Starting problem - '99 Powerstroke
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Sounds like it could be GPR or glow plugs issues or low clearance on the injector armatures / solenoids.
Easiest would be to check glow plug system first, here a copy of that thread credit to klhansen for having it as a link to his signature:
Hard/No Start? Check here first.
Thought I'd post this as a sticky thread now that cold weather is on us. How to check Glow Plug System To check the Glow Plug Relay (GPR) · Be sure the engine is cold, so that the PCM will tell the GPR to turn on. If the engine is hot, you won’t have as much time to check. (if oil temp is...
www.thedieselstop.com
Also, have you tried plugging in the block heater the night before? That will help if glowplugs aren’t heating up and If it is an injector clearance issue running Rotella T6 5W40.m will help with engines with low oil clearance. But since your getting white smoke / raw fuel out of the exhaust I’d probably lean towards glow plugs as long as your engine is turning over fast enough with the starter.
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I'd start with the glow plug relay and the glow plugs.
The relay is the weak link in the system but if they have never been replaced the glow plugs may be bad also. A quick check for the relay is in the morning before you start the truck is to short the two large post on the relay for about 20 or so seconds and then try to start. Be ready for some sparks when you do it. I'd use a large pair of pliers to do it.
The first post in this thread tells you how to test them properly.
www.thedieselstop.com
The relay is the weak link in the system but if they have never been replaced the glow plugs may be bad also. A quick check for the relay is in the morning before you start the truck is to short the two large post on the relay for about 20 or so seconds and then try to start. Be ready for some sparks when you do it. I'd use a large pair of pliers to do it.
The first post in this thread tells you how to test them properly.
Hard/No Start? Check here first.
Thought I'd post this as a sticky thread now that cold weather is on us. How to check Glow Plug System To check the Glow Plug Relay (GPR) · Be sure the engine is cold, so that the PCM will tell the GPR to turn on. If the engine is hot, you won’t have as much time to check. (if oil temp is...
www.thedieselstop.com
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If you open those attachments there are photos and an arrow showing the location.
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I've been following this post as my F350 PSD has been having similar hard to start problems. I've been trying to figure out what is wrong for the last two winters...I'm pretty sure that my glow plugs will need to be changed out after a lot of trial and error. At one time my truck would start easily at +20F without being plugged in and with good batteries it would start down to 0F, but preferred to be plugged in. Plugged in over night it would start easily at -20F. I recently found out that my block heater was dead, even after being told it was good last winter. I changed it out and after 45 minutes of being plugged in, my truck started easily. My further testing: I left it unplugged on a night that stayed just above freezing all night and the next day at +35F, it was extremely hard to start. Plugged it in for 30 minutes and it fired right up...Last night it dropped to +10F and I had it plugged in, so when I went out this morning it fired up immediately. I've ordered a Stancor GPR as mine is factory original and therefore 23 years old, so I want something new. I'm headed to The North Slope in Alaska to work for a few weeks, but after I return I will be changing out my glow plugs as they too are original. I hope you find all your answers as well.
Thanks for your input. My GPR has checked out ok. Haven't checked glow plugs yet. Suspect that's the problem area. I did plug in block heater the other day (not too cold), and it started, so I think I'm on the right track. Stay warm up there.
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More update...I left the truck plugged in overnight and got up about 5Am at -5F and the truck fired up immediately like it was summer. When I had a bad block heater, it was hard to start at +35F. What this tells me, is that my Glow Plugs are bad and I will replace them. A trusted Powerstroke mechanic told me the only true way to test your GPs is to remove the valve covers and test them individually as a Scanner can't tell you if any are bad. My philosophy is that they are all original and all have 135,000 miles on them, so if one is bad they will all be going bad. Therefore I will be changing out all of them in the near future.
...and you can test them through the valve cover harness, which also test the valve cover harness. One other thing, do NOT buy glow plugs on Amazon/Ebay. Too many fake ones out there...my Amazon- Ford packaged fakes lasted one summer before melting in half.
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