Question about IDM

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Jan 22, 2008 | 03:45 PM

tholt34

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Question about IDM

Ok, when cranking my cold, especially in cold weather, I can try to start the truck and it will turn over for about 10 seconds or so and then it will crank up and when it does its like it cranks hard. Kinda like turn over turn over and then bam it fires. Well right when it does it throws a code. And its a 1670 code which is a idm code. What would cause this? IS it a IDM going bad?

I think one of my batteries is low and i was wondering if it could be that causing it. Like while i was turning it over and it was pulling the batters down and the IDM doesn't have enough power to tell the injectors to fire possibly? I'm kinda guessing here. Seems to only do it when temps get into the 30's or lower.Truck fires up fine when its plugged up or above that temp. I and even when it starts and its below 30 without pluggin it up it will puff a puff of white smoke and thats it, no more. So i'm thinking my glow plugs seem to be alright.

Any help i would appreciate. thanks.

Tim

Jan 22, 2008 | 03:59 PM

nlemerise

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From: AZ

Can't help you with the IDM Tim...but an off-topic question to you. Were you named after the fine actor, Tim Holt (see Treasure of the Sierra Madre)?

Jan 22, 2008 | 04:57 PM

tholt34

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Neal,
HAHAHA not that i know of. I don't think my parents were thinking of that when they named me.

Jan 22, 2008 | 05:43 PM

F350-6

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From: Texas

Tim, It sounds like your describing a weak battery condition. I'd get both batteries load tested. If one is bad, go ahead and replace both of them. Your thinking along the right track checking the batteries before you worry about the idm.

Let us know what you find out.

Jan 22, 2008 | 06:02 PM

tholt34

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I will, Which battery is the main and which is the auxilary? I replaced the battery on the passenger side a couple months ago b/c the truck got real weak starting and that one was leaking acid. The driver side is starting to leak and it looks old. WAs thinking about replacing it to see.

On another note, With my edge evo II, I don't know how accurate it is, but i set one of the displays to show voltage. Well when the truck hasb een sitting over night, and i turn the key it only shows like 10.8 volts or so, I thought this may be drag from the glow plugs but ihave let it set for a minute or so and it doesn't jump up to 12 volts and then when i start the truck it will show it drops down into the volts range. I know when i worked at autozone and tested batteries that was starting to fall in the area of a weak battery. I guess i was just looking for some second opinions and was mainly hoping i wasn't looking at a IDM failure.

Also, how much voltage does the glow plugs pull a battery down when u turn the key on? and usually how long before they kick off?

Jan 22, 2008 | 06:25 PM

F350-6

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From: Texas

It's been my experience if you replace one battery, the other will fail in a couple of months. Looks like your experience is in line with what I have seen. The passenger side is the primary, but since they are wired together one weak battery will bring the whole system down. Replace the other battery and get your old new one load tested to make sure the weak battery hasn't ruined the other one.

I don't remember the exact numbers, but it seems like you have to have a min of 10.5 or 10.8 V at the battery while cranking with the GP's on. If your at 10.8 before you hit the starter I'm surprised it started at all.

I'm guessing your IDM is safe. Good Luck.

Jan 22, 2008 | 08:14 PM

tholt34

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Thank you for the reply. Well after work tonight i went and turn the key, showed 10.5 on the edge. well i let it sit there for like a couple minutes after the WTS light went out, and then all of a sudden the voltage jumped back up to 12 volts. So i'm assuming the glow plugs kicked off, hit the key, truck fired right up and voltage only dropped to mid 9's. So i think i actually have a battery going down possibly, but it sounds like i need to wait a little longer to let the glow plugs cyce off.