-0 no start issue, opinions

[retirednak]

Fellas, my daughter drove my truck to work yesterday & the high temp was -11 below 0. After her shift around midnight she tried starting the truck & by then it was close to -15 below 0 & it wouldn't fire off. Before hand I told her to cycle the key at least 3 times before engaging the starter, which she did & being raised here in AK she has watched me start this '03 many times. The engine is turning over, just won't fire. It was at the dealership a few months ago & I wanted them to hook up their scan tool to make sure I had all the updates & had them check the injectors as well. Passed with flying colors. I have around 118K miles & use Power Service (white bottle) every tank for our crappy winter fuel. Sometimes it takes a tad longer cranking before firing off if parked outside & temps are getting close to 0 & I get a code for the crank sensor, its been quite a while since I've seen the code or I would have replaced it. I can see the grid heater drawing power by the amp gauge by it moving.
My truck runs great, still getting 15 mpg-16 mpg (winter) doesn't smoke & haven't noticed any symptoms leading to this stranding. Its never failed to start if it was driven once & had a chance to get up to operating temp.
Could I get some opinions/help as where to go? I do have access to a Snap On scan tool.
Thank you

 

[DonFitzwater]

Plug it in! Is the whole intake heater turning on or only half? Have you checked that?

 

[retirednak]

The truck is still at her job site & I haven't had a chance to go & look at it. It would be nice if her employer provided plug in's, that's not the case. I guess if it still won't fire off there is always AAA to get it home. Its warmed up to 0 today so it should start if she didn't run the batteries down too much. Is there a quick way to tell if the whole grid heater is working? I loaned my FSM out & he is on vacation in the lower 48.

 

[DonFitzwater]

You can test it with an ammeter..................-15 it should have cracked off. I would bet the grid heater or maybe one battery isn't up to snuff. Do you have a portable generator?

 

[retirednak]

No portable gen set, just my main back up for the house. My batteries are less then a year old & I load tested them prior to the start of winter. All though this is the first bit of winter we've had. I may be jumping the gun here, she is paranoid about doing something wrong to daddy's truck or car & may not have twisted long enough on the key. She is use to how the truck starts parked in the garage. It won't be till fairly late before I'm able to get a ride to my truck & hope all goes well.

 

[AH64ID]

I am not sure the gains you get by cycling the grid heater 3 times are worth the amps it drains from the batteries.

I have never had to cycle more than once, the ECM varies the grid heat time based on ambient temp.

If the job site isn't too far from her home the batteries probably didn't get a full recharge on the way their, how far is it?

 

[JR]

I am not sure the gains you get by cycling the grid heater 3 times are worth the amps it drains from the batteries.

I have never had to cycle more than once, the ECM varies the grid heat time based on ambient temp.

If the job site isn't too far from her home the batteries probably didn't get a full recharge on the way their, how far is it?

X2. Cycling the grids that many times and allowing them to complete the full cycle each time in that cold of weather is hurting more than it is helping.

 

[Prairie Dog]

My first thought is that after forcing the grids to cycle 3 times your batteries were low.

 

[mwilson]

Another thing that can cause the slower than normal cranking speed is a failing A/C clutch.

It has happened to me twice, once years ago on my old '94 and then it happened to me yesterday trying to start the '97 in the middle of the blizzard (of all times). Had to boost it out here at 11 degrees. Got it started and heard the noise, smelled the steel. Woo Hoo....
Everything for a parts store was closed up tight so I pointed it for home. Got 65 more miles out of it and made it to the house. Just ordered a by-pass belt for it and will install it tonight when I get home.

That can cut the cranking speed down just enough so they will not start when you need all the cranking system has to give.

I HATE SNOW......

 

[retirednak]

Turns out a grid heater is bad & next trip to Anchorage will pick it up at the Cummins dealer. There is no doubt its been bad since last winter when I had a no start issue & chalked it up to tired batteries. We haven't had any winter weather below 15 degrees & my truck has started fine. Thanks for all the suggestions & help.

 

[DonFitzwater]

At least you know!

 

[AH64ID]

Glad you got it figured out.

I would still recommend trying to avoid 3x on the grids. The 190A the grid heater draws is quickly draining the batteries, in addition to the 300w (25A) fuel heater that operates with the key in ACC or ON.