Archived Truck won't start

[Perrymedic]

A friend needs help:

Need some help 2004. 5 with a 5. 9 will not start. Does not throw any codes, will only start with starting fluid when cold. Then runs good. If the truck is plugged in and sits all night it will fire up without starting fluid. If it has been running it will start up. The manifold heater and fuel heater are functioning. Any ideas?

 

[mweiman]

Check battery voltage after sitting overnight and while cranking cold. Maybe it is dropping off too much when cold to operate the injectors(the shot of ether would spin the alternator fast enough to bring the voltage up and keep it running). Post back your results.

Matt

 

[MLee]

As a double check for the batteries and loosing some charge over night, put a charger on them and charge over night to bring up the charge. There is a certain amount of voltage that is required to wake up the ECM and start the engine. During cold weather the batteries don't get a full charge when your doing errands. So some times we have to help them get happy.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Hmmm, no start... . but starts with ether. Has any programmers been installed? Sounds to me like it could possibly be a blown rail pressure limiting valve..... can't turn over fast enough to build rail pressure without the ether or being warm. Or you have a diesel leak in an injector line, injector, or the rail.....



Then it could be the electric lift pump is weak, and not lifting fuel to the CP3 very good with the voltage drop from grid heaters and starter..... Have you tried boosting it off with a charger or other power source? What does the fuel pressure read when starting?



Weak batteries could definitely cause a problem, as excessive battery draw could result in lost voltage to the ECM, but that should throw a code and the alternator and check engine light should illuminate.....