As usual, if it wasn't for the brain trust we have assembled here, I would certainly have been in the dark. Last year I added the GPR LED mod and it has been fascinating to see when the PCM calls for the plugs to be energized. Anyway, worked the truck very hard the weekend before Christmas plowing for almost 40 hours out of 48 that Saturday and Sunday. Various clean-up work afterward for another 12-15 hours on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I tried to remote start the truck like I usually do on cold mornings and when I went outside, it wasn't running. I thought that maybe it hadn't activated because I hit the button from my basement and sometimes the signal doesn't reach. No biggie, right?

When I went outside to start the truck manually, I noticed that the LED on my gauge pod wasn't lighting up and the truck was a little difficult to start with some white smoke. I thought that maybe it was a glitch with the remote start locking out the glow plug function after a failed attempt to start. I have it set for a 60 second delay with the glow plugs energized anyway and figured it was something with that. Christmas day I again tried to remote start it. My neighbor (with the 6.blow F350) was outside riding his new present from Santa Claus (mountain bike) and as the truck attempted to start, they got a face full of white smoke. He says "Hey, you know your truck didn't start, right?" I said "Yeah, I see that."

I get in and cycle the key, and no LED lighting up, it takes a couple of attempts to crank it and big clouds of white smoke. I say to my neighbor (I think my glow plug relay is bad." He asks, "How do you know that?" I point at my LED on the A Pillar and say "No light, no juice to the relay." So yesterday morning after the truck sitting for 24 hours and upper 20 degree temps at night, it took me about 8 minutes to get it to start and my whole neighborhood smells like diesel from the clouds of white smoke.

I get to work and call Autozone and for $15.99 and 25 minutes in my parents garage, I swap it out. So I get up this morning and it was 17 degrees last night, the truck fires right up. No problems at all.

I think had I not come across this site, I would have been dealing with some mechanic who probably would have told me it was glow plugs and they needed to be changed, and I wouldn't have known any better. Probably $6-$700 later and maybe it would be fixed, maybe not.

All I have to say is, thank God for FTE and all you guys(and gals) who put so much time and effort in to making this the best site on the internet!!!

 

Great story Jason! Only way it could have been better is if you put the Stancor beastie in there, but still, done is done!! Nice!!

 

Thanks for sharing Jason. I think just knowing what to do when something like this happens is a very good tribute to FTE. Lots of us just fix the problem and never say anything about it. I've fixed a couple leaks lately.

 

Another high five to FTE, I'd be lost in the dark too without the good people here, glad you got'r fixed.

 

I find myself staring at that light a lot during start ups. It's a great suggestion and cheap mod. Great story!

 

Right on Jason. The GPR LED is a great 5 dollar mod, if it even costs that much.

The questions will be coming so here is the GPR LED mod in a nutshell.

 

loli was just going to ask! thanks PAYsonPSD i know what i am doing tmrw!

 

PaysonPSD,
That is the most helpful diagram of a mod that I have ever seen. Thank you for taking the time to help out the rest of us.

 

Jason, would have been interesting to know what was wrong and then take it to the dealership to see what they would have come up with for a diagnosis.

 

Mark,

That would be fun. Can you imagine the estimate for repair.

 

I just picked up the materials today after reading this. I'll install it tomorrow. Thanks for the update!

 

I also found out that my GPR was going bad by my GPR LED mod about a month ago. I replaced it this time with the Stancor.

 

That sure sounds like an exellent way to go. Could you answer a couple of questions? I have an 01,F250 SD SC PSD7.3 . Am pretty sure glow plugs are not energizing. Have'nt figured out where to find the GPRelay. Have found some things, but still more to find. Also is it a problem to change/swap relays and/or Maxifuses in the Power dist. box without disconnecting the batteries? Am considering swapping the PCM power Relay with the Blower Motor Relay to see if the GP's work then.

 

There are two big relays on the top of the engine, on the passenger side. The rear one is the GPR.

If the PCM power relay isn't working, the truck won't start.

What signs that you have no PCM power? No instrument panel lights?

Pop

 

As you are standing in front of your truck, looking at the engine...you will see what looks like old starter relays just to the passenger side of the fuel filter housing. (The filter housing is under the black plastic thing that says "7.3 PowerStroke").

On my truck, the relay closest to the front of the engine was for the AIH (Air Intake Heater element). The relay closest to the firewall is for the Glow Plugs.

If you have a volt meter, you can test everything without having to start swapping relays in the dist box. Go back to PaysonPSD's post and see if you have power at terminal #4 when you first turn the key on. On my truck, I have power there for about 2 minutes or so...

If you have no power at #4 when you first turn the key on....then you can check your PCM signal by checking for ohms at terminal #3. Key off should be open circuit to ground and key on should have a connection (for about 2 minutes or so..). However this is rare. If you don't have power at #4, most likely your relay needs to be replaced.

Hope this helps.