Requiem for a pickup

[Sludgy]

The Blue Beast is barely starting after extended cranking. It seems to be catching on only one cylinder, while the remaining cylinders don't light off. It smokes like Hell because most of the cylinders aren't firing.

Not sure whetherit's the FICM or the glow plugs....

[Jay2TheRescue]

Is it a Powerstroke diesel? I know I had problems with the powerstrokes when I was the fleet officer at the rescue squad. The injector harnesses would burn up.

[Sludgy]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Is it a Powerstroke diesel? I know I had problems with the powerstrokes when I was the fleet officer at the rescue squad. The injector harnesses would burn up.

Nothing seems to be burning up, but the water-in-fuel sensor just lit. I had my filters changed this morning, maybe th problem is solved..... fingers crossed.

[Jay2TheRescue]

The part of the injector harness we were having problems with, was the portion that was under the valve cover.

[dieselmech]

Look at it logically. You just changed the filters and now you have a hard start problem?

It's sucking air/leaking vacuum so the filter is draining back to the tank. You crank it enough and the lift pump fills the filter and it starts. Recheck that the filter gasket isn't pinched/filter loose/etc. In fact, get it running, shut it off and pull the filter off. Is it full? (should be a yes answer since you just shut it off) Put the filter back on and run it again for a minute or so then shut it off and let it sit for an hour or more.(or over night) Pull the filter off after sitting and see if it is half empty. (I'm guessing yes again)

Also, water sensor just lit? Either you have a hell of a lot of water in your tank for it to turn on the sensor in less than a day...or....sensor is broke/sucking air/leaking fuel and draining the filter.

The answers are right in front of you, just have to diagnose it.

[dieselmech]

Forgot to add, don't crank it more than 30 seconds and give it at least a minute between cranking or you will burn up the starter. Not sure if your's is a gear reduction one or not (both available) but either one gets too hot it throws the solder off the brush wires and then you have a 400 amp dead short when you hit the key.

Yes this is WAY bad!

[Sludgy]

I may change the truck's name from Blue Beast to Dracula. It's undead, but not really living.

I was snowshoeing with my wife in Millinocket, ME two weekends ago. It was a bear to start after sitting ovenight. It took about 5 minutes of intermittent cranking to get it to kick over. And when it did start, it misfired and made blue smoke for 5 minutes before settling down. This was AFTER adding cetane treatment to the fuel tank. I do a significant amount of off-roading in cold weather, and I'm getting nervous about getting stranded in Frostbite Falls.

Now that the weather has warmed, it starts easily again. Maybe it's busted glow plugs. Anybody know about glow plugs on 6.0 powerstrokes?

[dieselmech]

I was going to write a big, long, "how-to" but cut&paste is SO much easier.
Yes I would say you have a glow plug/controller issue.


Well DUH....I guess it helps if I actually ADD the link eh?
http://www.powerstrokenation.com/for...ad.php?t=27553