Cold weather starting
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Cold weather starting
I need some advice from the guys up north. Everybody is seeing just how cold it has been even as far south as Florida. It has been below freezing in Memphis for more than a week (right at 0 most nights) with a little letup next week. But my 02 7.3 has been a very slow starter. Today was a little warmer, but it took me 3 tries to get it to stay started. The 1st 2 times it had a very pronounced miss and died. After it stayed and warmed, it ran fine.
Is this just cold related or do I have other things about to happen? It does stay out in the weather full time.
Is this just cold related or do I have other things about to happen? It does stay out in the weather full time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
Sounds like normal cold weather starting issues. Go through and check your glow plugs to see if any are bad and check your GPR to make sure it's working correctly.
Make sure your batteries are fully charged, weak batteries can make things worse than they really are.
Have you plugged it in over night?
Make sure your batteries are fully charged, weak batteries can make things worse than they really are.
Have you plugged it in over night?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
Glenn, I am out in Fayette County so I am in the same weather and my 2001 struggles a little bit to start but still starts everytime (without plugging it in). It is not a DD but it does have 2 batteries and an alternator that are only a year or so old.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Sounds like normal cold weather starting issues. Go through and check your glow plugs to see if any are bad and check your GPR to make sure it's working correctly.
Make sure your batteries are fully charged, weak batteries can make things worse than they really are.
Have you plugged it in over night?
Make sure your batteries are fully charged, weak batteries can make things worse than they really are.
Have you plugged it in over night?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: North Idaho
It sound like maybe a glow plug issue. When it was 0* here for a few days, I would turn the key on for 2 minutes and it would fire right up, no missing at all. Mine was not plugged in due to the cord corroded off and I haven't replaced it yet.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
I am in TX and just went through this. Your glow plugs are probably O.K. What you need to check is your glow plug relay. There are two relays right behind the fuel sump right on top of the engine. The glow plug relay is the one toward the passenger compartment. There are two big screw posts and two small ones. The big post closer to the center of the engine is the one you want. That post supplies the 12 volts to the glow plugs. You can either put a volt meter or a 12 volt light bulb from the connector to ground (you have to go to ground, not just across the relay). The engine has to be colder than 55-60 (I forget the exact temp) to get the glow plugs to come on. My relay started working after about 10 tries. I ordered a new one, but the old one is still working. I had the relay replaced once while the truck was under warranty (it is a 2003). I am thinking the relay contacts get oxidized, because they do not get used down in the South, for most of the year. A few tries burns the oxidation off and you are good to go.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
Thanks for the quick responses. It seems like my truck starts harder after a weekend of nonuse. I parked it Friday morning and hadn't been in it until about 2pm today. Hopefully it will work tonight since I've been out in it. It's only going to be 22 tonight, so I may not have much problem.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2003
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When my Glow Plug Relay was not working I was having trouble with the truck not starting in the 40's.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Warrenton, Mo
Best thing I ever did was switch to synthetic oil for my PSD. I forgot to plug my truck in last night(-4 this morning)and it fired right away with 2 glow plug cycles. No romps, no complaints, just alot of smoke! If you haven't switched already, you might want to consider it.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,548
Likes: 77
From: Manhattan, KS
Another thing is the "wait to start" light will go out before the glow plugs have run for two minutes. I have to just remind myself to sit there a little longer when it is cold to let the plugs do their thing and not try to start the truck as soon as the light goes out if it is below 30 degrees and the truck hasn't been run for a few days.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
Wow, you guys are talking about 0 deg coldness, and starting issues?
Mine will start real nice to about -15, then she wants to be plugged in overnight.
at -20 she starts rough as heck without plugging in, and at -25 might not always start without plugging.
This is with normal 15w40.
PS if your batteries are weak or crappy, it can be a pain.
Mine will start real nice to about -15, then she wants to be plugged in overnight.
at -20 she starts rough as heck without plugging in, and at -25 might not always start without plugging.
This is with normal 15w40.
PS if your batteries are weak or crappy, it can be a pain.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
It supposed to the 43 today in Memphis! I don't think I could live where it gets to below 0 that many times. Last night when I left for work, the over head readout said it was 22 degrees. I've never felt so warm at 22 in my life.
I used to always use synthetic. I still should, but when I had a hose changed on it, they changed it to dyno oil and the last change I used that as well to save the few $$$s. I will definitely go with synthetic from now on.
I used to always use synthetic. I still should, but when I had a hose changed on it, they changed it to dyno oil and the last change I used that as well to save the few $$$s. I will definitely go with synthetic from now on.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 142
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From: Miami Beach, FL
Another one here having problems...
It was 30something this morning which is something that doesn't happen basically ever so I haven't had to really use/test glow plugs before.
This morning I barely got the truck starting although didn't know about the 2 minute waiting time (just waited until the light went out). When the truck finally started, a ton of smoke and rough running for a little while.
I have new batteries & alternator and the oil is synthetic so that's not the issue. Truck cranked fine, just didn't start so it's either the glow plug or their relay.
I'll test the relay and see if that's the culprit. Tomorrow will be warmer already so it might be that I don't really need them anymore but want everything to be in working order if another cold front like this comes down. The thing is dirt cheap anyway (if I replace I'll get the Stancor) and easy to change so no big deal.
It was 30something this morning which is something that doesn't happen basically ever so I haven't had to really use/test glow plugs before.
This morning I barely got the truck starting although didn't know about the 2 minute waiting time (just waited until the light went out). When the truck finally started, a ton of smoke and rough running for a little while.
I have new batteries & alternator and the oil is synthetic so that's not the issue. Truck cranked fine, just didn't start so it's either the glow plug or their relay.
I'll test the relay and see if that's the culprit. Tomorrow will be warmer already so it might be that I don't really need them anymore but want everything to be in working order if another cold front like this comes down. The thing is dirt cheap anyway (if I replace I'll get the Stancor) and easy to change so no big deal.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
I would say it is your oil at 0*, it can make it a little difficult to start. Just let your glow plugs cycle a little long past when the light goes out, and u should be good. Double check the GPR and you should be good. I switched back to synthetic yesterday and my truck fired up so much easier this morning. runs so much quieter again too
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Here's your testing procedure for your GPR.
Welcome to guzzle's Stancor GPR replacement Mod Web Page
Welcome to guzzle's Stancor GPR replacement Mod Web Page