Can't find my original thread...

But here's the wrap up (hopefully!)

Needed AAA to give me a jump (guess I drained the battery trying to restart it over a couple of days...) but once jumped, it started up in the 40s.

The mechanic pulled the glow plugs and they were "weak" so I had them all replaced. I needed help starting it up again - hopefully a twenty minute drive on I95 was enuff to build up enuff juice for one more un-jumped start, as I plan to drive to PA tomorrow, a two hour drive that should full recharge the batteries (brand "new" a couple of weeks ago... but rated in the 600s while the diesel mechanic suggested I should have replaced 'em with 900s...)

I have power outlet plug to keep the engine warmer during the Winter, I never had to use it in the last two years, but now I'm convinced I should when the temps get below 32... the only problem is that I'm an "apt-dweller" and getting my neighbor to let me plug in will be an imposition that I could only justify on an obviously COLD night. (They let me plug my bike's battery tender in for a couple days every other week - if I don't get a chance to give it a good ride for forty-five minutes at least once a week.

Hopefully it starts tomorrow and I am back in the driver's seat!

Thanx for all the help and advice!

g

 

what year is your truck? mine is a 08 and it is suppose to be able to start much colder than 32 before plugging in.

 

Those batteries are on the small side for a diesel w/glowplugs.

 

you would get more info here https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum31/

 

Sorry, '99 F250 Super Heavy Duty with 260K miles...

I wonder if it's worth trafing up to 900 batteries???

g

 

Oh, yes, I drove to Port Cliff, PA and back to New Jersey yesterday, a good two hundred miles... that shoulda recharged those batteries.

I also have a motorcycle Rampage winch that I used to load and unload a couple of bikes - with the engine running - and Sirius Satellite Rradio and CD.

But I turn off everything before I start it up for the 1st time in the morning.

It's starting up just fine now. And I talked it over with my friend and she agreed to let me plug it in on those cold nights (hmmm... that didn't sound quite right...) and we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Thanx

Again

g

 

600 amp batteries are not enough to spin it fast enough with the voltage drain for a start. That is why the tow was able to jump it. Your batteries with his voltage. You need a minimum of at least 800, but 900 would be better.

 

I inherited my father's 1999 F-250 diesel, I always plug it in when it gets freezing temp or below. It has over 200k miles, a friend of my brother is an auto wholesaler and he has seen them with over 700k miles, running great.

 

If the 7.3 is taken care of it should run close to a million.

 

The batteries in both of my trucks were 750CCA. I bought new ones for my 02 and they sold me 850CCA batteries. I said that the old ones were 750CCA and they said that they recommend the 850CCA now. With 850CCA, you can let the glow plugs burn for a minute or so before cranking the engine. It'll fire up like summer time if you do that, assuming you have good batteries, and good fuel.

 

Welcome to FTE! You have just become a member of an elete club, full of both wisdom and BS. Some guys are so good that it's difficult to tell the difference between wisdom and BS

Just kidding, welcome to the site. There are plenty of folks on here with knowledge that will help you get plenty of enjoyable miles out of your truck.

 

Thanks for the welcome.

I hope I see a million miles on the f-250.....my dad sure LOVED that truck!

 

Thanx for the heads up...

With Winter just starting (NJ) it's probably a good idea to upgrade the batteries just to be on an safe side of warming up the plugs.

I REALLY hope to keep this truck past the 350K that the Diesel Mechanic suggested might be the cross-over point for maintanance vs warrent and payments. It really serves ALL my purpose as IS and I won't be putting that many miles on it daily (20) it's only on the long trips South to Carolina or north to Maine that I would be putting major miles on the vehicle.. and I'll have my motorcycle loaded in the back should I get stuck anywhere.

g