Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Hard start cold, rough running

[WalterRyan]

Last knight it dropped into the 20's at my house. Today I went out to start the truck and let the WTS light go out like always. It cranked over 3 or 4 times as long as normal before starting. Once started it was missing real bad, smoked a lot (white) and would barely rev. After a minute it cleared up and seems fine.



This truck normally fires almost instantly even in cold weather. In fact it has started at 6 degrees without plugging it in although it was not happy about that one.



I remember this happening a couple times last winter but not near this bad. Then I used a multimeter and confirmed that I was getting power to both relays and to the grid heater terminals. The heater bodies also felt warm to the touch.

I have not had a chance to check anything yet this time. What could be wrong? If only one of the heaters was getting hot would it do this? How hot should they actually get? I have an infra red thermometer if somebody knows how hot the housing should be.



I did just check the codes and found a P122 but that was not there last time I checked and there where no codes last winter either.



Thanks

Walt

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

the P0122 is - APPS Signal Voltage



you might try cycling the WTS twice. I know if I try to crank mine before the WTS light goes out it will only fire a few cylinders and smoke horribly until I either shut it off and try again or let it chug it out.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I would be using the block heater at those temps.

Why put the extra stress on the engine and starting circuitry plus starter motor??

 

[JMetzger]

John-K5AWO, I agree with you. I always plug my 02 in when the weather is going below 25 degrees what with 12 year old battery's & being easier on starter & engine.

 

[WalterRyan]

Well here is the end of this story. It might help someone else.



Less than a week after I posted this after leaving work my "check gages" came on. I did some investigating and found out the alternator was not charging. I put a rebuilt on and it immediately seemed better. Unfortunately that lasted less than a week. Since it started getting cold in the last week and a half I decided to solve this. After thoroughly checking everything I found that the system was working perfectly including power and ground to the heaters but the body was not even warm to the touch. Had to be the heaters themselves. So I called Cummins Northwest and they had it and the gaskets in stock, $93 for the heater and about $4 apiece for the gaskets. Went out to Portland Monday and picked it up. Tuesday morning it was less than 30 out so I put the new one in and the truck fires instantly now. It will also rev freely right after starting and the headlights dim as the heaters cycle at idle.



I guess they have been going out for some time and I suspect I have been running on one element for at least a year. I had hoped to get a little more help than just a you should be plugging it in. Sometimes it is not possible. On the next cold morning I will hit it with the infrared thermometer and post how warm the housing gets so it may help someone else.



I am glad it is working again. Now it is off to Source Automotive for a base dyno run so I can install my new to me mach 1. 6s. I can hardly wait.