*** update- I plugged it in for a few hours to try to simulate how it started for the tech. It just fired up. Would still like to know how to narrow it down maybe before I put it back in the dealers hands

Ran the batteries dead a few days ago trying to start. Turned out it needed a new fuel bowl. Dealer installed this and gave the truck back to me cranking as if it sounded like the batteries were just about dead. I left a note about this and they're calling me back.

Problem is now I have the truck home and it won't start. Sounds like I'm running off a 6v battery then my starter seems to start smoking.

Batteries are 1 month old 850ca dekas.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated so I don't have to tow it back to the dealer

 

First off, no fuel bowl, can you give a more accurate description of what was replaced? Perhaps a fuel pressure regulator?

Second, what temperatures are we talking about, and what weight oil in in her, Synthetic or Dino?

Next, is the starter original, a smoking starter is NOT good, you may have done some damage to it, diesels require a minimum RPM cranking to get them lit off, and if she cranks slow, she wont light.

I would have your OEM starter rebuilt rather than trust a parts store rebuild. If you can't wait, NAPA has a new one that I have had good luck with for a few years now, I just looked it up, 174 bucks.

 

starter fried.
take it to get it tested...it might blow the breaker on their machine like mine did when it acted the same way. lol

 

Hey all- thanks so much for the replies. I never got any notifications and just saw this as I was coming to update.

The fuel bowl is what the dealer called it. It was the bowl that the filter sits in- all shiney new now. They replaced it bc I was only getting 800psi fuel pressure on start originally.

The trucks sitting in a grocery store parking lot now haha. Got there ok- then couldn't start. Starter is def smoking.

It's the originally starter. So the starter can crank slow if it's on it's way out? It sounds like weak batteries- which it's not. Temp is about 35deg when it needs to be plugged in (weak, I know.)

Assuming it is the starter and I order one from napa- does anyone know off hands what tools id need [*** think I gathered what's needed below ***]? I've replaced a jeep wrangler starter so will prob give this one a shot if it's not too complicated and doable in a parking lot :-p

" it was easy to pull the starter just used a 12 point 10mm wrench and got it off. youll need a 10mm 12point for the starter to block bolts, a 15mm for the starter wire, 8mm for the small starter wire and the 3 bolts on the selenoid back and lastly a 17mm for the contact studs. thats it. so all the tools youll need are a 10mm, 8mm, 15mm and a 17mm and youve got it done in about 20 minutes! "

 

Was def the starter. Put a new napa one in and it's working great.

Unfortunately I failed at the job in the grocery store parking lot last night in the snow storm so had to have a garage do it. fuel bowl was leaking right into the starter for who knows how long.

thanks for the help and replies all. big help identifying the problem.