hard start

[danclow]

there was a cold snap here and when tried to start the truck the batteries were dead, once charged I tried to start the truck and it was very sluggish with black exhaust, it would not start until I plugged it in, the glow plug light comes on and the controller is hot to the touch, could it be that the batteries dying could have done something to the controller.

[Lilpooh]

How old are the batteries?

[danclow]

I don't know, I bought the truck last summer, I put a trickle charger on them and it turns with no problems right now it is just the starting that is sluggish.

[Lilpooh]

If you don't know how old they are, do yourself a favor and get new ones. Weak batteries can damage the alternator, FICM, and injectors. This could lead to very costly repairs. Alway replace batteries in sets, never just one battery.

[danclow]

they are holding a charge, I charged them to 13 volts ant they crank the truck with no problem now, do you have any thoughts on my hard starting problems, do you think it might be the controller

[Lilpooh]

Originally Posted by danclow

they are holding a charge, I charged them to 13 volts ant they crank the truck with no problem now, do you have any thoughts on my hard starting problems, do you think it might be the controller

When you tested the batteries, did you unhook at least one so you can test them independently? If the are hooked up together in the truck you will get a false reading because the good battery will show the higher reading when still hooked up in the truck. The batteries run in parallel with each other.

[mustangman02232]

i really dont care what my batteries test as, i put 2 new interstates in every 3 years or so, for $230 its cheaper then a ficm, alternator or starter, and worth it not not ask the guy with the dodge across the street for a jump

[bismic]

Originally Posted by danclow

they are holding a charge, I charged them to 13 volts ant they crank the truck with no problem now, do you have any thoughts on my hard starting problems, do you think it might be the controller

The recommendation to do a proper battery test is the best advice you can get at the point you are at. Voltage tests mean nothing unless it is under a proper load.

You have a Dc-DC converter board in an onboard processor that steps up voltage from 12V to 48V. This 48V system opens spool valves in your injectors. The processor is called a FICM - Fuel Injection Control Module. It is very sensitive to proper voltage on start-up.

Low voltage can fry it and it is not cheap.

[danclow]

ok I will try changing the batteries first, either one of the batteries is bad and providing enough amperage to run the glow plugs or the controller is bad and not turning on the plugs, I checked to codes last night and there are no glow plug codes showing. with one battery bad can you have enough in your system to crank the engine but not run your glow plugs

[danclow]

I put new batteries in and still does not want to start, I think it might be the glow plug control module, I tested to see if it has got 12 volts going in and it does, an anyoune tell me where the glow plugs are inserted so that I can pull the connector off and test to see if there is voltage at the glow plutg itself