I'm heading to the parts store & dealer for the first of what I am sure will be many trips.

Reading the "Diagnostics 1.1" thread, I see references to battery cables, and mine have poor connection to the battery (bolt threads corroded away), so I'll start there. Getting the engine side of the cables off required removing the intake cover. I see a lot of pictures here with no cover - so, is it just a nuisance and you are leaving it off, you don't like the look of it, or does having it on cause problems?

One of the codes it has set is 29, "Glow plug relay fault". Guess I'll price it as well, it looks to be an older piece, dirt-wise.

This truck, in spite of its high mileage (285k), is unmodified, having been a business truck and almost exclusively repaired by a dealer.

Oh, I'm getting a fuel filter while I'm at the store. Haven't seen receipts that mention its replacement, looks like plenty of dirt has accumulated around the cap :eek:. Air filter has already been replaced.

The intake cover is for looks only. I've had mine off for over 2 years.

Dave

It's called a noise cover,

Some have suggested over the years that it retains heat around the injection pump, others laugh at such a notion.

I don't believe there is clear consensus, either way

I really don't think it does much of anything, either good or bad...

:welcome2: Welcome to the site

My cover is off as I once subscribed to notion it helps kill PMDs, I don't know for sure but since I'm now remote mounted not an issue; I may some day go back on with easy off mounting studs & hitch pins, a PITA for maintenance access.

Once you get new cables go through the glow info in FAQ reference , cheaper at auto part stores, IIRC I posted in part point sticky the pn for one I got at O Riley's, they may also have a replacement batt cable, many have just made their own with welding cable.

If threads are worn out for clamping and seems like a lot of duty put on them, might be worth a battery check as well, yours might be laying down on the job some from porr charging from bad connections. (something to consider)

kill the cover, makes checking things out much easier

It is more of a pain to get to things. I'll probably leave it off at least until I get through these initial diagnostics. If I leave it off, I'll have to find a place to store it. :(

The batteries are 3 years old, a matched set of 875 CCA. I haven't had any trouble with it turning over, even in the cold (near 0 F) we've had lately. The terminals themselves were ok, the cable bolts just didn't have enough thread left to get them tight. The positive cables tightened up nicely.

Okay if bats are still strong , tere are some recent posts for using bolts or studs for improved clamping, also some pics in sticky FAQ reference area