Just what does the "Hard Start" I keep hearing about mean? I know on my '03 CTD, when the wait to start light would go out, I would basically just have to bump the starter and it was running.

I have 5k on this '06 and just lately have noticed that when I go to start it, I will turn the key on and the starter turns the engine for 3-4-5 seconds without the engine starting. Most times when I release the key, wait a couple of seconds then turn the key again, the truck will start. Sometimes I have gone through this process 2-3 times before it finally starts.

Is this the "Hard Start" problem I read about?

Thanks,
Rick

 

Yup, Thats it. I've had mine in twice for the hard start flash and it works for a couple of days and then right back to it. VERY EMBARASSING

 

Yeah, it sucks. Mine was getting real bad. There was a couple times I thought it wouldn't start at all. I took it in and they said the lift pump was starting to fail. I didn't have time to wait a couple days for a new pump to arrive so I asked them if they could run the long crank tsb. Since then it's only happened a few times. From what you described, it doesn't sound too bad yet. If it gets worse, I would consider taking it in for the reflash. If mine gets worse again, I'll take it in to have the lift pump replaced.

 

If the dealer told you the lift pump was starting to fail, guess if it ws mine I would take it in as soon as possible to get it changed. If you don't you run the risk of loosing the CP3 and possibly some injectors as the loss of lift pump will put a serious strain on every thingelse unless you are figuring on installing an auxilluary pump very soon.

JM02

 

I know this does not sound right, but give me your opinions.

When I first got my rig, a 2006 DWR 4x4 with 3 miles on it, the wait to start icon light would only come on if it was down right freezing out side. When it would not come on, which was 95% of the time, it would crank for 4-5 seconds or longer before starting or before I stopped and then tried again.

OK, so now then I decided to then turn the key "on" and wait, even though the light did not come on, and the truck would then start right up with out missing a beat. I thought maybe I was "tricking" it. but thought highly unlikely.

Fast forward 6 months and 3500 miles later. The light has been coming on now every time if it sits over night. It could be 75 degrees outside, and as long as it has not run in the last 12-24 hours, it will light up, and when it goes out, it starts like it should. Can these rigs possibly "learn" or do they have a computer "brake in" (sounds stupid I know), but whats your take?

 

the computers learn, but not that way.( computers learn driving styles) I think the glow plug is controlled off the IAT sensor and barometric pressure sensor.... I think


when mine hard starts I turn the key to the "OFF" position then try again, it will start every time when I do that????
it still sucks tho!!!

 

OK - our trucks don't have glow plugs, they have grid heaters.

Hard start (prolonged cranking) on these new 3rd gens is usually caused by the sensor not reading the crank rotation properly - I thought it was an issue having to do with the dual-mass clutch? But if you key on again, it'll fire right up.

 

I am on the fence about the hard start. I will usually wait until the dash light check ends, and then I crank over. Sometimes it takes much longer. I am trying this experiment: I wait until the dash light check is finished AND the security light goes out. Waiting for the securirty light to go out appears to mitigate the long crank time for me, but I am early on into this experiment. Just my experience with this...

 

Yeah- I know they have grid heaters but everyone always refers to them as glow plugs, so way fight it


I always wait for the dash lights and the chime to do their thing just out of habit. It makes no diff for me how I turn it on, but if It is cranking long I stop turn the key to "OFF" and then back to "ON" then it fires up EVERY time right away. (just like all the CTD I've had)

BTW I'm in such a habit of the wait to start that I get in my beater Mazda commuter and wait for the glow/grid on it but it's a gasser I have even sat in the car to let it cool down like it had a turbo!!

XLR8R- grid heater, glow plugs..........You meant what I knew