My 02 F250 Super Diesel is having problems with a slight cold snap. On the 1st am of a freeze, --approx. 32 degrees--the engine won't start. Glow plug lights come on/go off, turn starter--sounds likes like a dead battery but not (checked it). After several tries, then it starts with a cloud of blue smoke. Been good with maintenance but can't say this is a surprise. Have had the steering assembly replaced twice unders warrenty (once upgraded to F450 and then replaced). No other running issues to speak of. Hubby has a 85 Chev 1 Ton Diesel he maitains like a clock but we can't find the plug in and dealer said it could be relay or glow plugs...should I bite it and take it to dealer is is there a way hubby can check it out. Problem is somewhat intermittant but (started twice with no problems but other 5 or so starts hard started). After warmed up no issues restarting anytime despite weather.

 

I also have an '02 F250 and had the exact same problem... they replaced the glow plug and it had a bad injector... essentially, after replacing the glow plug, the truck would start again.. but then after being started it would run alright for about a minute or two and then slowly quit... the dealer then replaced an injector and now the truck is back to optimal...
other than my freaking alarm and headlights turning off and on at random intervals for no apparent reason whatsoever... it goes in for that on Friday...

 

hey, as for the steering... did it feel like you had a lump in center?? with mine, it feels like it is sticking around the center mark and then "falls" to the right.. it is really annoying and the dealership has told me to deal with it and that they will not fix it. The guy said that the F250 is prone to the rack boot sticking and that they would need to replace the entire rack to solve the problem. Personally, I think it is a hazard...

 

Not sure about the dead battery part? That’s not really connected to the gpr other than the batteries themselves. If they’ve been tested and are good, I’m at a loss there. Sounds like Panic’s troubles and as he said his were related the gpr. I’d do a thorough check of the battery and starter connections for corrosion and clean them if necessary. I can also say this, if your looking at the green light on the battery to say it’s good, that may not be a completely reliable test. I had a bad battery and the light was still green. If you do have a bad battery that could give you less than optimal starts in cold weather.

A rudimentary check for the glow plug relay is watching the battery meter and the dome lights the first time the truck is started for the day. When you turn the key to the on position and the wait to start light is on (engine not started) there should be a noticeable dimming of the dome light and the battery meter should be a fair bit below normal for anywhere between 10 and 120 seconds, depending on how cold it is. If your dome light doesn’t dim at least a little and the meter doesn’t go down, it is likely a bad gpr.

Since the glow plugs will continue to heat even after the wait to start light goes off,
Another test is to leave the key in the wait to start position for a minute or two after the wait to start light goes off. If that improves your starting it is likely that your relay is not making good contact or the glow plugs could be getting weak.

From there it can go several different directions. My problems were just cold starts and turned out to be one of two batteries were bad, a bad gpr and a loose glow plug connector at the valve cover gasket. Come to think of it, when it started getting colder and the one battery was bad, the starter did chatter a little bit like a dead battery, but it started regardless of that.

 

I think if you mentioned the words: hazard, injury, liability and attorney they would fix that for you.

 

Thanks for the updates. On the Steering..yes, basically the way to test it is to park, with the engine running (likely flat surface helps). Turn the wheel either left or right. Without exerting yourself, see where the wheel stops. The 1st problem was at 24,000 miles (I finally gave into my vanity that it was not something I was imagining.). If the wheel stops within the 10pm or 2pm (on a clock--think of center as where you start and if the wheel moves less than a quarter turn), you've likely got the same problem I had. The mechanic told me there was not a full on recall but an "service advisory". They indicated where the problem arose to replace the steering with the F450 steering. This was done and seemed to be ok until about 35,000 miles. I finally took it back it at 42,000. The caved to my complaints and replaced the steering pump. When the 2nd go around occured, it was worse and the best way to describe is it acted like it was caught on something--a lump is a good description. Parking was a PITA because you had to crank the steering so hard to get the full range of motion.

The other thing I've noticed in hauling is that the brakes are not geared for the weight of my horse trailer. We'll be putting new brakes in soon. Any recommendations would be great to hear. We run about a 4 ton trailer with loads of up to 1 ton in animals. The truck hauls nice and has great power but coming out of the mountains can be a strain on the brakes. I've checked out some performance breaks with special coating and the "holes" to dissapate the heat but the dealer is no help on this. We don't want to go with an exhaust break so I just need good strong brakes.

Thanks all. Appreciate how easy it is to hear from others with the same problems. If Picnic wants more details on the steering I can supply info from the dealer invoices on parts etc.

 

PJ, any info you have on the steering that you are willing to share would be MOST appreciated as it would probably be good ammo at my local dealer.

It sounds like our trucks came out from the same line at the same time...
I haul a 26ft Travel trailer coming in at ~8400 lbs and my breaks warped after my trip to AZ from WA... the truck only had 19K miles and I am positive that I had the trailer brake tuned correctly. The dealer replaced them at this stage. At about 28K miles the fronts were beginning to warp again and the dealer wanted to replace them at full charge to me, front and rear... even though the rears were fine. Instead, I rotated the front to the rear and vice versa since I will not be towing anything this winter.

Ford Brakes are the absolute worst. I have hauled with a Dodge with 0 problems and my best friend hauls a 32ft trailer with his '02 Silverado HD and has had 0 break issues... but like I said.. I have a love/hate relationship with my Ford.. grr...
Supposedly, the '05 has larger and better brakes, but the break question is a very good one... I woul like to know this as well so I can replace them before I start hauling again this summer.

 

Took the truck in for today for test of control and glow plug /relay. New dealer..good guy mentioned still under warrenty which didn't know. On Brakes: Mine got warped coming out of mountain in Summer 03. Dealer rotated. Seemed better and have since "worn" out most of the warp. Braking i reasonable and has quit pulling. Can pull and haul but avoid any mountaiins up here in the NW. I"m lookin at Wheelers Off Road F250 4wd Super Duty Slotted 911 series brakes/pads/roters. Not sure if is ok to share more specifics but will if it's ok to do so on this site. Haven't checked rules enough to know. Seems like when I hit the hyperlink on the "Brakes" Wheelers came up.

The truck went in with the service records today. I should have back tmrw. Will post exact repairs on steering when can read invoices. I reread today and from recollection 1st go around was to replace w/f450 steering assembly, also found issues with brakes at the time and replaced because of leaking fluid from Steering will ruin brakes. Will get more info from service info. 2nd go around, the service stated that there was no pressure in the power steering. Replaced the pump. Then presure returned. HUGE improvement. 2nd go around since it was out of warrenty at 42K, I had to pay a $75.00 fee.

Hope this helps. Such fun. My husband just whines all the time about the ongoing never ending issues on this and of course it doesn't help his chevy is going on 20 years old...oh well. If ever a lemon law was written. The really bummer is that the 05 steering is supposedly markedly improved to correctly handle loads so why can't the MFG understand that when they state the truck can haul up to a certain GVW, it should be able to STOP it as well.