Hard start unless block heater is plugged in

[christafer]

My wife just got a 01 from work as her new vet truck. It has a large vet pack in the bed that requires being plugged in over night or the battery's will die. They have died and the truck has been jumped several times from the previous vet that was using it. When she first got it about 2 weeks ago she did not plug in the block heater. The over night temp was in the 40's and the dodge she had did not need to be plugged in at that temp. When she tried to start it smoke came from the back fire wall/ turbo area and was a crank no start. It did this about 3 times then I sprayed some wd40 in the intake and fired right up no problem and no smoke. So thats the long story my question is am I looking at injectors or the ficm first. I am an ase master tech but not much experience in diesels and none with the power stroke. Today temp was in the high 50's the truck sat all day and was hard start again it will start fine if the block heater is plugged in.

[probuilder]

Glow plugs or Glow plug relay problem would be my first thing to check out.
Here are a couple links to check out, that give directions on how to do this.
Winter Operation, Hard Starting, Hissing Sound Etc...

Welcome to guzzle's Stancor GPR replacement Mod Web Page The Guzzle Site has a lot of good info for the 7.3L Diesel truck.

Check these items out then report back on your findings, we will help as much as possible.

[EArmsF350]

Get a flashlight and look behind the turbo at the exhaust y-pipe gaskets. If it is black the exhaust donuts are most likely gone. That may be your smoke from under the hood. Get your batteries out and test them each by themselves. These PSD have to have maximium volts to start and run properly. Also get your alternator checked. These tend to go out quite often leading to low voltage and bad starts and operation of the PSD. If your GPR is bad the truck will not cold start very well if at all. If your GPR is OK check both valve cover wire harnesses. Pull the wire harness plug from both VC and look at the pins to see if there is any darkened or burnt. These tend to get too hot and smoke the wire harnesses. The injector and GP wire harnesses are built in to the VCG. Check these issues out and shoot me a PM to update on your findings. I've been through all of this myself and will gladly help you along. BTY what does your wife specialize in, large animals. I run a cow herd of about 130 mama cows in NE, Kansas.