Impossible to start at 30 degrees

[FoolhardyIDI]

So It got down to 30 degrees last night. 40 degrees when I tried to start the truck. Went to start the truck and it just cranked and cranked. Pluged in the block heater for an hour. The truck fired right up. Two new 78AMG ACDelco Batteries beginning of this month. With new battery cables. Put new glow plugs in, back at the start of summer when I did the IP and injectors. What am I not seeing that I should be. Glow plug controller maybe? Glow plug harness?

 

[cpdenton]

How long does the wait to start light stay on?

Should be 8 seconds or so. I will ask too, what brand glow plugs?

 

[FoolhardyIDI]

Stays on for 10 seconds or so. I used Beru ZD-9 glow plugs.

 

[dunk]

Does it turn over fast or slow? Mine had trouble last winter when temps approached zero. I got one shot at it in the AM and if it didn't fire that was it, batteries didn't have the juice to do another glow cycle and crank it over fast enough. It cranked slow at those temps though. New group 31s and cables too and it spins real fast this winter. So... You have new batteries but how are your cables? If it's turning over too slow it could be cables or connections. Just a guess.

Are you certain glow plugs are getting power the full 8 seconds or so? Maybe jump the glow plug solenoid for 7-10 seconds and see if it starts. That'll tell you if it's the glow plug controller doing a short cycle.

 

[chris142]

My GP connectors get dirty at the GP's.About every 3 months or so it will short cycle the controler. Open the hood and pull,twist all 8 connectors and its fixed for another 3 months.

 

[FoolhardyIDI]

So I found the connector at the passenger side fender melted. I am guessing this is where my problem is at. I will pull the wires out of the connector and wire them up out side of the connector.

 

[chris142]

Ya that's a good place to start.I did mine.

 

[FoolhardyIDI]

So here it is after I did connectors to the 10g wires. Tomorrow morning I will try to start it with the new connections and see if it solves my problem.

 

[Rot Box]

Yep, that melted plug is a common issue on the IDI's. Looks like you took care of it

 

[FoolhardyIDI]

After doing the fix to the wiring still was not getting power to the glow plugs. In talking to 79jasper I ground out the relay and got nothing. So I picked up a new controller installed it and BANG we have power to the glow plugs. Im very happy to have a working glow plug system. Engien fires right up in 30 degrees now.

 

[icanfixall]

Yes the main engine wire harness plug will melt when corrosion gets in there. Sad idea of an engineering mess. I found mine melted too one morning start. So I went to an auto sound shop. Bought some speaker cable that was 6 gauge. Got the lugs and made my own feed to the controller. I have power to the controller now with no problems. A bit of caution working around this feed wire. Its powered up all the time with full 2000 amps ready to ground and burn up. So is the alternator heavy charge cable as is the starter hot all the time.