idle was very smooth. This past month it has become more difficult to start and when it does finally start it surges badly for about five seconds, then begins to smooth out. As the temp. got colder the starting problem got worse, to a point where I had to keep cycling the glow plugs and cranking, then it would begin to catch on a couple of cylinders then a few more cylinders where it would finally start. Again the idle was surging badly. Took it to the local dealer where they changed the glow plug relay, then the glow plugs, then they said a connecter under the valve cover was loose for the injectors. Then they changed the oil from 15w-40 to 10w-30. I still have the starting problem but the idle has not been bad when it finally does start. There has to be something most are overlooking, the problem is common but the attempted fixes are the same with what appears for most the same results. Cold starting is never the same and for now we just have to live with it.

 

Powerstrokes hate to start with a low battery. When warm they may start, but when cold, they just refuse..

The voice of experience.

 

I would think that would have been the first item the dealer would check befor putting in all those costly parts. But maybe they didn't. Do you know the minimum voltage required during cranking for this engine to start the way it should, Theologian?

 

I am not sure of the point at which it won't work, but if you have not got 10 volts when first cranking on a cold day, it is NOT going to start, but it will crank. Strangely enough, when it is hot, 10 volts will start it.

Theo