Hard Cold Starting

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Oct 1, 2009 | 10:46 PM

runningarends

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Hard Cold Starting

I have been having cold starting issues for a while. Temps have been nearing freezing here. It will usually stall a couple of times, and once it finally stays running it spits, sputters, shakes the whole truck, and wakes my roommates up, they're not too happy with me. I let it run for 5-10 minutes and when I drive off I have little power until the rpms get over 1500. When the truck warms up it runs great but if I'm parked and try to hold rpms at any level, 1000, 1500, 2000, or higher it will only hold them for a few seconds then start to hesitate. Coolant will boil over when towing or on a hot day. No OBD-II Codes. 2004 F-350 265000kms, fresh oil change, 15w40 Shell Rotella T, air filter, fuel filters. Any help would be very much appreciated. I'm totally lost here.

Oct 2, 2009 | 07:47 AM

l-m tech

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From: duncan oklahoma

Have you had the pcm anf ficm mudule updated for the crank no start reflash.it induces heat in the injectors to help aid cold start up below 60 degrees.the injector gums up from a hot shutdown and causes the injectors not to fonction on cold start up.after the truck warms up it runs fine.you could also be having a egr cooler leaking coolant down the passenger turbo charge tube causeing it to load up on start up.id also suggest switching to 10w30 oil when it stays below freezing.this might help on the cold start up.thick oil dosnt like to flow well when its that cold.i think the reflash would help your issue.id give you the tsb but i cant find it.good luck.

Oct 2, 2009 | 06:37 PM

bismic

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10W30 is a good winter oil. 5W40 is a good all-around oil.

As IM-tech said, check your batteries and alternator and make sure they aren't weak. The updated flash sure could solve SOME of your problems. It is worth a try.

+1 for what IM-tech said about the EGR cooler leaking. Are you getting any smoke on start-up? Do you have any puking out the coolant reservoir cap (I am assuming you do when you say "boil over")? You might want to try getting an updated degass bottle cap (coolant reservoir). The old style will get weak after one or two episodes of "relieving".

To check for an EGR cooler leaking, look for white smoke and you can park your truck on a downward incline and pull the EGR valve and look for moisture.

OH! Welcome to FTE runningarends.

Oct 3, 2009 | 08:24 AM

l-m tech

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From: duncan oklahoma

the easyer way is to remove the right hand turbo charge tube,its the tube that goes from the exhaust manifold to the turbo, and pressure test the coolant system.with the raise the rear of the truck and pull the egr valve is you can hydro lock the engine and that would require you to remove the glow plugs.this is a pain in the rump.this is just the way i do it.the coolant will come right out of the egr cooler.

Last edited by l-m tech; Oct 3, 2009 at 08:26 AM. Reason: left out a line.

Oct 8, 2009 | 07:48 PM

runningarends

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I took my truck to the Ford dealer for the reflash but they won't do it. They tell me I need 5 new injectors. So here's my next question, with 5 bad injectors should my truck even run?

Oct 9, 2009 | 11:32 AM

l-m tech

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From: duncan oklahoma

sounds like you need to find another dealer.most of the time the reflash will help with the cold start issue.check out tsb 05-11-4,07-5-4,and recall 05e15s3 and 05e16.these reflashes usually clear up these issues.i think they just want to sell u some injectors.