Diesel starting problems
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Diesel starting problems
hi i have a 1999 f350 diesel 7.3 turbo. i have trouble starting it in the winter anywhere from 40 degrees and below i would say without being plugged in. when plugged in starts like a charm after prob six hours of sitting it becomes difficult to start again n colder temps 10's. the alternator is less than 8k old the batters are of the same age in mileage about a year old each the truck has 195k on it. some mechanics tell me glow plugs some tell me the glow plug relay could be the problem although the relay was tested getting good ohms and voltage. one told me today that it could be the fuel pump going on it.. i am not a mechanic so i am looking for any information i can get so i am better educated to know whats going on when i do go to get it fixed. thank you for your time and input...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sayreville, NJ
Hi Mike
Simple and fast diagnose is see if it pushes out white smoke when spinning over engine. If it does than it is a simple Glow Plug or Relay problem. You can eliminate the relay as the problem by using a jumper cable and jump the 2 LARGE post on the relay for 30 seconds. Yes it will spark so be prepared for that.After 30 seconds try to start it and if it starts uright up then relay is bad. If not then Glow Plugs are next.
Simple and fast diagnose is see if it pushes out white smoke when spinning over engine. If it does than it is a simple Glow Plug or Relay problem. You can eliminate the relay as the problem by using a jumper cable and jump the 2 LARGE post on the relay for 30 seconds. Yes it will spark so be prepared for that.After 30 seconds try to start it and if it starts uright up then relay is bad. If not then Glow Plugs are next.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
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From: Indianapolis
Hi Mike
Simple and fast diagnose is see if it pushes out white smoke when spinning over engine. If it does than it is a simple Glow Plug or Relay problem. You can eliminate the relay as the problem by using a jumper cable and jump the 2 LARGE post on the relay for 30 seconds. Yes it will spark so be prepared for that.After 30 seconds try to start it and if it starts uright up then relay is bad. If not then Glow Plugs are next.
Simple and fast diagnose is see if it pushes out white smoke when spinning over engine. If it does than it is a simple Glow Plug or Relay problem. You can eliminate the relay as the problem by using a jumper cable and jump the 2 LARGE post on the relay for 30 seconds. Yes it will spark so be prepared for that.After 30 seconds try to start it and if it starts uright up then relay is bad. If not then Glow Plugs are next.
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
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From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Sounds like new glow plugs are needed, and you'd be doing yourself a HUGE favor by switching over to fully synthetic oil during the winter.
Schaeffer's 9000 in 5W40 (kinda tough to find - get from a rep or check website)
Shell Rotella in 5W40 (available at WalMart, etc.)
I run the Rotella b/c it's easy to get but from what I've heard the Schaeffer's is the better product. Either will be world's better than dino. I know from experience.
Schaeffer's 9000 in 5W40 (kinda tough to find - get from a rep or check website)
Shell Rotella in 5W40 (available at WalMart, etc.)
I run the Rotella b/c it's easy to get but from what I've heard the Schaeffer's is the better product. Either will be world's better than dino. I know from experience.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
Welcome to FTE Mike. If you have a multi-meter that can read voltage and ohms, we can show you how to test this yourself, and even change the parts yourself if needed. I'd also agree to start testing with the GPR (glow plug relay) The trick listed above is an easy way to find out if the GPR works without a meter, although I'd just use a screwdriver across the 2 large posts.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,445
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
when the glow plug relay went in my 02, the glow plug light in the dash would only come on for a second or two, and the truck was difficult to start. once i put a new gpr in, it stays on for 10-15 seconds now.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
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From: N.GA Mountains
Been there. Truck would not start cold. Scary when napping in 5ver on a road trip and then truck won't start a few hours later... For me it ended up being glow plug controller HARNESSES (stupid CA emissions - 'controller' tells CPU how each GP performs). Of course I bought a GPCM before I figured that out!! If you have a real relay - congratulations! Fellow FTE members finally helped me find out what wuz wrong. Thanks again y'all!!!
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Thanks so much guys i did the tests here that you guys told me to do i got white smoke out of the exhaust when plugged into the block heater it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit out side when i started it so next guess as stated from you on here is the glow plugs.. i have been getting some prices from 605 to 800 and one diesel shop tells me that the 800 is based on them not breaking the heads off and having to take apart the cylinder also i see a mention for the oil i use i use Rotella 15w40 that is what has been used in the truck since day 1.. you say synthetic now would it be smart to use synthetic in the winter and switch back to rotella for the rest of the year i usually do 3 oil changes a year about 5k between each and my winter change is in or around Dec 1st also i live in new york so its cold from about mid Nov. till prob mid March so only four mouths of cold starts is why i ask about going synthetic to Rotella please more input its much appreciated. thanks once again
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ohh so the bonus is 10k intervals between oil changes in synthetics??? and yes the relay is good sorry for not specifying that in earlier post..... and the higher prices were from ford dealers obviously i have big diesel shop in the area has 5 or 6 locations in a few states D&W Diesel if anyone has had an experience with them please fill me in. and they were the ones who seemed to know the most with being able to test the plugs and such without removing the valve covers...
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
Grab a multi-meter that can read ohms. On the inboard side of each head, where the valve cover bolts to the head you'll find a flat wiring connector around the center on each side. Unplug that connector and you will see 9 flat pins in the part at the valve cover.
Place on lead on a good ground (or battery ground) and then take the reading on each of the front 2 pins, then the back 2 pins on each side. These pins connect to your 8 glow plugs. A good glow plug will have a reading between 0.1 - 2 ohms.
Figure out how many, and which ones are bad. Then it's time to decide if you want to save $500 - $600 and just do this yourself. The job may look daunting, but it's really nothing more than removing some bolts & plugs, then putting them back in. If these are the original glow plugs from Ford, you won't have any issues with something breaking off and having to remove the head. That's a problem associated with some of the aftermarket glow plugs that some people have put in.
Place on lead on a good ground (or battery ground) and then take the reading on each of the front 2 pins, then the back 2 pins on each side. These pins connect to your 8 glow plugs. A good glow plug will have a reading between 0.1 - 2 ohms.
Figure out how many, and which ones are bad. Then it's time to decide if you want to save $500 - $600 and just do this yourself. The job may look daunting, but it's really nothing more than removing some bolts & plugs, then putting them back in. If these are the original glow plugs from Ford, you won't have any issues with something breaking off and having to remove the head. That's a problem associated with some of the aftermarket glow plugs that some people have put in.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,975
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From: Archdale,N.C.
Dude...PLEASE!! do not pay $500 to $600 for a set of glow plugs,I dont know your skill level,but believe me,you CAN do this yourself.When I first got my diesel,I didnt know chit about it,when I looked at it, it looked like the space shuttle main engine to me,but from being on here and the help from these guys,(theres alot of good people here and they are willing to help),Ive done ALOT of repairs and modding as well to my truck.Sorry...just my .02 worth.....Do the GP's yourself and spend the other $$ for a DP Tuner or something....
Schlepprock
Schlepprock
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: N.GA Mountains
Wow! The wife was just joking I should open a 7.3 PSD shop, maybe I could make money fixing these things! My problem is - since I needed GP's, I figured I might as well slap some single-shot injectors in there! (of course she doesn't realize you don't NEED new, upgradeded injectors when changin' GP's, right?) PSD mod syndrome brother - really, I can stop anytime I want. Go ahead, try it, everybody's doing it these days. hehehehe (btw, it all started w/the zoodad mod)
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well if i were to do this myself wouldn't i need some special tools for the valve covers and other such things? i would think i would need to move a good amount of stuff such as the turbo and such to get at the valve covers and glow plugs ?