[[email protected]]

My van is hard to start at cold temps. It is -20F here today. I have a recirc pump, oil pan heater and two battery blankets on the vehicle. It also has a blanket on the hood to keep the heat in. I think my glow plugs need to be replaced. I am new to diesels. Are my glow plugs under the valve covers?

She will chug a little (like once) when I try to start her. But it is so cold I loose battery power quickly. So I keep starting over. I have a charger on the batteries.

I am thinking that the fuel is so cold that it won't ignite, and some/all the plugs are bad, compounding the problem. Is this a reasonable guess? I will replace the plugs, but I'm not quite sure where they are, as I have seen comments about them possibly being under the valve covers. Not looking foward to that in this weather, but whatever it takes........

Gotta get it goin in Alaska

 

[chuckster57]

The glow plugs are in the heads just INBOARD of the valve covers. The POWERSTROKE engines have them under the valve covers. You will need to find ZD-9 glow plugs. DO NOT use autolite...BERU are the best so they say, I have Wellmans from Here and have no complaints. Make sure to use anti sieze on the threads. Are you using any diesel fuel additives?

 

[Snotzalot]

How long does your wait to start light stay on when you first turn the key on when the engine is cold?

 

[[email protected]]

The wait to start light stays on only for a few seconds, I find this somewhat unreliable. I used to drive a Kubota tractor w/a 18hp diesel and the WTS light would be on for much longer. So I always wait longer that the light suggests. There is a rythmic clicking noise that starts when I turn the ignition. I don't know what it is.....something to do with the coil????? If I wait 30-45 seconds, it stops. So today, I read somewhere that it can take up to 120 seconds for glow plugs to get to MAX temp. So I waited until the clicking stopped, maybe a little longer, and fired it. Got a couple of extra chugs, but no VRRROOOOMMM. Again, my batteries take some abuse during this process, so I am waiting for my next attempt, usually about 30-45 minutes apart.

I know this is not ideal. Should let the trickle do its work,etc. But I got a family and we got stuff to do and its our family mover so.............

I have heard that Bosch glow plugs are pretty good. Yes?

Thanks for your quick responses. What a wonderful sight this seems to be. Hopin for one more start in AK.....
Mark

 

[Snotzalot]

It does sounds like like you have one or more bad GP's. Replace them all with Beru ZD-9's and no other!

Pete can you post the GP replacement guide????

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks guys. Did a google search on Berus and it came up with this same sight (site?) as #1 with lots of informative comments. And so I look for the Made in Germany on the plug and know I have the real thing, right? And I'm so happy I have a 93 so I don't have to remove the valve covers.

Well, I'm sure I'll be back with more diesel ? in the future. Very, so very happy with the responses, especially the time frame. U guys r awesome. Lemme know if you're ever comin to Fairbanks. I'll hook u up (with what I dunno).

Still not startin in AK, but hopeful (as always)!

Mark

 

[[email protected]]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say I am using some additives. Can't remember the brand, stuff they sell at NAPA in a clear container and its yellowish. Don't use it all the time, but put some in the tank today. Tank is full (23-4 gal). Hopin that'll help. Hopin anything will help........

 

[WhiteGardens]

Additives definitively help. Diesel fuel "gels" at temps below freezing. Even In the Midwest (not as cold as AK) I always use an additive in the winter and summer to help with starting and it makes a huge difference.

CDNSARGUY has all the info for glow plug operation. If you do a search under the forum tools, you can read up on a lot of post about glow plug operation. Our system doesn't cycle as long as tractors, but you should have your wait to start light come on for around 10 seconds in the cold.

Another thought too, have you checked to see if you have any leaks around the injectors. Your return lines might be leaking and letting air back into the system adding to the hard starts.

 

[[email protected]]

I have heard I may have an air leak(?) or leak of some sort in the fuel system. So I guess I will address that as well. I Just spent $2500 on a new front end (tie rods, ball joints, stabalizers, yadda yadda yadda) that I just didn't wanta deal with myself ( ie jack the ****er up and spend XX days underneath it), and so I'm somewhat reluctant to keep throwin money down the hole.......

Cept with 6 kids, I bred myself outta a minivan, so options are few.......

At least I got some Carhartt Xtremes for Xmas, and glow plugs sound sorta easy since I dont hafta deal with the valve covers......

My kida wanna buy fireworks for New years and they are so beautiful in the really cold weather....we only hafta drive fifteen miles to North Pole.....so I'm still hopeful

I gotta heat gun on the ground underneath it now.....probably need to buy a reddyheater......almost the same price as the glow plugs though........

Again....whatta great site for information this is.......WOW!!!!

Thanks alot folks.....I'll check it again before I hit the sack.......hope soon I can to provide insight to others......

Mark @-45 in AK

 

[Snotzalot]

Since this is a van you are working on, while you have it all apart to service the GP's it would be wise to change the return lines, caps and O rings too. Also do a fuel filter AND the FIPL (throttle position switch) since you will have everything opened up. Make sure you bleed the fuel filter before you try firing it up.

 

[WhiteGardens]

I would think with a Circulating water heater, oil pan heater and blankets that you wouldn't need a ready-heat to get it to fire.

Glow plugs will probably do the trick, along with replacing the return lines.

 

[Bill1013]

roan65
Mobile: 907-590-0469
Notes: Fairbanks, AK
Since you are in Alaska this TDS member is listed in the HELP ALASKA TDS forum. Maybe he is not available anymore. Might give him a try .

Ford diesel 6.9 7.3 IDI

The above is info on the glow plugs.

I was in North Pole AK last July, had to buy brake rotors and pads at NAPA there .

Happy New Year .

 

[roan65]

just stubbled across this. Did you ever get it up and running? I have a differant number now, and live in Wasilla. If you need something let me know [email protected]. I have a good friend who is also a member in Fairbanks I am sure wouldn't mind helpin you out.

 

[[email protected]]

......and to sum up.....

So thanks to everyone. I should have replied a while ago that I got it running. Once I really looked at it, everything went smooth and easy. Replaced glow plugs on New Year's Day @ -45 degrees, van starts like a champ. Hooray! Thanks everyone. Now for my next dilemma.......