I have a 03 and when its been cold outside down in the 40s its real real hard to start. The only way I can get it started is hold my foot on the gas pedal. The grid light stays on for about 10sec then i try to start but it takes awhile. When it warmer outside it starts no problem or once I get it started and kill it, it starts fine after that. Could this be an injector problem, lift pump, or just a grid heater issue? How can I check to see if its giving me any codes?

 

Im no expert but sounds like a grid heater thing to me. There are several places on here that tell you how to retrieve codes - try a search, I can't remember the exact procedure off the top of my head.

 

Bump Anyone?

 

I had the same issue on my 03. Super long crank times turned into no start when in got to 39 degrees. I changed the fuel filter, plugged in the block heater for about an hour... and it started right up.

I was still concerned about it and took it to the dealer, they had it for 3 days and of course, they found nothing. They said HUMMMM, must have been a dirty fuel filter. Truck starts right away now.... but has not been below 50 degrees since. I guess we will see.

 

Thanks, I will try changing the fuel filter

 

That and plug it in if it gets too cool at night, helps it start fast...
Youll see the grid heater come on when your voltage drops big time when you start it, does it a few times till the temp goes up some, but plugging it in at night will help you more than anything...

 

Thats the thing I don't think my grid heater is working.

 

Does the grid heater icon illuminate on the dashboard?
Do the lights dim on and off after it starts?

 

The grid heater icon shows up. lights do not dim after it starts

 

Check the grid heater relay - they should cycle on & off when it's cold like that, with noticeable dimming of the lights since they draw so many amps.
I don't think they'll operate over 20 mph.

Since you have the icon lit, the ECM is calling for the heaters.

 

How do they work? I have found the wires that go to them but haven't check them yet. Is there some kind of element in the intake? There is also two relays wonder if that could be the problem.

 

Yes - there's a resistive heating element in between the intake manifold and cylinder head; try swapping out the relays with known good ones (there's a bunch the same size in the PDC) and see if they cycle then.

 

Its your fuel injectors!

This happened to my 2003 last year, It started out as hard starting when cold. Warmer temps was fine and if you plugged in the block heater it was fine too.

One morning it wouldn't start so I plugged it in for the day and came back later and it started right up. I took it down to the dealer and they kept it overnight so they could test it while it was cold. They found that #1 injector was bad, they replaced it and all was well.

Fast forward to today, Temps dropped again, no start, towed truck to dealer and they found 2 more bad injectors.

 

That sucks!