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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
99
Ford Econoline Diesel, Hard Cold Weather Starting
Q: I have a '99 Ford Econoline
and I have to park the truck outside overnight. When the temperature drops,
the engine takes a lot of tries before starting. Is there anything I can
do to avoid this? Can I use a booster battery to help start the engine?
A: If
you are having trouble starting your diesel now, you'll never get it running
when winter really sets in. It just doesn't sound right that a new diesel
would be having starting problems. What you are experiencing may be due
to an underlying problem. I can't help but wonder if the glow plugs are
not working correctly, or if there is a leak in the fuel lines allowing
air to enter. Either condition will create a hard starting diesel engine.
You'd better have your starting problem checked out before weather gets
cold. Also, diesel engines love block heaters. Block heaters keep the
engine coolant warm and allow for a quick start in cold weather. One word
of caution: block heaters are rough on the electric bill, put it on a
timer controlled circuit.
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