Trouble Starting
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Whittier, CA
Trouble Starting
Hey guys. My 2003 Excursion 6.0L has a hard time starting after sitting for a week. My batteries read 12V each and sometimes it feels like they are low powered. Do I need to wait longer for the glow plugs to warm up? Any advice would help. Want to make sure its nothing else like the alternator.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 942
The 6.0 can have lots of reasons for a hard start. Just to list a few;
-FICM voltage low during cranking
-glow plug(s )or glow plug module inoperative
-HPOP weak
-Oil leak at standpipe or dummy plugs
-Oil leak at slip fit connector ( not all years of the 6.0 have this connector)
-Oil leak at injector to rail cups.
-Plugged or partially restricted screen on the HPOP suction
and the list goes on. There is a reason the 6.0 has the reputation it does, and that reputation is well earned IMHO.
take a read around the 6.0 section of this forum, there are still a few die hard fans of the 6.0 around in there that are willing to help.
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-FICM voltage low during cranking
-glow plug(s )or glow plug module inoperative
-HPOP weak
-Oil leak at standpipe or dummy plugs
-Oil leak at slip fit connector ( not all years of the 6.0 have this connector)
-Oil leak at injector to rail cups.
-Plugged or partially restricted screen on the HPOP suction
and the list goes on. There is a reason the 6.0 has the reputation it does, and that reputation is well earned IMHO.
take a read around the 6.0 section of this forum, there are still a few die hard fans of the 6.0 around in there that are willing to help.
…
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
You may have something draining the battery, other than the computer waiting for a signal from the key fob.
Maybe a light is stuck on somewhere.
Is the battery voltage around 12.6v an hour after running the vehicle?
When the engine starts the alternator will produce 13.4-13.6v for a normal recharge or 14.2-14.6v for a high charge, then taper down to 13.2-13.4v for normal running.
Ours sometimes sits 3 or 4 weeks between uses so I have a solar battery charge panel on the dash that plugs into the Accy socket and keeps the battery charged.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Whittier, CA
I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT
Hey guys, I think I figured it out. I used the performance tune on my Edge Evolution and I think it was running to lean. Once I went back to stock, it starts with no problem like she used to!
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 50
Likes: 2
From: Whittier, CA
The batteries should normally read around 12.6v before cranking, so 12v is low.
You may have something draining the battery, other than the computer waiting for a signal from the key fob.
Maybe a light is stuck on somewhere.
Is the battery voltage around 12.6v an hour after running the vehicle?
When the engine starts the alternator will produce 13.4-13.6v for a normal recharge or 14.2-14.6v for a high charge, then taper down to 13.2-13.4v for normal running.
Ours sometimes sits 3 or 4 weeks between uses so I have a solar battery charge panel on the dash that plugs into the Accy socket and keeps the battery charged.
You may have something draining the battery, other than the computer waiting for a signal from the key fob.
Maybe a light is stuck on somewhere.
Is the battery voltage around 12.6v an hour after running the vehicle?
When the engine starts the alternator will produce 13.4-13.6v for a normal recharge or 14.2-14.6v for a high charge, then taper down to 13.2-13.4v for normal running.
Ours sometimes sits 3 or 4 weeks between uses so I have a solar battery charge panel on the dash that plugs into the Accy socket and keeps the battery charged.
This is great info, thank you! Where did you get the solar charger? I need one of those.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 942
Thats not how diesel engines work, compression ignition is not nearly as dependent on fuel ratio as spark ignition is, but it’s good that you figured out switching tunes helped your issue.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,106
Likes: 1,423
From: Oologah, OK
Hey guys. My 2003 Excursion 6.0L has a hard time starting after sitting for a week. My batteries read 12V each and sometimes it feels like they are low powered. Do I need to wait longer for the glow plugs to warm up? Any advice would help. Want to make sure its nothing else like the alternator.
look at this chart, you need to Keep a Battery Tender on them 24/7 as I do.
mine float at 13.0 to 13.3 volts all the time.
Note: that is less than the Required Float Voltage to keep batteries healthy.
My Toy Hauler has been on a Battery Tender for 3 years w/o moving anywhere, the batteries are at 13.3 right now... I check them every few days.
they hold up to 11.8 volts while the Glow Plugs are cycling.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,106
Likes: 1,423
From: Oologah, OK
IF the Wx temps are really "cold", and for me that is below 25 down to 10ish....
I count to 100 before I hit the starter....
I also have a Digital Voltmeter plugged into the Power Port, it is direct to the Battery.
I watch it when I turn the Key on....
normally, it is at 13.0 to 13.3 IF, I have the battery tender plugged in.
IF not, it is around 12.6 to 12.8......
Key on, the volts drop to 11.9 or 11.8 and after the Glow Plugs get hot, their Resistance Increases, thus the Current Draw is LESS.... the DVM shows the battery voltage climbing up about 1/4 to 1/2 volt.
When it suddenly spikes over 12.1 to 12.3;
I hit the starter and it is running in about 3 revolutions.
smooth, not herky jerky.
I count to 100 before I hit the starter....
I also have a Digital Voltmeter plugged into the Power Port, it is direct to the Battery.
I watch it when I turn the Key on....
normally, it is at 13.0 to 13.3 IF, I have the battery tender plugged in.
IF not, it is around 12.6 to 12.8......
Key on, the volts drop to 11.9 or 11.8 and after the Glow Plugs get hot, their Resistance Increases, thus the Current Draw is LESS.... the DVM shows the battery voltage climbing up about 1/4 to 1/2 volt.
When it suddenly spikes over 12.1 to 12.3;
I hit the starter and it is running in about 3 revolutions.
smooth, not herky jerky.
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