Problem: Explain your problem in concise language
I've had a couple of no starts recently, both times after doing some electrical work that I've not been able to figure out. I disconnected the batteries both times while doing the work.
First time was a couple of weeks ago after I replaced my glow plugs and glow plug harness. The starter would crank but the truck wouldn't start. I went through checking the grounds, lift pump, etc. Eventually, the truck started after replacing the fuel filter. The truck set a P0380 glow plug code that later went away though did come back at one point. The glow plug controller was not replaced and may be original. There were no starting issues prior to the work (other than what you'd expect with quite a few non-functioning glow plugs).
The second time was today after I installed a Kennedy headlight harness. After connecting everything back together, the truck wouldn't start again. Eventually, I scanned for codes and there was the P0380 code again. After I cleared the code, the truck started right up.
Demographics: tell us about your truck and your ambient conditions:
- Year: 1999
- Truck model and class (ie: c2500) K1500 Suburban 6.5
- Automatic or Standard auto
- Mileage: (indicate miles or km) 141606 mi
- Replaced parts and mods (IP, PMD, chip/PCM, TM, injectors etc) IP/PMD at 131651 7/2010 due to P1217 code, trouble starting (fixed after fuel filter change), and one spontaneous shutdown
- Model: ‘S’ or ‘F’ engine, NA or Turbo, EGR? F turbo
- Ambient outside temp: (indicate *C or *F) 30-55 F
- What fuel are you using? (#1 Diesel, #2 Diesel, Bio, VO, WVO, etc) #2 diesel
- What fuel additives are you using? powerservice
- Where are you located? VT
General maintenance: inspect and evaluate the condition of each. When were they last changed?
- Air filter 129230
- Fuel filter 141426, 132277 before that
- CDR Valve? unknown
- Coolant – last flushed/replaced at unknown
- Oil – synthetic/regular, changed at 139046 9/2011, synthetic
- Batteries – state of charge, (matched set) replaced at 10/2011, 139946, charged and matched set
- Battery cables and grounds (removed, cleaned and tightened): 141426
- Glow Plugs - how many miles on them? 200 mi What type? Kennedy
- Injectors - last changed at unknown, may be original
History: (Describe how the problem first appeared.)
- What were you doing when it happened? see above
- How was the truck running fine before this problem appeared? fine
- Has this problem ever happened before? see above
- Describe any related factors that might be part of the problem. ______________
- Have you checked for DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)? (Y.N) Y And? P0380
Diagnostics:
1] Starting:
1a] Does the engine start? _________
1b] Does the engine crank over? yes
1c] Are your batteries fully charged? yes
1d] Have you removed, cleaned, and tightened all battery connections? yes
1e] Does your Wait to Start light come on for a time? How long? ~10 seconds
1f] Does your glow plug light come on? 1e For how long? _________
1g] Do you see smoke from the exhaust while cranking? What color? whitish gray, only wisps when it doesn't start; no real smoke when it starts as it should
1h] Does the Service Engine Light Glow during Start/bulb check? yes
2] Fuel Issues (if not running):
2a] Can you hear your lift pump working? yes
2b] Do you get a steady flow of fuel from the water drain (T-handle) ? yes
2c] Loosen the inlet line from the IP – is fuel coming out (Lift Pump on)? ___________
2d] Loosen an injector line and crank the engine - does fuel come out? _________
2e] Do you hear a vacuum (hiss) when you remove the fuel cap? yes
3] PMD / IP Issues
3a] Location of PMD (on pump, on intake, remote mounted) pump
3b] Condition of Extension harness (if used) Vendor or Homemade? _________
3c] Condition of grounds / ground wires to IP / PMD. Check Harness. cleaned
3d] PMD Make: looks like a flight systems, came with IP
3e] PMD Age: 1.5 years
4] Stalling Issues none
4a] Do you experience stalling only when hot? ____________
4b] Does it stall under particular circumstances? (ie hit bump, or on accel) ______
4c] Does pouring cool water over the IP seem to help with restarting? _________
4d] Is stalling momentary (engine recovers)? _________
4e] Does SES light come on when engine hiccups? _________
4f] Does cruise control quit working when engine hiccups? ___________
4g] Does re-starting seem to reset engine, restoring cruise and power? _________
4h] Changes to dash lights or instruments during stalling events? ___________
5] Running Issues
5a] On cold start, does upper rad hose get hard before engine warms up? _______
5b] Any bubbles or oil film in coolant overflow tank? no
5c] Any white slime on oil surfaces (dipstick, CDR, oil Fill cap)? no
5d] Excessive white smoke from exhaust on cold start? not since glow plugs replaced
5e] Excessive black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration? no
6] Performance Issues
6a] Do you have gauges (boost, EGT) ? no
6b] Maximum boost under load? ____________
6c] Have you added a performance PCM (reflash) or Chip? no
6d] Have you changed exhaust / downpipe / crossover? no
6e] Wastegate – mechanical or vacuum (OEM)? OEM
7] Temperature-related Issues:
7a] Single or dual thermostats? dual
7b] Have you replaced them lately? Manufacturer of replacements? no
7c] Have you pulled and cleaned Radiator and coolers lately? no
7d] Have you replaced the fan clutch? Manufacturer of replacement? no
7e] (winter) Have you tested your antifreeze? Good to what temp? __________
7f] (winter) Are you using a winter grille cover? no
Security light also comes on for ~5 sec at start up then goes off.
I've had a couple of no starts recently, both times after doing some electrical work that I've not been able to figure out. I disconnected the batteries both times while doing the work.
First time was a couple of weeks ago after I replaced my glow plugs and glow plug harness. The starter would crank but the truck wouldn't start. I went through checking the grounds, lift pump, etc. Eventually, the truck started after replacing the fuel filter. The truck set a P0380 glow plug code that later went away though did come back at one point. The glow plug controller was not replaced and may be original. There were no starting issues prior to the work (other than what you'd expect with quite a few non-functioning glow plugs).
The second time was today after I installed a Kennedy headlight harness. After connecting everything back together, the truck wouldn't start again. Eventually, I scanned for codes and there was the P0380 code again. After I cleared the code, the truck started right up.
Demographics: tell us about your truck and your ambient conditions:
- Year: 1999
- Truck model and class (ie: c2500) K1500 Suburban 6.5
- Automatic or Standard auto
- Mileage: (indicate miles or km) 141606 mi
- Replaced parts and mods (IP, PMD, chip/PCM, TM, injectors etc) IP/PMD at 131651 7/2010 due to P1217 code, trouble starting (fixed after fuel filter change), and one spontaneous shutdown
- Model: ‘S’ or ‘F’ engine, NA or Turbo, EGR? F turbo
- Ambient outside temp: (indicate *C or *F) 30-55 F
- What fuel are you using? (#1 Diesel, #2 Diesel, Bio, VO, WVO, etc) #2 diesel
- What fuel additives are you using? powerservice
- Where are you located? VT
General maintenance: inspect and evaluate the condition of each. When were they last changed?
- Air filter 129230
- Fuel filter 141426, 132277 before that
- CDR Valve? unknown
- Coolant – last flushed/replaced at unknown
- Oil – synthetic/regular, changed at 139046 9/2011, synthetic
- Batteries – state of charge, (matched set) replaced at 10/2011, 139946, charged and matched set
- Battery cables and grounds (removed, cleaned and tightened): 141426
- Glow Plugs - how many miles on them? 200 mi What type? Kennedy
- Injectors - last changed at unknown, may be original
History: (Describe how the problem first appeared.)
- What were you doing when it happened? see above
- How was the truck running fine before this problem appeared? fine
- Has this problem ever happened before? see above
- Describe any related factors that might be part of the problem. ______________
- Have you checked for DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)? (Y.N) Y And? P0380
Diagnostics:
1] Starting:
1a] Does the engine start? _________
1b] Does the engine crank over? yes
1c] Are your batteries fully charged? yes
1d] Have you removed, cleaned, and tightened all battery connections? yes
1e] Does your Wait to Start light come on for a time? How long? ~10 seconds
1f] Does your glow plug light come on? 1e For how long? _________
1g] Do you see smoke from the exhaust while cranking? What color? whitish gray, only wisps when it doesn't start; no real smoke when it starts as it should
1h] Does the Service Engine Light Glow during Start/bulb check? yes
2] Fuel Issues (if not running):
2a] Can you hear your lift pump working? yes
2b] Do you get a steady flow of fuel from the water drain (T-handle) ? yes
2c] Loosen the inlet line from the IP – is fuel coming out (Lift Pump on)? ___________
2d] Loosen an injector line and crank the engine - does fuel come out? _________
2e] Do you hear a vacuum (hiss) when you remove the fuel cap? yes
3] PMD / IP Issues
3a] Location of PMD (on pump, on intake, remote mounted) pump
3b] Condition of Extension harness (if used) Vendor or Homemade? _________
3c] Condition of grounds / ground wires to IP / PMD. Check Harness. cleaned
3d] PMD Make: looks like a flight systems, came with IP
3e] PMD Age: 1.5 years
4] Stalling Issues none
4a] Do you experience stalling only when hot? ____________
4b] Does it stall under particular circumstances? (ie hit bump, or on accel) ______
4c] Does pouring cool water over the IP seem to help with restarting? _________
4d] Is stalling momentary (engine recovers)? _________
4e] Does SES light come on when engine hiccups? _________
4f] Does cruise control quit working when engine hiccups? ___________
4g] Does re-starting seem to reset engine, restoring cruise and power? _________
4h] Changes to dash lights or instruments during stalling events? ___________
5] Running Issues
5a] On cold start, does upper rad hose get hard before engine warms up? _______
5b] Any bubbles or oil film in coolant overflow tank? no
5c] Any white slime on oil surfaces (dipstick, CDR, oil Fill cap)? no
5d] Excessive white smoke from exhaust on cold start? not since glow plugs replaced
5e] Excessive black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration? no
6] Performance Issues
6a] Do you have gauges (boost, EGT) ? no
6b] Maximum boost under load? ____________
6c] Have you added a performance PCM (reflash) or Chip? no
6d] Have you changed exhaust / downpipe / crossover? no
6e] Wastegate – mechanical or vacuum (OEM)? OEM
7] Temperature-related Issues:
7a] Single or dual thermostats? dual
7b] Have you replaced them lately? Manufacturer of replacements? no
7c] Have you pulled and cleaned Radiator and coolers lately? no
7d] Have you replaced the fan clutch? Manufacturer of replacement? no
7e] (winter) Have you tested your antifreeze? Good to what temp? __________
7f] (winter) Are you using a winter grille cover? no
Security light also comes on for ~5 sec at start up then goes off.
