I have an 89 truck, and i have finally seen the wait to start light come on, it make me wait for about 5-10 seconds, then i start er up,
It has been 18*f outside in the 6am hour, The Question is''''''......
? Is it normal for the engine to turn over once before actually starting when the weather is this cold? I am so used to the touch the key method, and the bugger is idleing, Is the turn over normal???
It is not plugged in by the way, The broken down landrover is in the way, Just needs an odd heater hose to move,
Thanks for your imput!
Peter.

 

I heard mine crank at 17 degrees, unlugged. This was back before I fixed the grid heaters. Like yours, it rolled over about a turn, then caught. Have you checked for power at the grid heater like we talked about?

 

Mine has working grid heater & turns a turn or so before starting on a 20 deg morning. Runs perfectly after startup too. Sounds normal to me.

 

I havent checked the voltage when it is 18* out, But i finally hear the"clonk" of the relays! I guess that i DO have the early-early cummins that turns the grid heaters on at 15*f or so,
Good to know it's normal!
Dave, found a small leak at the no1 return, all good with starting now!
Peter.

 

Mine does the same thing. Compare to summer when the thing lights off on the first cylinder. this takes maybe a full turn around of the crank. Heater grid works on mine. Put yourself in a old rabbit in this weather thats not pluged in a cold soaked if you want to see hard starts. I can remember spending 20 plus minutes trying to start my rabbit some times 5 of which were cranking. Never let me down though always started. I don't even worry about the cummins not starting in the cold.

 

I had an old peugeot, it started at 7*, but i needed to start it about 10 times before it kept running, I have had most brands of foreign diesels, The DODGE CUMMINS DEFINATELY starts the easiest!! You would think that the german diesels would perk right in really cold temps, But since the UK diesel is and was better, They dont like temps below the 20s.
Audi's, forget it. drive something else!
Peter.