04 f250 won't start when cold.

[223voodoo]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death. I tried searching, but my google-fu is weak!

Title says it all, it will start if I plug it it at night. I have read all about checking the GPR, but would like a better direction. This is my first Diesel and to tell you the truth, its leaving me sort of regretting it.

One more thing I have found that is irritating me is the Fuel gauge will not read accurately. I called the stealership a week after I bought it and told them what was happening. They pretty much told me nicely that I was full of it since they had just replaced the fuel pump which is one piece with the FSU.

it had no warranty when I bought it. It was a very nice truck and right in our budget.

[2 stroker]

Originally Posted by 223voodoo

Sorry if this has been beaten to death. I tried searching, but my google-fu is weak!

Title says it all, it will start if I plug it it at night. I have read all about checking the GPR, but would like a better direction. This is my first Diesel and to tell you the truth, its leaving me sort of regretting it.

One more thing I have found that is irritating me is the Fuel gauge will not read accurately. I called the stealership a week after I bought it and told them what was happening. They pretty much told me nicely that I was full of it since they had just replaced the fuel pump which is one piece with the FSU.

it had no warranty when I bought it. It was a very nice truck and right in our budget.

Have you changed the oil use only Ford filters and if it is cold out run 5w40 will work better + they love Synthetic oil have you changed the fuel filters ford only
2 stroker

[Jeckstine]

put some Chevron Techron Concentrate Fuel System Cleaner in the fuel tank. use enough to match the gallons in your tank. my 04 would stay at 1/4 tank when full and then the gauge would slowly change. that solved it for me.

can't help with the relay testing though.

[223voodoo]

They changed the oil the day I bought the truck. In fact, I had to wait after I signed the paperwork for them to finish. They changed my fuel filters when they were changing the oil.

I will try the Techron stuff. I used the Lucas oil stuff to no avail.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I really want this truck to be my dream. I finally got one that I wanted, now just to make her mine.

[Lilpooh]

Originally Posted by 223voodoo

They changed the oil the day I bought the truck. In fact, I had to wait after I signed the paperwork for them to finish. They changed my fuel filters when they were changing the oil.

I will try the Techron stuff. I used the Lucas oil stuff to no avail.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I really want this truck to be my dream. I finally got one that I wanted, now just to make her mine.

they may have changed the oil with the heavier 15w-40, the 6.0 likes to have the lighter 5w-40 diesel or equivalant light oil when the weather gets cold.

other problems with cold starts could be GP related, like a chafed wire harness. your might want to test your FICM. Have you put it on a good scanner to see if you are throwing any codes?

[m-chan68]

Originally Posted by 223voodoo

One more thing I have found that is irritating me is the Fuel gauge will not read accurately. I called the stealership a week after I bought it and told them what was happening. They pretty much told me nicely that I was full of it since they had just replaced the fuel pump which is one piece with the FSU.

Really? And who told you this, the tech or the service advisor, not that it matters? Because the fuel pump on these trucks is integrated into the HFCM (Horizontal Fuel Conditioning Module) secured to the framerail by three 13mm nuts, NOT integrated with the fuel tank sender like a gasoline powered truck is. That said, you should have an ohms reading test done to verify they are within the specified ranges, and if they are not the tank sender likely needs to be replaced.

[223voodoo]

Originally Posted by m-chan68

Really? And who told you this, the tech or the service advisor, not that it matters? Because the fuel pump on these trucks is integrated into the HFCM (Horizontal Fuel Conditioning Module) secured to the framerail by three 13mm nuts, NOT integrated with the fuel tank sender like a gasoline powered truck is. That said, you should have an ohms reading test done to verify they are within the specified ranges, and if they are not the tank sender likely needs to be replaced.

That's why I am glad i joined, knowledgable people!! It was the manager on duty of the place. He was speaking to the mechanic/specialist supposedly.

To think, i drove 300 miles to get this thing.

Is the test something i can do with a multimeter or is it something I should take in?

[SixStringMadness]

Isn't running thinner oil to make your truck run right just covering up another problem?

It has been my understanding that your condition, No Cold Start, (but plugged in it will) is a result of poor maintanence, and injector failure due to bad oil. I had a 7.3L that the boss man only allowed me to take for oil changes every 10k. OOPS, at 235K miles on the clicker, no cold weather starts unless plugged in for a couple hours. Truck ran awesome when warm, but ran terrible if I had to saw on it for 20 minutes to get her to start, until she warmed up.

[dannanw]

in the case of the 7.3 it was prolly GP related eithe the relay or the GP's them self's, the 6.0 no start cold might be a GPM or FICM, both should have a code in the computer. just my two $

[SixStringMadness]

Originally Posted by dannanw

in the case of the 7.3 it was prolly GP related eithe the relay or the GP's them self's, the 6.0 no start cold might be a GPM or FICM, both should have a code in the computer. just my two $

That's possible, but with no codes, the scenario I laid out is more likely. The injectors or operated by engine oil, and when that oil is not taken good care of, the injectors fail because of it. Both trucks have the smae style injector. It's not until the 6.4 that Ford went common rail.