KevinT

I started my 2005 yesterday and noticed that it ran rough and put out a little smoke. The "wait to start light " now goes out when all the other warning lights go out. I no longer hear the slight humming annd clicking noise of the glow plugs being heated. I have checked the fuse box and no burnt fuses. Any suggestions on what else I can look at before I go sit a day at the dealer? thanks.................

dhughe2

where are you from? what was the air temp?

KevinT

South Louisiana and the outside temp yesterday was 67 when I noticed the problem.

dhughe2

It doesnt sound like a problem to me unless your truck is really chuggin when you start it. As the temperatures rise, there isnt a need to heat the incoming air any more. that is the reason that your Wait to Start light goes out so quickly. Im not an expert so i could be wrong. did the truck run rough when it warmed up?

KevinT

I never let it get that far. I am used to hearing the little humming and clicking noise comming from under the hood while waiting fopr the light to go off, even in the summer. I no longer hear the noise, which means the something is not warming up. I can't find the problem.

dhughe2

sorry i cant help you any more, someone else will chime in... good luck with it

txfiremedic

I agree, I don't think there is a problem, I think that it just doesn't need to heat. Im in Texas and my WTS light doesn't stay on even in the mornings when its 50 degrees.

RunninLean

The 05 CTD has glow plugs? I thought the the heat strips took the place of plugs.

I believe the noise you are refering to is your lift pump pressuring up.

dave78

right.. no glow plugs in our application, only a grid heater in the intake. you have a 2005 though right? (fill out your sig. so we can check it out), so the lift pump is in tank.. no sure why you'd be hearing the humming noise underhood?? anyways, at 67F, it should be warm enough for the grid heater to NOT cycle...

KevinT

Is it possible that this "heat strip" is shorting out or is just going out? Is there a way that I can check this out myself? Yesterday I tried turning on the ignition and the wait to start llight stayed on a little while and the truck stated better. I tried it today and the light went off quickly and the truck started rough and smoked like a train. And about the glow plugs, sorry about the ignorance. I'm learning slowly. Thanks for all the info.....

djbikeman

Most of the noise you hear when turning the key to the on position is the lift pump coming on. The grid heater is like a toaster and doesn't make any noise other than the occasional crackle you get from metal heating.The ambient temp you mentioned is high enough that they wouldn't come on anyway, so I doubt your grid heater is the problem.

If you are getting a ton of white smoke at startup, it could be many other things - CP3, Rail Pressure relief valve, injector(s). There are many experts on this board that could help more than I could though. Does it smoke when you start it after it is warmed up?

I would start with a few simple things that may help. First change your fuel filter of you haven't done so recently, and then add some Howes Meaner Cleaner at your next fillup. There is a thread about this stuff floating around here, and a lot of people swear by it.

Have you checked for any CEL's? If you turn the key from the off position to the on position 3 times very quickly, yo will get a display of engine codes that start with P. If there are no engine codes, it will just say "done".

KevinT

I used to hear the tinging noise of the metal heating up, but not any more. Once its started, I can turn it off and re-start and no smoke. I tried the turn key deal three times, and all it says is "done". I think the grid heater is out for some reason but I don't know how to check it. I have gone throu all of the fuses and none of them appear burnt. what fuse would be for the grid heater any way?

KevinT

If it is a relay, where would it be and how to check it?