Another Hard Start ?

[scottiebe]

hey guys, well as you can tell i am new to PSD! This is my first one.
I have a 99 (not sure if its an early one or not) 4x4 extended cab, auto trans, and the muffler has been removed. I have 180k on it. Now a few weeks ago once overnight temps got below 45-50 degrees i have had a hard time starting. I will turn key on and "wait" then start it, however it will just crank. after about 10 sec of cranking i turn the key off, wait about 10 sec then turn key back on and same thing. After the 2nd time i start to notice white smoke comming out of the tail pipe. by the time i get to the 4th "cycle" of trying to start it will finaly fire. Once it starts it smokes (mostly white, with a slight tint of blue) quite a bit then after about a min of run time the smoke stops. Now, I have tried somthing, and i hope someone can shed a little light on this. I parked in the driveway so i could plug in. I went out the next morn it was about 38 degrees or so (below 40), the truck started right up, no smoke what so ever, and my temp gauge was already up. Now i understand that this is because it was pluged in, my ? is, could there be a prob some where? It dosent seem right to have to plug in below 50, I can see 20 degrees or so. Or is this just due to me not knowing much about PSD?
sorry for such a long post, but i wanted to make sure i was giving as much detail as pos. thanks for any help/input.
scott

[scottiebe]

oh yeah, one more thing, is it ok to keep truck pluged in longer than just overnight. mine has been pluged in since fri afternoon. I havent started the truck since. Can this be an issue?

[Dave]

This is a link to a thread with the glow plug relay location
Glow Plug / AIH Relay locations

Take a test light and check across both large sides for positive battery voltage. One side will only turn on after the key has been turned to the run position.

If you have a voltmeter do the same and check the voltage on the side that only comes on with the key on. If it reads less than 11 volts replace the relay

[alby9108]

let me know what ya find out, i got the same exact problem, replaced the glow plug solenoid even though it check out fine with a multimeter and now it starts easier. mine misses though when it starts till i take it down the highway and hit 3 grand then it clears out. thinkin i got bad injector o rings or gettin air in the hpop check valve after it sits overnight.

[alby9108]

mines also a 99 but a crew cab dually automatic, not sure what build month.

[scottiebe]

hey thanks for the info, i will check the relay out tomorrow!