hard cold starts
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hard cold starts
I had posted a reply to a thread about this before, but wanted to ask again. Does or has anybody else had a problem starting their truck when it gets cold?
Cold is low teens to 45...in that area, my truck just doesnt want to start right away. It will crank for almost 20 seconds (after letting the light go off and waiting another 10 seconds or so) before it trys starts.
During this time white smoke is coming out of the pipe. I stop and try again, then after about 8 seconds it finally starts with an EXPLOSION of white and little bit of black smoke...I mean, HUGE cloud going up the street followed the WORST idle....
If I step on the gas, it stops idleing like poo and the engine is just sooooooo SUPER quiet, then I let off and hell breaks loose....it will start to idle fine after about 5 minutes. I would like to be informed before I take it to the dealer so would like to know if anyone was having this problem and how it was solved.
Thank you
Cold is low teens to 45...in that area, my truck just doesnt want to start right away. It will crank for almost 20 seconds (after letting the light go off and waiting another 10 seconds or so) before it trys starts.
During this time white smoke is coming out of the pipe. I stop and try again, then after about 8 seconds it finally starts with an EXPLOSION of white and little bit of black smoke...I mean, HUGE cloud going up the street followed the WORST idle....
If I step on the gas, it stops idleing like poo and the engine is just sooooooo SUPER quiet, then I let off and hell breaks loose....it will start to idle fine after about 5 minutes. I would like to be informed before I take it to the dealer so would like to know if anyone was having this problem and how it was solved.
Thank you
Last edited by Daryl Hunter; Dec 28, 2004 at 01:36 PM. Reason: Fixed line spacing and some grammar.
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Sounds like your glow plugs aren't working. I thought the 6.0L trucks, with their solid state glow plug controllers, weren't supposed to have so many problems... and were supposed to detect malfunctioning glow plugs and throw a code... but maybe not. Those are definitely the symptoms of a cold diesel engine with no glow plug assist.
The nail in the coffin, if you want to experiment some more before taking it to the dealer, is to try plugging in the block heater for at least 3 hours before trying to start it when it's that cold out. If it then starts and runs just fine, it pretty much has to be a glow plug problem.
Duncan
The nail in the coffin, if you want to experiment some more before taking it to the dealer, is to try plugging in the block heater for at least 3 hours before trying to start it when it's that cold out. If it then starts and runs just fine, it pretty much has to be a glow plug problem.
Duncan
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yes, youre absolutely right, i have days when i plugger her in and in the morning she starts right up!
so you think it's more that just getting reflashed? actualy physical problems with the plugs? thanks a lot!
so you think it's more that just getting reflashed? actualy physical problems with the plugs? thanks a lot!
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From: Spokane WA.
Wow,
sounds like we are almost on the same boat.
Except mine starts fine, no smoke, idles fine, then does about the same thing at the next stop sign or any time you let off the throttle to the idle position.
So quiet and spits and sputters then POOF the world behing you disappears.
I just posted right above you. Read mine and see what you think there.
sounds like we are almost on the same boat.
Except mine starts fine, no smoke, idles fine, then does about the same thing at the next stop sign or any time you let off the throttle to the idle position.
So quiet and spits and sputters then POOF the world behing you disappears.
I just posted right above you. Read mine and see what you think there.
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Yeah, a reflash isn't going to fix that; there's something not right about the glow plug system. Maybe it throws a code but doesn't light the check-engine light? Sounds like the dealer is going to have to have a look at it. Seems like they could test the glow plug system no matter what the air or engine temp, but I bet they'll want to keep it over a cold night just to see it for themselves. The glow plugs themselves may be fine but the controller could have a problem.
Duncan
Duncan
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From: Carlsbad, California
Just yesterday for the 2nd time since I've had the truck I experienced a similar symptom.
Turned on the truck and waited for the glow plug light to go out as I buckled up and waited for the garage door to close. Started cranking the truck and instead of firing up within a second or so it kept cranking along without a pop. I stopped after about 10 seconds and waited a couple seconds and then began cranking the starter again for another 10 seconds - still no joy.
Turned off the truck and then turned back on the ignition and waited for the glow plug indicator to turn off and then hit the starter. Truck immediately fired and produced a huge white cloud of smoke. Ran fine once it started.
I'm assuming that for some reason the glow plugs just never turned on the first time and did turn on like normal once I cycled the ignition.
The tranny temp gauge was reading around 42 deg or so, so not all that cold.
Next time this happens to you I'd try turning off the ignition and then back on to try to get the glow plugs to cycle again.
If it happens every time you try to start, I'd look for a blown fuse.
Turned on the truck and waited for the glow plug light to go out as I buckled up and waited for the garage door to close. Started cranking the truck and instead of firing up within a second or so it kept cranking along without a pop. I stopped after about 10 seconds and waited a couple seconds and then began cranking the starter again for another 10 seconds - still no joy.
Turned off the truck and then turned back on the ignition and waited for the glow plug indicator to turn off and then hit the starter. Truck immediately fired and produced a huge white cloud of smoke. Ran fine once it started.
I'm assuming that for some reason the glow plugs just never turned on the first time and did turn on like normal once I cycled the ignition.
The tranny temp gauge was reading around 42 deg or so, so not all that cold.
Next time this happens to you I'd try turning off the ignition and then back on to try to get the glow plugs to cycle again.
If it happens every time you try to start, I'd look for a blown fuse.
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Originally Posted by Daryl Hunter
Just yesterday for the 2nd time since I've had the truck I experienced a similar symptom.
Turned on the truck and waited for the glow plug light to go out as I buckled up and waited for the garage door to close. Started cranking the truck and instead of firing up within a second or so it kept cranking along without a pop. I stopped after about 10 seconds and waited a couple seconds and then began cranking the starter again for another 10 seconds - still no joy.
Turned off the truck and then turned back on the ignition and waited for the glow plug indicator to turn off and then hit the starter. Truck immediately fired and produced a huge white cloud of smoke. Ran fine once it started.
I'm assuming that for some reason the glow plugs just never turned on the first time and did turn on like normal once I cycled the ignition.
Turned on the truck and waited for the glow plug light to go out as I buckled up and waited for the garage door to close. Started cranking the truck and instead of firing up within a second or so it kept cranking along without a pop. I stopped after about 10 seconds and waited a couple seconds and then began cranking the starter again for another 10 seconds - still no joy.
Turned off the truck and then turned back on the ignition and waited for the glow plug indicator to turn off and then hit the starter. Truck immediately fired and produced a huge white cloud of smoke. Ran fine once it started.
I'm assuming that for some reason the glow plugs just never turned on the first time and did turn on like normal once I cycled the ignition.
SO I've just learned - crank-crank-crank-no-start means the software is in the weeds, and I turn it off before trying again. You can try starting it as many times as you want in the initial condition and it will never go.
The original poster sounds like he's having the problem on every start, so I think it's something actually broken.
Duncan
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Elder User
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From: Colorado
Engine oil temp and altitude play a part in glow plug operation, one of the sensors could be bad. have the dealer test them, the procedres are in the "bible".
Bob
Bob
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From: Colorado
Hard or No Start, Glow Plug Module Connector:
In cases of a hard or no start caused by an inoperative or intermittent glow plug system, inspect the module connectors for damage, loose or displaced terminals, spread terminals or corrosion. There is a harness connector service kit available to repair 2003 and 2004 engines, P/N 4C3Z-12B568-AA. TSB #04-17-13
Here is a TSB that might apply?
In cases of a hard or no start caused by an inoperative or intermittent glow plug system, inspect the module connectors for damage, loose or displaced terminals, spread terminals or corrosion. There is a harness connector service kit available to repair 2003 and 2004 engines, P/N 4C3Z-12B568-AA. TSB #04-17-13
Here is a TSB that might apply?
Posting Guru
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From: Eastern Oregon
Mine's an 04/04 and has started just fine with temps down to 25. And I've yet to plug it in. Purrs real nice, after a min or so it revs up to 1k and still purrs. After a min or so I'll back it out of the garage and when in reverse it's a little loud. When I put in back into park it quiets back down. Haven't noticed any smoke. Ford would call that normal, and so would I.
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Hello all
I'm new here and have found it a great place to find tons of good information.
I bought a 2003 6.0L F-350 CC Long box 4x4 and I love it BUT..... as soon as it gets cooler then about 4 deg Celsius or colder it takes about 15 times trying to start it before it actually fires up and runs ( if you can call it run) Its like its running on 3 cylinders until it warms up for about 5-10 minutes then its fine. So........ I tried plugging it in and it seems to start up then no problem. So I took it to ford and they kept it for two nights and said there defiantly was a problem but there was no errors and they could not find what’s wrong with it. Since I have got the truck back from ford it starts horrible even when it’s plugged in. Can anyone help me out with any ideas?
Thanks
I'm new here and have found it a great place to find tons of good information.
I bought a 2003 6.0L F-350 CC Long box 4x4 and I love it BUT..... as soon as it gets cooler then about 4 deg Celsius or colder it takes about 15 times trying to start it before it actually fires up and runs ( if you can call it run) Its like its running on 3 cylinders until it warms up for about 5-10 minutes then its fine. So........ I tried plugging it in and it seems to start up then no problem. So I took it to ford and they kept it for two nights and said there defiantly was a problem but there was no errors and they could not find what’s wrong with it. Since I have got the truck back from ford it starts horrible even when it’s plugged in. Can anyone help me out with any ideas?
Thanks
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Carlsbad, California
Hi HarveyB25,
Welcome to the 6.0 L forum and to FTE. Please take a moment to check out the Welcome sticky post at the top of the forum page. There are links to great threads and other helpful info in there.
Regards,
Daryl
Welcome to the 6.0 L forum and to FTE. Please take a moment to check out the Welcome sticky post at the top of the forum page. There are links to great threads and other helpful info in there.
Regards,
Daryl
