Help! DMax Question

[DaveHess]

I have a mis-guided friend with a Duramax who is having a starting issue. The initial turn of the key lights the glo-plug light, all gauges take a swing to the left. The glo light remains on for about 30 seconds. The truck turns over, seems to light then continues cranking. This process goes on for a while of him repeating the process and eventually the gauges swing to the right and she fires. Lots of white smoke while cranking and after initial light. He has replaced the glo-plug controller (BTW, I have no idea if this has glo-plugs so please interpret this to be whatever the Duramax uses) The truck is a 2005. I suspect a ground somewhere but you guys are way smarter at this stuff than I am. The temp here lately has been single digit to below zero single digit.

 

[WMonroe]

The glow plugs themselves might be bad.

Will

 

[BIG BOB]

The glow plugs themselves might be bad.

Will

I would be willing to bet your right. I use to have a 85 Ford with a 6. 9 and I have to check the glow plugs every spring and before winter. Always had 3 to 5 to replace. The Dmax used the same glow plug. :-laf



Have I told you that I love my CTD with grid heaters? Oo. Oo.

 

[DaveHess]

Turned out the relay that turns the controller on was bad. Runnin' like a champ now. Thanks guys!

 

[WStephens]

I had a 90 Ford with the 7. 3 IDI and would change the glow plugs every year and the had to replace the glow plug modual almost every year because it would go bad or the last time the heavy gauge wire that powers it was burnt in half.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I am surprised the truck won't start without glow plugs. The new injection systems pretty much eliminated the need for them except for extreme cold and emissions reasons.



Dmax has an intake heater too. This is what I mean. With an intake heater and glow plugs that sucker should not have a problem with one of the systems disabled.



Cummins ONLY has an intake heater and will start without waiting.



The new high pressure injection systems atomize the fuel so well that they light off very easily.



Dmax has too much junk on it, especially the ones after 2002.



You can see the glow plugs sticking out in this picture of the head... removed from my Dmax for headgasket replacement. Although the piston comes within . 03 of hitting the flat cylinder head at TDC, the glow plug tip is angled so it is positioned where the depression is in the piston (combustion chamber). You can also see the injector tips.



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[RVTRKN]

I have a mis-guided friend with a Duramax who is having a starting issue. The initial turn of the key lights the glo-plug light, all gauges take a swing to the left. The glo light remains on for about 30 seconds. The truck turns over, seems to light then continues cranking. This process goes on for a while of him repeating the process and eventually the gauges swing to the right and she fires. Lots of white smoke while cranking and after initial light. He has replaced the glo-plug controller (BTW, I have no idea if this has glo-plugs so please interpret this to be whatever the Duramax uses) The truck is a 2005. I suspect a ground somewhere but you guys are way smarter at this stuff than I am. The temp here lately has been single digit to below zero single digit.

Your friend should take it to GM and have them check the VIN for a TSB on that very problem that wasted many D-max's, the MY is close to first 06's that they had to replace all glow plugs due to tips breaking off and destroying the cylinder walls.