i have a 95 k2500 sub with 6.5 f engine and if you don't leave it plugged in at night it is almost impossible to start, i do live in michigan so i does get cold but even on nights when its above freezing still hard starting, also if it sits for more than about 6hrs during the day same thing so i was wondering what i can do to hopefully make it start easier during the winter???

i have a 95 k2500 sub with 6.5 f engine and if you don't leave it plugged in at night it is almost impossible to start, i do live in michigan so i does get cold but even on nights when its above freezing still hard starting, also if it sits for more than about 6hrs during the day same thing so i was wondering what i can do to hopefully make it start easier during the winter???

You might be looking at replacing your glowplugs. How many miles are on the injectors? They might be a problem as well.

Make sure your glow system is working correctly, make sure that all battery connections are clean and tight, also make sure that your engine is spinning fast enough... if not your batteries may be bad or there is a drain somewhere or bad wire to starter... or a weak starter.

Could be a number of things...

But I would start with cleaning and making sure all battery connections are tight. Then move onto the glow system.

Dont these trucks start kinda hard anyway when it that cold.

Dont these trucks start kinda hard anyway when it that cold.
Not when they are working properly...

4 of the glow plugs have been changed and the batteries are both new not sure on injectors i have only had the truck a few weeks

Dont these trucks start kinda hard anyway when it that cold.
My truck started when it was 2 degrees with ease and I don't plug it in.

What kind of GP did you change with? May be the other 4 is worst than the 4 you changed. I know it is difficult to work in the winter for the ones in passenger side.

How old is the GP controller?

I agree to check all the electrical connectors. Battery may be new but if the cables are old, the electricity still does not flow. Cable corrosion cannot be seen outside the jacket, unfortunately. If you still have one of those stock connection with plastic jacket, cut the plastic jacket off and see the inside. That plastic jacket will not give you good connection.

How is your starter?

I am surprised that nobody has not mentioned, PMD? where it is?

Mine has started @ -20 f, without being plugged in.

can the pmd cause it to be hard to start i am getting a code 36 and just put a turbo master on it, the battery cables are clean but when the engine is cold its real hard to start.

its kinda like its dumping way to much fuel into it then all of a sudden it fine???

Dont these trucks start kinda hard anyway when it that cold.

I think if working propertly they are pretty easy. Ever seen an unplugged 7.3 try to start below freezing?:p:

also i have realized the down from 400 mi on a half tank to bout 300 could this be cause it is so hard to start lately when its cold??

When i changed my glow plugs a few weeks ago i found that the driver side where almost brand new. Then i got over to the passange side and found that the two plugs under the down pipe had not been changed in some time and where not even the same type as the other 6.

Mine does the exact thing/ new ip,new lp,140,000 kms. Just bought it and will only start if plugged in. Smokes like crazy and runs rough for about a minute give or take.Hope i dont need to change the glows, looks like fun (not).

Anybody know where a guy can purchase some cheap yet reliable glows 4 the 6.5 in Canada?

ive changed 6 out of 8 so far and its better but still if you leave it sit and its not plugged in and its a beast to start

Iv read allot of these threads and noone seems to hit the rough starting thing on the head. With so many people ,all with the same starting issues youd think that some one would have nailed it by now!! Dont want to come accross as an a$$ but wow this issue keeps coming up. I refuse to admit that "i just have to live with it".I live in northern Ontario where its below freezing for well over 6 months of the year, This small problem has now become huge!!!

i agree please guys some more suggestions!!!!!

Ok guys, here's what I did. I also have a 95 F code and it is TIRED, and was a BEAR to start. It has serious blow by, and low compression, 280 on one, 325 on another with the highest at 380, and the rest somewhere in between.

After fighting with it all winter, checking and re-checking the new glow plugs, changing the working GP controler for an new one, adding a circulating coolant heater, (didn't help), blowing up one battery, killing the other and the starter from boosting it I was fed up.

I called Kennedy Diesel and ordered one of his chips. Compared to the price of the starter, battery, and the other battery blowing up in my face, the price was quite fair. He bumps up the idle speed slightly, greatly extends the glow time, as well as the after glow time, along with some tweaks to the timing.

I got it in the mail, installed it, and now my old worn out 6.5 starts! It will start at -15C (5F) without being plugged in with almost no smoke. If it is plugged in, it barely smokes at all.

With this and the extra power, it was well worth the investment. It just plain wasn't reliable before, and if it was cold, or going to be cold over night, I would just have to let it run.

My 2 cents.

Iv read allot of these threads and noone seems to hit the rough starting thing on the head. With so many people ,all with the same starting issues youd think that some one would have nailed it by now!! Dont want to come accross as an a$$ but wow this issue keeps coming up. I refuse to admit that "i just have to live with it".I live in northern Ontario where its below freezing for well over 6 months of the year, This small problem has now become huge!!!

as directed before you should take a look at your glow system 4 out of 8 on a high compression engine just isnt good enough. weak batteries will make it hard to turn as amperage is drawn off with glow cycles.

are you cycling the glows more then once ? have you considered putting 5 w 40 oil in it ? the lighter weight oil will flow better at low temps.

you can get reasonably priced 6.5 parts at napa.

Thanx guys .Im interested in the chip u refered to. Whats it called ,part # ? As far as the oil in it the dealership did an oil change in just before i bought it and put in 15w40.If 5w40 will work better ill change it. I find that if i can get the engine to turn over fast enough, it will start (new batteries and starter),so maybe a lighter oil will do the trick. I dont know much about diesel oil. What is the lighter stuff called?

I have the same problem with my 6.5TD 1996 since december, always starts fine in the last 3 years. It cranks fine but very hard to start and it starts progressivly with lots of white smoke than runs fine after 5 seconds. Once it is start it runs fine, no hesitation, no power lost, everything is ok. New batteries, new GP 60's and GP controller, starter one year old, lift pump is working. Dealer told me I have an injection pump code (don't know which number) maybe PMD? Timing? Or whole pump?

I forgot... when the engine is hot, it starts fine.

I relocated my PMD to my front bumper with no change in starting. I reused the origanal PMD (which was recently replaced) so i guess that wont matter.Like you said the truck runs fine otherwise, but is hard to start once it has sat, pours out the white smoke and is rough with no throttle responce for a number of seconds.Man could u imagine how many people we could help if we could pin it down!! I hope i dont have to replace the PMd as thats another $200 plus that i dont have