Since it has turned colder my truck has been hard to start. It is not consistent. Last night it fired right up first try at 21deg. However I have had to try 3 or 4 times to start it when the temps were in the 30s or 40s. It would start and then just die. Of course I am using the grid heaters but it isn't plugged in. I don't remember having any trouble starting my 2001. Is this normal or could one of my new injectors be defective?

 

Same tank of fuel, Do you use additives? Thats where i would start, i mean can you hear the grid heater cycle on and off?

 

Yes, same tank of fuel. I put stanadyne one-shot in it. The grid heaters do work and cycle after the truck starts also.

Today it was 17deg outside and it fired right up. But I have had trouble starting it at 40....

 

I'm not sure if it's an injector but I am sure it's not normal especially in the temps you're talking. 30 to 40 degrees is chilly but FAR from cold.

 

Not normal at all, I start all the time in those temps without even waiting on the grids and hardly a stutter when it fires, no excessive cranking either.

 

x2. As long as your batteries are good and fuel isn't gelled, these trucks will start -35 below or colder. Deff. not normal. I really dobt your fuel is gelled, but it may be. My 96 gelled last year. It started a few times during the day, and then at night I went to start it and it ran for a couple of seconds then died. Changed fuel filter and added Power service. Next morning it was fine. Even thogh these common rails are a different animal, basic princibles still apply. Check fuel for sure.

 

I guess it was my fuel filter. It had been changed 10k ago but I noticed a P 0191 code tonight and decided to change it just to see. The truck fired up quicker than it has in a while and seems to run better now. Maybe I got some dirty fuel that clogged it up too fast...

We'll see how it does on the highway tomorrow.

 

40 could be the temp the grid heaters work/don't work. Kind of like a cut off, under it they will work, above it they won't. and it heats the air enough to make a difference. That's the only thing I can think of, is that the heater is working under that temp, but when at 40, they don't, which would cause it to run rough a bit longer before firing.

I've started mine at -20 once, not plugged in, and let me tell you, looked like a train exploded there was so much white smoke, but she did start. (stupid cold Maine weather)

 

Grid heater's wouldn't be his problem unless they aren't functioning at all. Up through the 05's, the grid heater's cycle all the time, no matter the temp. On the 06's and up, the grid heater's only cycle if the air temperature in the intake manifold get's below 55 degrees.

 

Not true, the 05 does not cycle them no matter the temp. I believe the magic number is 60 F and above no grids.

 

I've never heard of an 05 that didn't cycle them regularly, everyone I have ever seen has. Possibly the late 05's have this feature though. On the 06's and up the magic number is 55 degree's.

 

Honestly what does it matter....'05..late '05....the grid heaters aren't the problem.I love it when ya'll get down to brass tacks...LOL!

 

Well I hate to tell ya mine was manufactured 3/05, has never had a software update, had a plastic intercooler (only on the early 05's) and it does not cycle the grid heaters when the IAT is above the magic number. Not trying to argue just stating how it is. I actually thought all years were like this. But since this isn't the original posters problem doesn't really matter anyways, he should have no problem starting in those temps whether the grids are cycling or not

 

Like I say, I think I fixed it with the fuel filter. I must have gotten some bad fuel that clogged the filter quickly. It has been starting no problem since the new filter.