Hey guys, as some of you know from a thread in the "Other" section I smashed my extension cord last night by backing over it with the duals (LOL) and therefore couldn't get my block heater plugged in. It was cold last night and it hasn't got above freezing today, and when I went out to start it today, I couldn't get her going even after about 10 tries.

I've never tried starting it below 50* cold without the block heater, and I don't think I've done the same with my 2500 either. I've just always plugged em in.

Anyway, I tried to start it a few minutes ago, and it would just fire, then shut off immediately. I tried the usual 1/4ish throttle and it did the same thing. Then I put my foot on the floor and same. Then I tried it with no throttle. Still no start. I did this about 10 times, probably with 7 out of those 10 on 1/4 throttle.

My question: is this normal, should I have just kept trying? I guess I'll pull out another extension cord tonight .

 

Souns like your grid heater is not working. Should start not plugged in ,down to about 10F.

 

You don't mention if the truck is stock , or modified, or how cold the temps are right now, but it would have to be REALLY cold for it to not start. On mine if i give it any throttle , forget about it when it is REALLY cold (-35) and not plugged in, but my idle is set up around 900 rpm +/- , so extra throttle input is not needed.

Last week it got down to about -35 , and after sitting all day , one cycle of the grid heater wasn't quite enough , it would kick , and blow smoke rings out the exhaust , but that was all. I have found that cycling the grids twice in a row without rolling the engine over , then cranking , and it will fire right up. With stock timing though , it will start a little easier.

 

Would it hurt to leave the starter on for a few secs after it first fires?

And how can I check to see if the grid heaters are working? Is there a set of wires I can just put a voltmeter up to?

 

Mine had cold start problems too. I set my idle up to 900 RPM from about 600it made a world of difference on cold starting. Now I just cycle the grid heaters a few times and it will fire up good down to about -20*C (not plugged in)

When the idle was at 600 you had to give it just the right amount of throttle to get it to start and even then I had problems at -10*c to get it to go. If I gave it too much (more than mabey 1/16th of throttle) it would flood out and be realy hard to get started. That might be what happend to you.

My 2002 24V would fire up at -30*C without being plugged in. I doubt my 12v could ever do that.

 

How do you adjust the idle?

Still anyone on how to check the grid heaters?

 

Still no luck. I'm not 100% sure what is giving power to the grid heaters, even where they are, but I have a good idea of what they are. I tried the two connections with little rubber boots on them near that big metal "support brace" (I know it has something more to do than that) with a voltmeter and they showed nothing. However its below freezing and raining (why can't it be snow?) outside, not to mention its pitch black, so I'm not positive I was doing everything right.

Anyway, I still think the grids are functioning alright because when the Wait to Start light comes on, all the cab lights dim, and when the light goes off everything brightens back up a little. I gave it a few more shots, including holding the starter for about 3 seconds and varying the throttle, but it still acted like it wanted to start, and even changed RPMs when I was holding the starter and varying the throttle but it never started and ran on its own.

Then I went to my other 12v, and it started just fine.

So, any other ideas? I know its definitly to warm for the fuel to start gelling up, and it ran just fine yesterday. I could smell a little bit of diesel fuel in the air too, is that something that could lead to an answer? Anyway, I ran another extension cord out there and plugged it in, and I'll see if she starts up tomorrow.

Any more ideas?

P.S. its the first truck in my sig, so its stock. I tried cycling the grids too.

 

I've never had trouble starting mine in below 0(f) temps without being plugged in. Sometimes cycling the grid heater more than once (turn the ignition to on, wait for "wait to start" light to go out, turn ignition off then back on again) can help. I hope its something goofy, cause your story reminds me of one of my friends F*rds...could never get it fired off in the cold, I had to pick him up more than once .

 

I tried cycling them a few times... still nothing. I'm a little worried about it not starting in the morning though... Hopefully after being plugged in it should be OK.

 

With all this cranking your batteries probably need a good recharge.
Have you load tested the batteries?

I'm thinking the lift pump is going if the batteries test OK.

A little timing advance helps with cold starts, but too much and it really works the starter.

I've had to hold the starter engaged while the engine sputters to life on cold starts at work.
If you crank the engine more than 15 seconds they do recommend a 1 minute cool down

 

Get a haynes and follow the grid heater test, I bet that they aren't getting power, you should be good to go for real cold temps. Right now mine aren't properly working (need to make a bracket) and without either on, I can start to about -3C with diesel performance in the tank, or 2C w/o the additive. The lowest I've started period without being plugged in while my grid heaters worked was about -12C, havent had the chance to start it colder.

 

I've heard you can check the lift pump by holding the water drain from the separator open and cranking, and if its working fuel will come out. Correct?

 

my idle is set up around 900 rpm +/- , so extra throttle input is not needed.

Last week it got down to about -35 , and after sitting all day , one cycle of the grid heater wasn't quite enough , it would kick , and blow smoke rings out the exhaust , but that was all. I have found that cycling the grids twice in a row without rolling the engine over , then cranking , and it will fire right up. With stock timing though , it will start a little easier.[/QUOTE]
This exactly how mine is setup is how I start it in cold weather.

 

Opening the valve will drain the entire filter. Cranking the engine will put fuel into the filter, but not a very good test of the pump. Pump is pushing on air on not the overflow valve. A pressure tap & gauge is the best.

When you start the truck after using the block heater do the grid heaters cycle?

 

I definitely think something is wrong w/ your grid heater. These things will start in extremely cold temps if your grid heater is working properly. I was hauling myself and my horse from tropical Virginia to arctic Montana from the 10-11th of this month when Ol' Man Winter decided to make us stay in Billings for the night. Anyway long story short, my truck officially starts better in -24F with no plug in, than my 97 powerstroke did in +24F. By the way, my horse ended up getting a great rest at the Billings Stock Yard--Great people and a great facility if you ever need it like I did.
Drew Stuart