Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Cold Morning Start

[hackengineering]

Good morning all, i just was hopeing to get a little advise on my 2000 Cummins. I live in a fairly harsh climate here in a rockies and i am frequently in the high country skiing. It is pretty easy to get into nights that can get as cold as -30. When i got back to my truck yesterday after staying this night it would not start. It was about 15 degrees at that time and it seems to only want to fire on a couple of the cylinders. My question is how do i know if the fuel heater is working. From what i know there is a heater that pre heats the air and one that pre heats the fuel. I know for a fact the air worked because the intake was very warm but i had to break hot hand packs and put them on the injector lines to get the truck to start. Is there any way to test if the fuel heater is working.

And i know this could just be some bad fuel as i had just filled up that day and did not add any winterizer. But i want to see what else i should be checking.

Thanks

CH

 

[FLynes]

CH,



I remember reading that we have a cold weather feature on our trucks that can be activated at the dealer. At a certain temp (30* I think) the truck high idles (1200RPM?). At another temp (15* I think) the truck only runs on three cylinders, in order to warm the truck up quicker.



Might this be your problem which, if it is, isn't?

 

[hackengineering]

You know i have never heard of that. I know in the past that some vehicles are released from the factory with settings based on there location of sales and there climate. I have started this pickup in much colder weather before with out being plugged in and had no issues.

Do you know if a code would turn up or the check engine light would come on if one of the heating elements was not working.

CH

 

[jeepit]

I don't run a fuel heater and have had no problem down to -10. It just starts instantly for me. If you are running winter fuel you should be ok. O/W add some Stanadyne or an anti gel fuel treatment.

Sounds like after it started you were experiencing the 3 cyl warmup. :-laf How did it sound?

 

[FLynes]

... Do you know if a code would turn up or the check engine light would come on if one of the heating elements was not working.

CH

I imagine it would... it seems that there are a ton of codes for everything else.

 

[hackengineering]

I don't run a fuel heater and have had no problem down to -10. It just starts instantly for me. If you are running winter fuel you should be ok. O/W add some Stanadyne or an anti gel fuel treatment.

Sounds like after it started you were experiencing the 3 cyl warmup. :-laf How did it sound?

Sounded like a power choke on roids:-laf. I am going to chalk it up to bad fuel, its hard around here to get decent diesel with all the dang hippies wanting the wonderfull "jello" bio and fuel stations shipping there fuel to here in southwest colorado from New Mexico (makes sence cuss i think cold weather i think new mexico) when most of us work above 10,000 feet and fuel up at 6600.

One last thing i was wondering does anyone turn off there chip when they are trying to start. Just thinking out loud, but on a gasser the timing is sometimes retarted a bit to compinsate for the inefficency of the fuel to burn at lower temp. From what i know the Edge Juice chip i have does change the timeing and maybe i had it turned on and it was effecting my abbility to start?????



Thanks

 

[bnbrown]

Coldest we got up here was around -10, and the truck wasnt too happy starting at that temp, took two cycles of the grid heaters and a few seconds of cranking. There is a fuel heater at the filter, so it really isnt helping get started I dont imagine. I run the bio blend (B20) and havent had any problems with gelling, although the truck seems to start easier on straight dino diesel on those cold mornings. There is the cold idle/start option as stated above, you would notice this, after a few seconds at temps below 30* it would kick up to 1200 rpm if there is no input on the throttle.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Did I read somewhere on here that a few of the programmers have the option to program the high idle option? I know hypertech doesn't and I doubt I want to pay the dealer to do it. I am not in the market right now for another programmer but I might be in a few months...

 

[bnbrown]

I tried to get it enable on my '99 at the dealer, but they couldnt find it... claimed my accessory wiring probably was the cause
If you have access to a Smarty though and load a catcher software, then take it back to stock it will load the current stock software and has high idle enabled.

 

[hackengineering]

Do you think this higher idle setting was stock or some option that set up on trucks in colder settings. I start mine every morning well under 30* and i can't say that is revs or idles above 1000 while warming.



So has anyone tried say setting the engine back to stock on a cold morning thinking that might help starting. (BnBrown) Yea i have to stay away from that BIO around here, i get 4mpg less and i have actually seen it gell in the filter. It will be a good deal when they are not afraid to get some kerosene in there to keep it winterized.

 

[bnbrown]

My understanding is that no (or next to none) trucks came factory enabled for this. It is a TSB for hard starting in cold if I remember right... ah found it.
it is TSB 18-019-01:
Cold idle engine warming.
This bulletin involves selectively erasing and reprogramming the Engine Control Module with new software. This bulletin applies to all Ram trucks built after December 17, 1997 equipped with the 24-valve 5. 9L Cummins diesel engine.

Extended idle operation, especially in cold weather, can allow varnishes/oils to condense on the exhaust valve stems, leading to stuck valves, and damaged valve train components. The repair procedure involves calibration software that will activate when certain parameters are met, reducing the chance of valve sticking as well as improving cab heat warm-up time. Idle speed will slowly ramp up from 800 rpm to 1200 rpm when all of the following conditions are met:
* Intake Manifold Temperature less than 60°C (32°F)
* Coolant Temp is less than 60°C (140°F)
* The transmission is in Neutral or Park
* The Service Brake pedal is not depressed
* Throttle = 0%
* Vehicle Speed = 0 mph

If intake manifold temperature (IMT) is less than -9°C (15°F), three of the cylinders will be shut off upon reaching 1200 rpm, creating a slight change in engine sound which is normal. Thus the engine has to work to overcome the three “dead” cylinders. This allows the engine to create increased heat in the cooling system, allowing more rapid warm up.

Either feature will abort when any one of the following occurs:
* The automatic transmission is placed in gear (forward or reverse)
* The service brake pedal is depressed
* Throttle position is greater than 0%
* Vehicle speed greater than 0 mph
* Coolant temperature is greater than 79°C (175°F)

 

[FLynes]

That's the TSB I was thinking of.

 

[KnightR]

What ever happened to the days when you pulled the choke out, beat the hell out of the gas pedal and it started right up. Have older diesel tractors, trucks and even gas on my farm. If the batterys good they start. My Dodge cummins well lets say I always have a backup.

 

[FLynes]

Welcome to the Age of Computers and the downfall of Human Civilization as we know it... .

 

[hackengineering]

Yeah it deffinently seems like i have to treat my truck like my ol lady, anytime you want something from her she aint givin it to ya with out some encouragement, and no matter what she is always cold and *****in.

 

[aircop]

This high idle stuff is fine for warming the truck up. But don't do a dam thing for getting it to start in cold weather.

 

[bnbrown]

That is a fact...
I did a little test, was running regular diesel in my '99 for the last few weeks, and tossed a tank of B20 in it... it made a big difference, she didnt want to start up even when it was 20* and stuttered along for a good 10 seconds or more after it did start. on the other hand with dino-diesel it fired right up down around 10* with no hesitation.