Powerstroke No Start
Posted in Ignition Systems | Asked on Aug 2, 2010
Okay, Posted a few days ago about my 2002 F350 Powerstroke not starting, want to clarify a few things…I live in Maine and lately it has been around 10 degrees farenheit at night and 20 degrees during the day…It starts perfectly inside (around 65 degrees in my shop), and it starts without the need to glow, incide. Outside after sitting overnight is a another story, spent 30 mins trying to start it (keep in mind I only have one battery in it, I realize there is supposed to be two) it cranks very strong and sounds perfectly normal while cranking, the second battery is a backup just incase the first one doesnt have the juice to crank it, correct?. It was able to crank over for half an hour of 15 sec cranks, 10 sec cooldowns, and no problems with slow cranking or anything and i was glowing it every time i cranked it, all off one battery. Okay, so someone mentioned my fuel could be gelled…not possible because quite a few of my friends have diesels and they glow theirs once and it starts, i also have anti-gelling fluid in the fuel. Someone else on here mentioned white smoke meaning anti-freeze…true…if its coming from the exhaust…but its coming from the motor, it smells like diesel fumes, and the coolant and oil both check just fine, not to mention the truck runs incredibley well once its running. Im guessing that I need new glow plugs, it starts when I have the block heater plugged in…I park 1/8 mile away from my house and have no way to plug it in so I need to rely on my glow plugs. Do you think it is possible that It needs two batteries to start? even though it starts extremely easily inside off one battery? or is it more likely glow plugs? there are 126,000 miles on the truck, please only reply if you really know what your talking about, thats why i’m on here, to get help, thanks. It is not sludged injectors either, because it starts and runs perfectly fine inside, no skipping or anything…
There are 5 Answers for "Powerstroke No Start"
The glow plugs are probably bad/worn out. Diesels use compression to ignite the fuel. But when the engine is cold, there isn’t enough heat generated to ignite the fuel. So yeah, have your plugs looked at.
If you have good turning power and fuel, then there is no “spark”.
Change the glow plugs and no more problems. Here where I am a regular – 20 degrees is normal and our ford diesel tractor starts with no plug in and it sits outside all the time.
Iwould have the glow plugs checked, that what it sounds like.
i dont know if glow plugs would fix it. My work truck does that everytime it gets cold. Its a 1999 ford f-450 powerstroke . I changed the glow plugs and it made no difference. I have been told powerstrokes are stubborn and to just spray a little starting fluid in it and it will start. it worked for me and it was cheaper than glow plugs. the truck starts fine when warmed up or warm outside.
biggest problem with powerstrokes. the glow plug control relay on the right side next to the fuel filter. I believe the 02 still has one. that or glow plug control module. I have only changed 2 sets of glow plugs on powerstroke and about 500 relays. very easy but get relay from ford they last a little longer. If you want to test it there is two big wires and two small wires on relay when you first turn on the truck and the glow plug indicator is on. there should be power to both of the big wires if not then change the relay. If there is power to both sides then you need glow plugs.