Cold weather disappointment and frustration!

[Dill Dough]

Mine is barley long enough to reach the head light with the hood popped open. Doesn't bug me too much but that's just me...

[KensAuto]

Originally Posted by Collimare

It is 9 degrees here in Denver. I went out to start the truck and it will catch, fire off, stumble, the starter tries to re-engage and then it shuts down. I tried cycling the glow plugs a few times but always the same.

I get out and start looking for the heater plug-in which I have never used on this truck or the last 8 or 9 Powerstrokes and cannot find it. I call On Star, ask for roadside assistance and speak to someone who I can hardly understand. After about 5 minutes of trying to explain “I need to know where the block heater plug is on the front of my truck” I give up and call a local dealer.

The dealer explains where it is at so I change, get the step ladder out, blanket the fender and finally see where I think it is ty wrapped underneath to another bundle of cables. It takes me nearly 20 minutes to get it loose enough to slide the side cutters under it because there is not enough room to just come in 90 degrees to cut it free.

I have never had to use a block heater in Denver to this date and then when I need to use it, it is buried under underneath the back of the engine instead of out front where I can easily get to it. I was told that I always have to open the hood lay the end of the plug close to the engine in order to use the block heater. There is evidently some type of sensor at the end of the plug that needs to be kept next to the engine. REALLY!! Why is the block heater engine temp sensor not part of the engine and the plug-in up at the front bumper like all the others I have owned.
Had to ask wife for her car keys as she stood there laughing about my new 50k truck not starting.

Well it is plugged in and if it does not start in a few hours they can come tow it in.

I'm pretty sure there's not a sensor in the plug, put it where you want it.

[dirthand1]

15 degrees at work with a wind chill of -25 damn cold but she starts right up.the work trucks we have didnt ford 6.slows but thats a whole diffrenet animal heui injection now thats block heater worthy.The only thing i could think is weak batterys or frozen moisture in the fuel filter or geling.

[dirthand1]

and the best way to get the block heater out on my lbz is to take the passenger outer fender liner outmine was burried under the coolant bottle.

[rblandone]

I'm in colorado and haven't had any problems with mine starting at -4F with out plugging it in. If I was you I would take it by the dealer and have the glow plugs checked out because it should start with just one use of the glow plugs I've never had to use my glow plug more than once.

[redwngr]

Collimare, did you set the 'elevated idle' to on?

It won't make it start any easier, but will improve the rate that engine and transmission warm up.

[Collimare]

Originally Posted by redwngr

Collimare, did you set the 'elevated idle' to on?

It won't make it start any easier, but will improve the rate that engine and transmission warm up.

I have no idea what that is? An option?? How do i set it on???

[Lowelife]

I routed my plug through the bottom to the front bumper and I wrap the plug cap around one of the transmission lines and I can get to it with no problems.

[redwngr]

If you have theh DIC buttons, scroll thru and set "elevated idle" to on.

You can leave it on all year.

It will self activate when the necessary conditions are met.

Elevated Idle
The engine has a cold temperature
high idle feature which elevates the
engine idle speed from base idle
to 1050 rpm for pickup models or
1200 rpm for van models when
outside temperatures are below 0°C
(32°F), and the engine coolant
temperature is below 65°C (150°F).
This feature enhances heater
performance by raising the engine
coolant temperature faster.
This feature can be turned on or off
using the DIC buttons. If the vehicle
is not equipped with DIC buttons, do
the following to turn this feature on
or off:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
with the vehicle off.
2. Press the accelerator pedal
to the floor and hold while
quickly pressing the brake
pedal three times in less than
eight seconds.
3. Release the accelerator pedal
and start the engine.
When the engine is started, it will
slowly ramp up to the high idle
speed after a delay of a few
seconds up to approximately
two minutes. For this method to
work properly there must be no
throttle or brake pedal faults.
The engine idle speed will return to
normal once the following conditions
are met:
. Once engine coolant
temperature reaches
65°C (150°F).
. Air intake temperature reaches
0°C (32°F).
The high idle speed will be
temporarily interrupted and the
engine speed will return to normal
if any of the following conditions
occur:
. The brake pedal is applied.
. The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
. The transmission is shifted out
of P (Park) or N (Neutral).
. Vehicle speed is detected.
Once these inputs are removed, the
engine idle speed will slowly ramp
back up to high idle after the normal
delay, if the conditions for engine
coolant temperature and air intake
temperature are still met.

This is different from the the 'fast idle' control (which is an option) that is manually activated with the cruise control buttons.

[redwngr]

'Elevated idle' is standard on all Dmax's.