cold start problem

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Feb 6, 2005 | 10:29 AM

#16

slc10844

Posting Guru

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,332

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From: Baltimore

The glow plugs rely on battery voltage. The glow plug relay can be doing it's job, but the batteries might not be providing sufficient voltage to properly heat up the glow plugs.

Feb 6, 2005 | 12:32 PM

#17

dannunz

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 56

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From: MA

new batterys so thats not it. this morn. i got in and turned the key, but this time i let the glow plugs stay on for about 25 sec. after the light went out and she started much better (only cranked for about 3 sec.) went out today and bought rotella synthetic 5w40 heavy duty. could not find enough of the mobil 1 neer by. guy at the auto zone said he had never herd of a synthetic for diesel trucks

is the rottela a good substitute?

thanks for all the help
gabe

Feb 6, 2005 | 12:47 PM

#18

Kwikkordead

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 25,090

Likes: 1,112

From: Rio Rico, AZ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannunz@charter.net

is the rottela a good substitute?

thanks for all the help
gabe

Hmmm, I am beginning to think you have a failing temperature sensor somewhere, sending a much warmer temperature signal than it really is I am not certain which one the ECU rely's on to decide on whether to turn on the glow plugs or not.

Feb 6, 2005 | 02:28 PM

#19

Crumm

More Turbo

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 632

Likes: 16

From: Fairbanks, Alaska

If you had to heat the plugs for 25 seconds I still say you have a weak relay. You need to check the voltage drop between the terminals to see if it is getting weak. Ford tests to see if it is working at all. They get weak before they go bad. You may also have a few bad glow plugs. Get a multimeter and check it out, it only takes 5 minutes.
Kwik, The pcm turns on the light and plugs depending on both oil and ambient air temperature. Mine turns on the light for about 3 seconds on a warm day but at -40 it turns on the light for about 10 seconds. The plugs continue to heat after the light goes out for 30 seconds to 2 minutes.