cold starts
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New User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4
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cold starts
when ever the thermostat gets below 30 degree's it has a tough time starting. Then when it does it takes awhile to warm up and get moving. When you give it throttle it barely moves and then starts picking up speed slowley. After about a mile and a 1/2 it takes off and then is fine. When it's warmer it runs just fine. Where should i start looking ? Glow plugs ? Injectors ? Fuel. cam, sensors ? any suggestions would be appreciatted
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
Batteries are the biggest enemy this time of year. Weaker batteries will make for hard starts. If your WTS light comes on and goes off, chance are your GPs are working. As far as warm up goes, it does take a few minutes on all of them. I have switched over to 5w40 syn this year and it does seem to help with cold starts and warmups.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Carroll County, MD
Is it cranking OK but just doesn't want to fire? If so, probably glow plug relay.
Quick check - with the door open, switch the ignition on. You should notice the dome light dim a bit (after all, the glow plugs are pulling like 40 or 50 amps). You should even notice that the light is dim for a minute or two after starting, until the plugs go back off, then it will get brighter again. If so, GP's are probably working.
If when you fire it up you get a bit of white smoke, then you have cold cylinders that are not firing until they get a little more heat in them.
Quick check - with the door open, switch the ignition on. You should notice the dome light dim a bit (after all, the glow plugs are pulling like 40 or 50 amps). You should even notice that the light is dim for a minute or two after starting, until the plugs go back off, then it will get brighter again. If so, GP's are probably working.
If when you fire it up you get a bit of white smoke, then you have cold cylinders that are not firing until they get a little more heat in them.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
Likes: 6
From: Ardenvoir, Washington
Yep.. for about a one minute or so your battery voltage will be around 11.5 before starting with the key in start position. After that, your glow plug relay will kick off and your voltage will go up to around 12 +.... Waiting about 45 seconds will help start the engine.. I would also check the cranking voltage.. should be around 10 to 11 volts...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,404
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
I thought it may have been my GP relay too...but then I ran across something here in the forum that worked for me....Even though your WTS light goes out in cold weather, your glow plugs are still "firing". Wait about 30 to 45 seconds AFTER the WTS light has gone out before you fire it up. I will turn on my ignition, go unplug the warmer, and then crank it. The truck fires right up every time. Do s search for glow plug and LED in the forum. There is a thread that tells how to put in an LED that shows when your glow plugs are actually being used. It has been said that the GPs will stay powered for about 1 1/2 minutes after the WTS goes out during cold weather, and not at all in warm weather.....so your WTS light does the same thing regardless of weather, but the little LED number will show you better.
