very weird cold start this morning

[pizza pig]

It was 3 degrees last night, and about 8 degrees when i started up my truck this morning. Truck was NOT plugged in, and I cycled the plugs for 40 seconds each time 5 times. I cranked it, it cranked for 2-3 seconds like normal fires up, idles at 900 drops to 700 for a second and cuts out. It did this twice and then it was perfectly fine. I have never had any issues before, does this sound like an FICM thing? I have the VXCF7 FICM flash right now with a VXCF4 Looney wild tune loaded right now.

Any insight here? Keep in mind where i live at school my apt complex has no out door outles, i've been starting unplugged all winter even at -9 degreed F and no issues whatsoever

Thinking it could be the FICM starting to go on the fritz, or maybe the stc fitting leaking? Oil pressure reading at 80psi at idle on a cold start and fuel pressure dead on a 59 psi at start up.

[ford diesel]

sounds like glow plugs are going out.

[pizza pig]

Thanks to my new friend Rick, ran the truck on AE and came through passed all tests with flying colors.... maybe just bad fuel or a fluke

Glowplugs - within spec
FICM - within spec
Injectors - within spec
IPR and ICP - within spec

If anything else happens ill keep you posted

[howell_jd]

You don't really need to "cycle" the glowplugs. They remain on for 120 seconds at key-on. The glowplug lamp is an indicator for you to allow them to properly warm up and not an indicator that they have shut off. By cycling them repetitively you are increasing the amperage draw (which is significant) on the batteries. Cold weather is very demanding on batteries of course. Rather than cycle them, just wait for a bit longer after the "wait" light goes out (it's a "wait" light on the HMMWV). You could have some fuel gelling causing the cut out after start up. Check your fuel filters for their condition. Make sure you are using a diesel fuel additive in the cold weather such as Motorcraft Cetane Booster and Performance Enhancer in the blue bottle or the white Power Service bottle. If you do have gelled fuel, then add some Diesel 911 or similar product.

Save the batteries!

Jonathan

[Dave]

Dont cycle the glow plugs. thats what causes your issue.

Get in. wait for the light to go off ONE TIME and crank it

[PGreenSVT]

Your VXCF7 is a FICM killer. I would check it just because. Then I'd get it flashed with a PHP FICM tune to get the VXCF7 off of it as soon as possible. It might not be a bad idea to send it off to Swamps and get it rebuilt and flashed.

[ThirdCoastStroker]

8 degrees?!?!?
thats friggin cold...coldest start ive had this year was 24 degrees...and thats the coldest its been down here in 20+ years

[TDHoffman]

Not to sound like an idiot or anything but what is sct fitting? I'm new to this forum and diesels thanks

[Dave]

Originally Posted by THE SILVER BULLET

8 degrees?!?!?
thats friggin cold...coldest start ive had this year was 24 degrees...and thats the coldest its been down here in 20+ years

Puzzy

Try -20 yesterday Started great not plugged in

[TDHoffman]

sorry stc fitting