Have you replaced the glow plugs. My powerstroke had a hard start problem during winter months. Summer starts just fine. Took out the glow plugs and replaced them. The truck then started just fine. Curious if you had it when it was worm outside or just during the cold months. Because glow plugs are an easy and cheap fix (if you can get in there and do it yourself). Put like one guy said I've been told all Duramaxs and strokes have Glow plugs...and for brand I cant remember what ones I used..or can't tell you that one is better than the other one. Just grab a set and throw them in there..if you want go back with the (taking it since it is a GM product) Delco I believe is GM brand. Thats factory glows..

 

Now that you ask that, I did first get it during the end of summer into fall and at that time it did fine, and now its the hardest thing to start even compared to my dads powerstroke with 400,000 on it. Thanks for the help and looks like I need to get a set of glow plugs to put in it

 

Also, once it starts does it smoke or does it knock any? Because also you might look at putting a cam shaft sensor into it. That can cause some hard starting issues. When going into change your glow plugs, make sure that you have the injector wiring harness that goes into the gasket or the valve cover (can't remember where it goes into). But make sure you have both sides. I didn't have it and it got junked when I changed that glow plugs. Normally those are around $75 a pop..but its worth it cause you'll think that you had another issue cause they then will have hard starts as well. Let me know how it turns out! Glow plugs shouldn't be that much. I can't remember what they were when I got them .

 

No it doesn't smoke, just how exhaust looks when its cold but thats it. I replaced all 8 glow plugs and still is hard starting like before so I need to check the injector wiring harness?? Another thing is when we went to start it after putting the glow plugs in, it was still hard starting but when my dad would push on the fuel filter housing primer while I was trying to start it it would start quicker. Don't know it that changes things but just something to consider and hope I can figure out whats wrong

 

Yeah I'd check the harness..because I know on my stroke that I replaced the harness was jacked and it made it really hard to start...question I have know since you said he was pushing the primer...have you been checking it? Because you could very well be sucking air through your fuel filter. Wish I'd known that before had would have let you check that instead of maybe leading you in circles..yet its hard to tell someone on the net or atleast for me without actually gettin my hands on it..LOL Try maybe priming it first all the way up to wear the button is hard to push in...when you go to crank her...have a buddy sit there and keep pumping it...if it fires right up..you got air in the system and maybe even the primer button may not be workin correctly. Just another area that might be able to help...

 

Do you happen to know what/where the harness is located so I can check that, and I've tried pumping it until its hard and then having someone keep pumping and it helps, but still doesnt make it seem like thats the only problem either. Don't get me wrong it definitely shortens how long it takes to start but it's not immediately or anything. I'm going to see if I can find a leak in the system by pressurizing the system and might look into putting an inline fuel pump running very low psi, what do you think?

 

Ive heard some of you guys say harness, what exactly is the harness I would be looking for and what does it look like? I did a fuel filter housing rebuild kit and the kit had o rings for the primer as well, so it could be the housing that has a crack that could be sucking air in. But after its been ran a while it starts up a lot easier than after sitting over night, even though I just replaced the glow plug relays and all the glow plugs. Another thing that I thought could help would be putting an inline fuel pump running very low psi, has anyone heard of someone doing this? Would it be worth trying? Thanks for the comments and help guys