No starting issues with my 97 all winter long, now that its 50 -60 degrees it turns over for about 10 seconds then a huge cloud of white smoke. the smoke does clear up right away and its only on the first start of the day, i was leaning maybe towards the hpop. Could this still be a glow plug or gpr issue. thanks

 

Glow plugs could be an issue, either the plugs themselves, or the GPR. But you said it has been an issue all winter. How many miles are on the truck? I'm thinking it may be time for a set of injectors. If that's the case, there are plenty of aftermarket sources for them, at much better prices than Ford. It's also a chance to upgrade!

 

That white smoke is not smoke at all, but atomized unburnt diesel fuel.

Your injectors are probably fine.

I would think it is the GPR not switching on the glow plugs. That is the place to start. The relay itself is relatively inexpensive to replace & easy to do.

You could by-pass the relay with a screw driver to see if that is the problem, just jump the contacts like you would to by-pass a starter solenoid. The wires are the 2 large ones on top of the relay, just bridge those with a screw driver for 30 seconds. This will kick the glow plugs on & give them a chance to heat up. Then hop in the truck & see if it fires.

Hope this helps.

 

it hasnt been an issue all winter long, I will try to jump it and see if that helps. there is 300,000 on it, ive had it for the last 100,000

 

Dont do it for 30 seconds. It will cook a set of glow plugs. 10 to 12 sec max. They will glow cherry in 7 or so.

 

In the winter time, I turn the ignition and wait as long as 30 seconds for the WTS light to go out. Sometimes I let it sit for an additional 10 or 15 seconds if it's really cold out and I didn't plug it in the night before.

 

I agree with you there but your going a direct 12 volts to the harness. When u turn on the key the computer will control it. So it'll back the plugs voltage down when warm. If u ever just hook a gp straight to a battery outside the truck. It will get very hot.

 

You will not "cook" these glow plugs....they are self regulating. They will still be on even after the engine is running. They also activate almost every time you start the engine.

From the service manual: "The glow plugs are self limiting, eliminating the need for a controller"

The service manual is available from this forum, that's where I got it.

I tried to copy & paste the page here but, I suck at the inter-web & was not able to do so.

For those of you who don't have it I can try to e-mail you a copy, It is a HUGE FILE & I may not be able to send it & you may not be able to receive it. PM me with your e-mail & I'll try.

 

Ok from past experiences i have seen gp burn out in that amount. So just didnt want that to happen. Have not seen that file so i didnt know of that.

 

I understand your concern. Some folks have actually by passed the computer and have a toggle switch to activate the GP's.

 

I'm one of those folks who have by passed the key switch & I manually activate my GP's

 

Ther's a thread stuck to th etop of this forum regarding glowplugs etc. lots of info there a lot of guys like the stancor GPR I think it teaches us how to test them with a voltmeter too.

 

My truck was starting fine, then it starting taking two or three trys to get it started, then wouldnt start with out being plugged in if the temp. was below 55 degrees. I replaced gpr and no change. Took it to the shop and they tested the glow plugs and found that i had four bad ones all on the same side. And the white smoke is definitely unburnt fuel. Test your glow plugs, i'd be willing to bet thats where your problem is.