Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Cold Kills Truck, Even with block heater connected!?

[GROBBINS]

Temperatures outside between 10 degrees and 0. I pulled the truck out of a heated garage in the morning and had it outside at a jobsite all day into the evening. I tried to start it to get it warming and it would just crank and no fire at all. I then ran an extension cord to the block heater to let it warm for a 30-45 min. which had always worked in the past. No go! I then kept working for another couple hours thinking the bitter cold & wind was the factor and it needed more time considering the circumstances. Still not even a pop. I drained my batteries down pretty good trying, so I had to call for a ride home. Put on a battery charger and kept it plugged in before I left. I went back the next morning to try again and more of the same. I had to have it flat bedded........for the first time ever! Yes, sad day for me. Anyway, I got it back home into a heated garage, and after a couple hours and it fired right up.
I let it sit in the warm garage over night, started right up, pulled it out and let it warm up, then turned it off just outside the garage. I let it sit outside for a couple hours in the cold, but kept it plugged it in. I tried to start it again after it was sitting out in the cold.....not even a single pop. So I am going to the wealth of knowledge in this forum. Any ideas?

 

[DavidC]

Grid Heaters working, Fuel heater ?.

Dave

 

[HLEschenko]

Is the fuel filter clean of gunk(dirt or sediment) and parrafin from gelled fuel? Is the pre screen fuel strainer clean? Do rubber fuel lines from tank have cracks in them?

I'd pull the engine fan off in coldest months, it helps to bring up that engine heat. Do not idle for long periods when not watching the temp gage. It will get hot.

When I worked oil fields in ND, the truck was fueled with Nbr 1, with fuel conditioner (Howe's only), and plugged in for 6 hours min before starting. And I kept a new fuel filter in truck, just in case. So many things with these trucks. Good luck!

 

[GROBBINS]

The fuel filter is clear, I'm not sure where the "pre screen fuel strainer is? Fuel lines & sending unit were replaced a few years back.

 

[DonFitzwater]

You probably have a bad grid heater. Check it out.

 

[Doubleclutch]

What is the battery condition? If you kill them once, they don't usually forgive and forget, especially in very cold weather.

 

[fest3er]

Since it was mentioned only in passing: fuel gelling. Even though your fuel up there should be well treated already, when it starts getting that cold, added anti-gel is usually a good idea.

 

[GROBBINS]

Batteries are newer, they always do a good job cranking. I will have to look into locating and checking the grid heater.

 

[The patriot]

"no firing at all, not even a pop"
I'm kind of confused.
Was it cranking and not firing?
Not cranking at all?

 

[GROBBINS]

It turns over great, almost faster than normal. But will not even try to start like in has in the past. Normally when it gets colder out (10 degrees and below) I can mash the pedal to the floor and after a few cranks it will pop, sputter, and smoke until it slowly warms. It would always fire up if it was plugged in no matter how cold it is outside.

 

[The patriot]

OK. Do you see the heaters go on (volt meter drop) ?
If so, I'd look at the fuel as mentioned above.
My truck has been a PITA since bumping the timing up in the cold.
Mine dont want to crank....

 

[Crowhurst]

Batteries are newer, they always do a good job cranking. I will have to look into locating and checking the grid heater.

The grid heater is on the inlet manifold, the driver's side of the engine, where two heavy duty cables run from the driver's side battery. You will see the connections on top of the manifold screened with rubber caps. You could check for at least 12 volts between those terminals when you get the "wait to start " light on the dash. Then disconnect the batteries and the connections on the grid heater and check with a meter to see if the grid heater has an infinite resistance between the two terminals, that is, the heater element is broken. That's what I would do.
Nick.

 

[GROBBINS]

If I understand this correctly regarding the grid heater, it's purpose is to warm the intake air to temperature for combustion.
If the grid heater is inoperable, would that cause the engine to not fire AT ALL in cold temperatures?

 

[DavidC]

Not sure with 12 Valvers, my 99 has Grid and Fuel heaters and started every day at -20 without fail and not plugged in. The parking lot would turn into a cloud of white. If you have both I would make sure they work. I also use Power Service religiously then and now. At -20 I would cycle the heaters three times before the actual start.

Dave

 

[GAmes]

If the grid heater is inoperable, would that cause the engine to not fire AT ALL in cold temperatures?

No, it will still start, but not smoothly. The fact that it started easily after sitting in a heated garage overnight points to gelled fuel. Get an anti-gel additive, dump in the required amount for 35 gallons at the station and fill it up. The action of filling it will mix the additive with the old fuel, and driving home will clear the lines of old fuel.

 

[MMeier]

X2 what Mr.Ames said !

 

[DonFitzwater]

It may or may not start without the intake heater. Ther are some variables at play. First things first, check the heater.

Have you manually primed the low pressure fuel system?

 

[GaryOwen]

Check the fuel shutoff solenoid to make sure it is opening. If it isn't opening, try tying it in the up position and see if it will start.

 

[Tractorat]

Ive never had a problem with the truck not starting. And it doesnt get that cold here. But a couple of years ago I realized that even though it was plugged in, there was no current flow to the plug. Truck didnt start quite as well, and wasnt warm like it should be after being plugged in all night. Turned out that the plug was just really dirty. I cleaned it very well with wd40 and cleaned it off really well with a wire brush. Works great now.

 

[PToombs]

Everything the others suggested are good ideas. GaryO may be on to something. Here's something else to check. When you try to start it in the cold, after a brief crank, see if the shut off solenoid is up in the "run" position. Since it does absolutely nothing after sitting in the cold, I suspect that. In my experience, even after sitting outside your garage for a few hours it should start briefly even if the fuel gelled up, and yours does nothing.
Good luck!