Hard Start
 

Hey guys, I have a problem...

I have an '03 F350 6.0. I replaced the EGR cooler and Oil cooler a few months ago, and upgraded to a blue spring last week. I've been keeping up on the fuel system maintenance, draining the water and changing the fuel filters every time I change the oil. I have had some FICM issues, and my injectors are borderline, but all injectors are clicking and the FICM has been replaced, tested and is in good working order. The IPR was just replaced 1,000 miles ago.

The problem i'm having is, after the truck sits for 10+ hours in my 70 degree heated garage, I go to start it and it fires up right away. After about a second, it dies like you shut off the key. If i cycle the key and let the fuel pump run, it cranks for 5-10 seconds, then fires up, then dies the same way again. Generally, on the third or fourth try, it fires up and keeps going. After that, the truck runs just fine.

Is there anything i may be overlooking as a newbie to the 6.0? Does anybody have any suggestions for me? I appreciate all the help you can give. Thanks!

I'd test fuel pressure first. Kind of odd that it fires and then dies. Are you getting any smoke?

When it finally fires up, it smokes white and smells like raw fuel. I'm going to borrow my buddy's scan tool and pressure tester and take a peek at the fuel pressure. Thanks!

I know you just replaced the FICM, but it wouldn't hurt to 1) have your batteries load tested, and 2) test that FICM anyways with a multi-meter.

I will check. I have a Bluetooth OBDII scanner that is showing FICM Min Voltage @ 48-49V consistantly. I have never seen it drop below that, but I will verify that with a multimeter. Im especially curious to see what happens to the voltage during cranking as the scanner is not fast enough to update during cranking.

Can you monitor ICP with that scanner?

Yes, but it does not update fast enough for me to see if the ICP drops out after startup. I have a feeling something in the HPO system is on its last legs, even though ICP looks good to me... When I replaced the EGR and Oil coolers all 6 screen elements were missing on the HPOP Screen. ~cringe~

So far...

ICP @ 650 RPM (Cold) : ~740 psi
ICP @ 1200 RPM (Cold) : ~770 psi
ICP @ 650 RPM (Warm) : ~640
ICP @ 1200 RPM (Warm) : ~745

Cold checked @ 100*F, Warm checked at 180*F

When on the road, and on it hard, i've watched it get up to ~2500 (somewhere around there)

Unfortunately I cant see ICPD. :td:
I can see ICP DC% but that doesn't help me much.

2500 is too low for WOT. I think the 03's are a little lower than the others, but if I remember correctly, an 03 should go up near 3600psi max on WOT. Bob would know better on that. I know the newer one's are 4000psi.

It also seems quite common on the 03/early 04 trucks to have the HPOP die a slow death and drag out, where as the newer ones its like an immediate failure. It's quite possible the HPOP itself is getting tired.

My truck started doing the same thing after recent work. After the truck sits outside overnight, plugged in and 20'F it will begin to fire up, and then stop as if you shut off the key. Same as the OP, it will start up and run after 3 or 4 tries. I had the head gaskets and arp studs, egr delete, new oil cooler, one new injector, coolant filter kit and an SCT programmer put on recently. Since I got it back it does exactly what the OP's truck is doing. It was fine before the work. I just changed my batteries, since one screwed up. I thought the batteries were all that was wrong, but they didn't cure it. Did the FICM less than a year ago... maybe I should check it just in case. I'm going to contact the shop about the issue. Any ideas what happened? I have no codes or fuel psi info.

FICM test procedure is at the top of the 6.0 page in the sticky section. Get a multi-meter and a buddy to turn the key for you. Even a new FICM will fail eventually. The cure is to have it repaired, not replaced. :c: