Hard starting truck! help me

[94black6.5]

my 94 will crank for about 15secs and ill have to pump the throttle a bit to start what seems to be the problem here gentleman/ladies? lol has brand new starter and new injectors...anyone think the ip is to blame?

 

[ak diesel driver]

sounds like either your LP/OPS is toast or your getting air

 

[94black6.5]

how do i test that man im kinda new to these ole 6.5s

 

[WarWagon]

What is your lift pump pressure? Fuel filter condition? new injectors - how many miles and where did you get them. Any dirt in them or bad quality units can stick open and be a pain to start. Glow plug light and what kind of glow plugs, where they changed with the injectors?

Any codes?

 

[94black6.5]

idk how to check the lift pump pressure fuel filter is new injectors have 1000 miles and it was doing this with the old injectors too..new glow plugs and the light comes on as normal...i havent checked the code with a paper clip yet i should...

 

[orrum]

Do all the glows have to be good to start? How many could be bad and still start in cool weather? How hot does a glowplug get?

 

[Crankme69]

One very easy check is to install the clear tubing on the IP return line, easy & cheap to do, that will rule out air getting into the fuel system.

 

[Chief915]

my 94 will crank for about 15secs and ill have to pump the throttle a bit to start what seems to be the problem here gentleman/ladies? lol has brand new starter and new injectors...anyone think the ip is to blame?

How does it run right after it finally starts? Fairly smooth/normal or does it spit and sputter for a few seconds? What does the smoke look like when it finally starts? Is it a lot of smoke, what color is it? Does this starting problem happen every time you try to start the truck or only after sitting overnight/the first time you start it each day?

 

[JiFaire]

Good questions, Chief. Go slow, guys, he said he was new to the 6.5s.

94Black6.5, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go through the Diagnostic Checklist in my signature when you have a moment, just to cover all the bases... if you copy/paste it back here with all the answers filled in, the guys will be able to 'hear' your truck better, and it may save a lot of time asking questions (or better yet, NOT asking questions!)

In answer to some of the questions above,

-- it only takes a few bad glowplugs to really mess up your starting, depending on condition of batteries, starter, and engine. If you have a few bad glows, expect to see a little white/grey smoke on startup, and perhaps things will run rough for a moment until things come up to speed.

-- to test the LP (Lift Pump) you need to check the fuel flow coming fro the brass T-handle under the hood on the driver's side of the engine. Put the hose into a jar and crack it open with the engine running... if fuel comes out, and the engine doesn't stop, all is well. You test LP pressure by pulling the drain hose off and plumbing in a gauge in its place... you should have no less than 2-4 psi with the engine at idle; less will starve the Injection pump.

-- putting a clear hose into the fuel return line JUST after the IP will let you see if there are any bubbles in the fuel with the engine running. If you have air leaks in the system, the fuel will drain after the engine is shut off and you'll see that.

These guys know tons of stuff about your truck, 94bBlack6.5 ... stick with them, try to answer their questions, and they'll help you get the old girl running well!

 

[94black6.5]

Demographics: tell us about your truck and your ambient conditions:

- Year: __1994____
- Truck model and class (ie: c2500) _____k3500____
- Automatic or Standard ____manual______
- Mileage: (indicate miles or km) ____199kmiles_____
- Replaced parts and mods (IP, PMD, chip/PCM, TM, injectors etc) _____relocated pmd injectors glow plugs new batterys______
- Model: ‘S’ or ‘F’ engine, NA or Turbo, EGR? _______f turbo_______
- Ambient outside temp: (indicate *C or *F) __________
- What fuel are you using? (#1 Diesel, #2 Diesel, Bio, VO, WVO, etc) ___#2______
- What fuel additives are you using? _____diesel doctor or some shit lol______
- Where are you located? ______Illinois_______

General maintenance: inspect and evaluate the condition of each. When were they last changed?
- Air filter ____2weeks_____
- Fuel filter ____3weeks_____
- CDR Valve? ____not since i have had it _____
- Coolant – last flushed/replaced at _____1week________
- Oil – synthetic/regular, changed at _____3,000miles______
- Batteries – state of charge, (matched set) replaced at _____1month________
- Battery cables and grounds (removed, cleaned and tightened): _______5days_______
- Glow Plugs - how many miles on them? ____1,000_____ What type? ______bosch_______
- Injectors - last changed at _______1,000 miles ago________


History: (Describe how the problem first appeared.)
- What were you doing when it happened? ______has been doing it since i have had it________
- How was the truck running fine before this problem appeared? _____________
- Has this problem ever happened before? _______________________
- Describe any related factors that might be part of the problem. ______________
- Have you checked for DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)? (Y.N) __n__ And? ________


Diagnostics:

1] Starting:
1a] Does the engine start? ____y_____
1b] Does the engine crank over? ____y____
1c] Are your batteries fully charged? ____y_____
1d] Have you removed, cleaned, and tightened all battery connections? ____y____
1e] Does your Wait to Start light come on for a time? How long? ___y 10sec______
1f] Does your glow plug light come on? ____y_____ For how long? ____15-20_____
1g] Do you see smoke from the exhaust while cranking? What color? ____n____
1h] Does the Service Engine Light Glow during Start/bulb check? ___y_____

2] Fuel Issues (if not running):
2a] Can you hear your lift pump working? ____________
2b] Do you get a steady flow of fuel from the water drain (T-handle) ? _________
2c] Loosen the inlet line from the IP – is fuel coming out (Lift Pump on)? ___________
2d] Loosen an injector line and crank the engine - does fuel come out? _________
2e] Do you hear a vacuum (hiss) when you remove the fuel cap? ___________

3] PMD / IP Issues
3a] Location of PMD (on pump, on intake, remote mounted) _____firewall______
3b] Condition of Extension harness (if used) Vendor or Homemade? ___vendor______
3c] Condition of grounds / ground wires to IP / PMD. Check Harness. _____good____
3d] PMD Make: ______stanadyne_____
3e] PMD Age: ______6month_______

4] Stalling Issues
4a] Do you experience stalling only when hot? ______n______
4b] Does it stall under particular circumstances? (ie hit bump, or on accel) ___n___
4c] Does pouring cool water over the IP seem to help with restarting? _________
4d] Is stalling momentary (engine recovers)? _________
4e] Does SES light come on when engine hiccups? _________
4f] Does cruise control quit working when engine hiccups? ___________
4g] Does re-starting seem to reset engine, restoring cruise and power? _________
4h] Changes to dash lights or instruments during stalling events? ___________

5] Running Issues
5a] On cold start, does upper rad hose get hard before engine warms up? ___n____
5b] Any bubbles or oil film in coolant overflow tank? ___n____
5c] Any white slime on oil surfaces (dipstick, CDR, oil Fill cap)? ____n______
5d] Excessive white smoke from exhaust on cold start? ____n_____
5e] Excessive black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration? ____ehh kinda but only under hard acceleration and doesnt last______

6] Performance Issues
6a] Do you have gauges (boost, EGT) ? _____y______
6b] Maximum boost under load? ______12-15______
6c] Have you added a performance PCM (reflash) or Chip? _______not yet_______
6d] Have you changed exhaust / downpipe / crossover? ________all________
6e] Wastegate – mechanical or vacuum (OEM)? _______vac_______

7] Temperature-related Issues:
7a] Single or dual thermostats? ______idk..______
7b] Have you replaced them lately? Manufacturer of replacements? ____n_____
7c] Have you pulled and cleaned Radiator and coolers lately? _____y_______
7d] Have you replaced the fan clutch? Manufacturer of replacement? ____n____
7e] (winter) Have you tested your antifreeze? Good to what temp? ____n______
7f] (winter) Are you using a winter grille cover? _____not yet______

List and describe any other factors which are not addressed in this checklist. We can’t see, hear, smell, or touch your truck, so the more descriptive information you can give, the more likely it is that somebody can assist you.

_________________________________

 

[94black6.5]

it sounds like it has a mild cam for about 20sec grey smoke not a ton and it happens worse when its cold but still needs cranked awhile when warm

 

[94black6.5]

and mine has the 4.10 gears i have been wondering if i should maybe tone it down to 3.73 and she would "wake up" a bit?

 

[ak diesel driver]

did'nt see any fuel LP/OPS tests in ther

 

[Michaeljp86]

One of my trucks does the same but it has glow plug problems. Once I also had a leaky return line on a injector that I think would let air in.

 

[Danish Farmer]

Could sound like the problems I just almost gotten rid of. Like many adviced me here, the problem was air in the fuel. A clear hose between the FFM and IP showed me that diesel dissapeared during night, and made her need a long cranking. Plus a little lack of pep during acceleration

Can`t exactly tell where the leak were, because i replaced a lot. But look for rusty piping, and leaks arround hose clamps on the FFM and the fuel supply lines.

 

[Burning oil]

Try shuting if off right after it starts and clears up then will it start right back up? If yes I bet its air getting in. Or GPs

 

[94black6.5]

thanks everyone this coming weekend im gunna get under the hood and check it out i will get back with ya'll

 

[Chief915]

My bet goes on the glow plug system......

You can check them with a multimeter...... check the resistance (ohms) from the terminal on the glow plug to a good ground.

 

[orrum]

Chief915 do u unhook the plug from the glow before testing and what ohn should u get for bad or good? Thanks

 

[Crankme69]

thanks everyone this coming weekend im gunna get under the hood and check it out i will get back with ya'll

Not sure if yr anywhere near Joliet but if ya are I might be able to help, I have GMTDScan on my laptop so we could read the codes & check the timing.