PSD hard to start after < 32 degree night
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine Grove, California
PSD hard to start after < 32 degree night
Hi there all,
My wife and I have a 99 F250 Power Stroke Deisel. We live at about 3500 feet. We find that the truck is very hard to start after the temperatures dip down below freezing at night. We have taken the truck to the local Ford Dealer. They sold us a new battery and insisted everything else was fine, even after I asked about the Glow plugs. That was back in January. The problem happened again this weekend when we were up at 6500 feet and the night time temperatures dropped. It takes atleast 10 tries to get the truck started. I do get white smoke when the truck cranks. I do hear a relay clicking off after about 30 to 45 seconds. I also hear what sound like a cooling fan running when the ignition switch is turned to the run position (for pre-heat). I don't always see activity on the voltage guage 'cause our instrument cluster is on the fritz(Please see a seperate thread under Electrical). Any suggestions or pointers on documentation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Eric and Carol
My wife and I have a 99 F250 Power Stroke Deisel. We live at about 3500 feet. We find that the truck is very hard to start after the temperatures dip down below freezing at night. We have taken the truck to the local Ford Dealer. They sold us a new battery and insisted everything else was fine, even after I asked about the Glow plugs. That was back in January. The problem happened again this weekend when we were up at 6500 feet and the night time temperatures dropped. It takes atleast 10 tries to get the truck started. I do get white smoke when the truck cranks. I do hear a relay clicking off after about 30 to 45 seconds. I also hear what sound like a cooling fan running when the ignition switch is turned to the run position (for pre-heat). I don't always see activity on the voltage guage 'cause our instrument cluster is on the fritz(Please see a seperate thread under Electrical). Any suggestions or pointers on documentation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Eric and Carol
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
on my 97 the relay is near the fuel filter my truck was doing the same thing about 2 weeks ago i noticed that the voltagewasn't going down so i changed the relay. i went to napa the proper relay for my truck is about 80 dollars. the relay for the older diesels are about 20 dollars and the only differance is the relay is turned 90 degrees. i have the cheaper relay on my truck now and it starts fine. i can't see spending 80 dollars for something that is only going to last a couple of years.
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,324
Likes: 1
From: Denton,TX
Here's a picture of the glow plug relay (not my picture):
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...7814cZOLspiYVv
Does the battery meter move when you turn the key? It should. It could be a faulty GPR or glow plugs.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...7814cZOLspiYVv
Does the battery meter move when you turn the key? It should. It could be a faulty GPR or glow plugs.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
Likes: 7
From: colorado
i have had similar problems(i live at 5300ft and hunt at 8000ft) the dealer checked everything at it was fine. my fix, synthetic oil, i have started my truck at -18 (hunting in white river) not plugged in and it fired on the first try with the synthetic oil. the year before it took me like 5-6 trys with dino. if you live where it is cold,and can not plug in, go synthetic. it cost more but it will work 5w-40 delvac(mobil one)
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine Grove, California
Plug in
Our PSD does not have a block heater if that is what you are talking about when you say 'Plug in'. Do you mean that or something else???
Is there a way to test my glow plug relay???
Thanks to everyone for your input!!!
Is there a way to test my glow plug relay???
Thanks to everyone for your input!!!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine Grove, California
Hi there Team
Ok, here is the latest. If I look at the relay, it has four terminals; two are heavy duty and are at 3 and 9 O'clock. There are two Lighter duty terminals at 12 and 6 o'clock. The following is observed:
The heavy guage one at 9 o'clock has a single cable red on black which is always hot. It has a rubber boot on it.
The heavy guage one at 3 o'clock has three cables going to it; a heavy guage Brown, a heavy guage yellow and a light guage Green on white. This post always appears to be grounded all of the time.
The smaller post at 6 o'clock becomes hot at the time the ignition switch is turned on. It has a small guage red wire attached to it.
The Small post at 12 o'clock becomes hot after about 30 seconds into the 'on' cycle.
If anyone can give me some thoughts as to what's going on, I would greatly appreciate it. I find it od, that one point that is grounded would have three wires going to it, but what ever. Thanks for your time! - Eric -
Ok, here is the latest. If I look at the relay, it has four terminals; two are heavy duty and are at 3 and 9 O'clock. There are two Lighter duty terminals at 12 and 6 o'clock. The following is observed:
The heavy guage one at 9 o'clock has a single cable red on black which is always hot. It has a rubber boot on it.
The heavy guage one at 3 o'clock has three cables going to it; a heavy guage Brown, a heavy guage yellow and a light guage Green on white. This post always appears to be grounded all of the time.
The smaller post at 6 o'clock becomes hot at the time the ignition switch is turned on. It has a small guage red wire attached to it.
The Small post at 12 o'clock becomes hot after about 30 seconds into the 'on' cycle.
If anyone can give me some thoughts as to what's going on, I would greatly appreciate it. I find it od, that one point that is grounded would have three wires going to it, but what ever. Thanks for your time! - Eric -
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 13
From: west plains spokane,wa
Hi
Had the exact same starting problem last week with my 97. Took it to the local Ford dealer, they diagnosed that the glow plug relay was bad. Charged
130 for checking it out, wanted another 150 to replace it.(100 for the relay,50 labor.) I went to the International dealer in town and they had the same relay for $20, I bought one of those, installed it in about 10 minutes and it fixed my starting problems.
Had the exact same starting problem last week with my 97. Took it to the local Ford dealer, they diagnosed that the glow plug relay was bad. Charged
130 for checking it out, wanted another 150 to replace it.(100 for the relay,50 labor.) I went to the International dealer in town and they had the same relay for $20, I bought one of those, installed it in about 10 minutes and it fixed my starting problems.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Penn Valley
What you have there is an isolated coil
The two large terminals are like the two terminals of a switch. They are not polarity sensitive. Power on one and load on another
The two other terminals are the ends of the coil. They are also not polarity sensitive. In this case one is hooked to ignition and the other is grounded by the ECM to call for glow plug heat. When the ECM releases the ground, the voltage of this post is fed through the coil and comes up to battery voltage. This is why you see what you do.
There is another, (older?) variation on this solenoid that looks exactly the same but the two small posts are marked "S" and "I". The "S" post is energized to pull in the relay and the other end of the coil is hoo"ked to the frame of the relay and grounds through the mounting bracket. The "I" post is like a smaller version of the loaded post and was used to supply battery voltage to the coil when cranking, and is isolated otherwise. (I stands for Ignition and S stands for Switch).
Any questions please ask.
Birken
The two large terminals are like the two terminals of a switch. They are not polarity sensitive. Power on one and load on another
The two other terminals are the ends of the coil. They are also not polarity sensitive. In this case one is hooked to ignition and the other is grounded by the ECM to call for glow plug heat. When the ECM releases the ground, the voltage of this post is fed through the coil and comes up to battery voltage. This is why you see what you do.
There is another, (older?) variation on this solenoid that looks exactly the same but the two small posts are marked "S" and "I". The "S" post is energized to pull in the relay and the other end of the coil is hoo"ked to the frame of the relay and grounds through the mounting bracket. The "I" post is like a smaller version of the loaded post and was used to supply battery voltage to the coil when cranking, and is isolated otherwise. (I stands for Ignition and S stands for Switch).
Any questions please ask.
Birken
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pine Grove, California
Hi there,
Forgive me for being somewhat challenged Electrically, based on my description on what was going on with the coil, does it sound like I have a problem here??? I was puzzled as to why the one terminal energized 30 seconds after the switch was turned on, which was 20 seconds after the 'wait' light went out. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Eric -
Forgive me for being somewhat challenged Electrically, based on my description on what was going on with the coil, does it sound like I have a problem here??? I was puzzled as to why the one terminal energized 30 seconds after the switch was turned on, which was 20 seconds after the 'wait' light went out. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Eric -
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,324
Likes: 1
From: Denton,TX
Originally Posted by theandersons
Hi there,
Forgive me for being somewhat challenged Electrically, based on my description on what was going on with the coil, does it sound like I have a problem here??? I was puzzled as to why the one terminal energized 30 seconds after the switch was turned on, which was 20 seconds after the 'wait' light went out. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Eric -
Forgive me for being somewhat challenged Electrically, based on my description on what was going on with the coil, does it sound like I have a problem here??? I was puzzled as to why the one terminal energized 30 seconds after the switch was turned on, which was 20 seconds after the 'wait' light went out. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Eric -
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
The heavy guage wiring with three terminals should be "hot" when you hear the relay click, if not the relay is defective. The small wiring that got "hot" 30 seconds later was grounded by the PCM until it turned off, then you saw power on that terminal.