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The 6.5 let me down, no start

Michaeljp86

Michaeljp86

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I bought a canoe today and took it out to the pond to give it a test run. The 6.5 didnt jump to life like it normaly does. The wait to start light didnt come on but I figured the engine was hot still since I was driving around for about a hour or more. I drove down to the pond and once I was done floating around I loaded up and it would not start, didnt even want to attempt to start. I got out my jumper cables and jumped across the glow plug controller and got in the cab and it fired up.

My chevy truck will fire up even without the glows even after sitting for months. Maybe it has higher compression.

Is it common for the glow plug controller to go bad? Ill have to see if they come on later.

I think Ill do the relay mod and the WTS lift pump mod.

At least I wasnt in a parking lot some place 200 miles from home.
 
On the 92-93s the glows should come on for every start. The glow plug controller is different from 94+. It's not uncommon for them to wear out/fail.
 
This one never did come on for every start, it only came on if the engine was cold. It always acted like it was temp controlled. If the engine had been ran and was still somewhat warm they wouldnt run long. I would have thought it had a temp sensor on the engine or something.
 
bk95td said:
On the 92-93s the glows should come on for every start. The glow plug controller is different from 94+. It's not uncommon for them to wear out/fail.
Click to expand...

Mine(93) will not come on if the truck is hot. I replaced it thinking it was bad and read that others said the same thing. My 86 won't come on either. Both trucks start fine without them.
 
The stand alone controllers, ~1988 - 1993 do not always come on when warm. If it comes on when cold you know it isn't 100% of your problem. The only way to check these controllers is to remove an injector and watch it operate the glow plugs. The plugs should have a glow and the glow maintained throughout the after glow cycles. If the plugs do not stay glowing the controller is worn out electrically and not staying on long enough. New aftermarket ones also suffer from this short cycle issue.


I would look at fuel system problems: air, head and rotor failure in the IP, and sticking injectors.
 
now that the engine cooled down the glows come on. I need to run to the bank tomorrow so we'll see how it starts.

The IP isnt that old, it was replaced right before I bought the truck. It was a rebuilt IP from a good shop, it wasnt a cheapo pump.
 
Today I got it and the glows ran like normal, maybe 30 seconds or so. It fired right up but it didnt sound right, like the engine wasnt turning over as fast as it should.

Maybe thats why it woulnd start, the engine was hot but it wasnt quite turning over fast enough and running the glows heated up the combustion chamber enough to let it fire.

The batteries are pretty old in it, I think they were in it when the guy before me bought it.

I took it to the bank and drove around for a while, Ill let it sit like yesterday and see what happens in about a hour.
 
Now it fired right up without the glows running. Ill try it again later and see if the LP is working. Ill check the battery cables too. Ive got a load tester I could stick on the batteries.
 
I went out and turnrd the key the the glowplug light came on and it fired right up. I checked the LP and it isnt running, it has power at the plug but it wont run. I even got the boat battery under there with some jumper wires. The LP must be junk.

I also found a loose battery cable.

I guess tomorrow Ill run to the parts store and see if I can get a new lift pump.
 
well they finaly got my pump in, it was $72. The fittings came loose, I wasnt expecting that. I got it on and all seems well.
 
I hope thats it, it ran fine even without the LP running. I guess driving it is the only way to find out.
 
Good thing you get it fixed. Yes, it can run without LP but if you do it longer, it will bring the IP down with it.

Happened to my dad's suburban. 2 IPs after slightly more than 1 year when warranty runs out (1 yr 1 week).
 
JMJNet said:
Good thing you get it fixed. Yes, it can run without LP but if you do it longer, it will bring the IP down with it.

Happened to my dad's suburban. 2 IPs after slightly more than 1 year when warranty runs out (1 yr 1 week).
Click to expand...

When I first bought my truck it would start and run great. Back behind the house in the grapes there is a tiny little hill. If I hit the throttle while going up it sometimes it would stall. I didnt even know what a lift pump was. Thats when I googled 6.5L diesel forum. I found it had a bad OPS.
 
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