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"wait to start" light flashes 6 times after start ???

C

coachjpg

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I'm away from my diagnostic tools, and google and forum searches struck out, so I thought I'd ask the list.

My '99 C3500 starts normally, then the "Wait To Start" light flashes 6 times after the engine is running. What does this mean? Should I be worried?

Thanks,
-jpg
 
Supposed to do that, it's your glow plugs cycling on as an after glow feature to help things as she warms up.

Cheers
Nobby
 
Maybe they updated the program in OBD-II, but in the OBD-1 programming the after-glow table was mostly zeros and so I never got afterglow, until I programmed it in.
 
Same here on the afterglow...completely normal on my completely stock OBD2 97.

Sounds like a really sweet ride OP!

Love your rig! I'd give both my nuts for crewcab room... Wanna trade? :)
 
Buddy, you have to always remember that your in CA. Mine usually do the after glow once or twice when it is really cold, I am in TX.
 
The after glow is for emissions to prevent excessive smoke right after start up.

My truck has always "after glowed" on first start up, even on really warm days (like 70 to 80F). I ignore the number of times at different temps, but it does do it.

It is WAD (normal)
 
I never saw afterglow until the night-time temperature got down around 50F. I've only seen it when first starting up in the morning. I'm pretty sure my electronics are stock. I'm glad to hear it's normal.

Thanks folks.
 
Yes I understand im in CA, I just thought it was strange that they get the afteglows when its not even close to freezing. I get them all the time now that I programmed it to. Just another one of those differences between stock OBD1 and stock OBD2 that some of us werent aware of.

It appears that jmiller hit the nail on the head. in OBD1 they only had intentions for cold starting, and in OBD2 they must have decided it helped prevent emissions on startup even when it wasnt freezing out.
 
Might just diagnose the glow plug system and make sure the temperature sensors and switches used are still ok and working within spec. A sensor can drift for temp readings... Yes, you will have to find out what applies to your specific year for sensors etc. May be working 'normal' but you will learn how the system works because you will need to know at some point - glow plugs systems are trouble period. Also check for burned out plugs while you are at it. You will be ready for winter then.

Flashing ??? You mean just light coming on for 2-3 seconds a time after start or a rapid flash? Rapid flash (and would not be countable) with relay chatter I have seen and is not normal. (And this was from a loose part, capacitor I recall, bouncing on broken solder joints in the glow plug controller. Glue for the part and solder joints both failed... The solenoid turning off would bounce the part and kick back in and rattle away.)
 
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After the engine started, the "Wait to start" light flashed six times in about 3 seconds. It didn't seem like relay chatter. It seemed to be very deliberately telling me something that it hadn't told me in the three months previous. When I get a chance, I'll put CarCodes on it and see if it reveals anything. I'm currently comfortable with the hypothesis that it simply got cold enough to trigger different emissions-related behavior than what I saw during the summer.
 
coachjpg said:
After the engine started, the "Wait to start" light flashed six times in about 3 seconds. It didn't seem like relay chatter. It seemed to be very deliberately telling me something that it hadn't told me in the three months previous. When I get a chance, I'll put CarCodes on it and see if it reveals anything. I'm currently comfortable with the hypothesis that it simply got cold enough to trigger different emissions-related behavior than what I saw during the summer.
Click to expand...

My 98 does the same thing:

6 flashes after start.

Evenly spaced, consistant and repeatable when cold (or cool).

Normal.
 
My 95 6.5 in the BURB would also do the afterglow deal with the updated PROM chip(the origanal one would, but only below 40 degrees).
 
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