hello, i have a 06 f350 king ranch. i had the head gaskets replaced, arp studs, upgraded parts per ford, and a new ficm module done in july. i have a six guns banks speed loader with 4" exhaust. the problem is that when the truck is cold ( regardless of outside temperature, of course the colder the harder) it does not want to start. well, it does start, but the start time is longer than if the truck is warm. when warm, turn the key and the truck fires up. when cold, (again the colder temperature, the longer it takes) it takes up to 10-15 sec of the motor turning and then it fires off. let it run, turn it off, it fires right off.
I have had the batteries tested, good. no codes. ficm is above 48 in all three posistions. there is a whine until the truck gets warm. even with truck warm, the whine is there but very faint. could this be injectors, hpop. the dealership is saying it could be a fuel leak and are wanting to pressurize the fuel system. i was also told that there could be a clog in the hpop not allowing the fuel to pressurize quickly.
any ideas or things to check before taking it back to the dealership???

 

90% of the time this is either batteries or a FICM. How are the batteries being tested? Load tested off of the truck? FICM sounds good, but not impossible for it to be bad despite reading the correct voltages across the board (albeit, not really common).

If it was my truck, the next step after verification of batteries and FICM is monitor ICP (injection control pressure.... aka, high pressure oil pump pressure). Monitor ICP actual and ICP desired to see what's going on. I would also do a cylinder contribution test and injector buzz test to verify.

When you first turn the key listen outside the truck for the injectors to buzz. Do they sound weak? Do they start slow and speed up and can you hear them buzz quick?

 

appreciate the info. when i first turn the key on, i can hear the buzz. it sounds to me they are working right. i can hear the vacuum pump over the buzz though. how can i monitor the icp. i do not have any other gauges on the truck besides the factory? is the fuel pressure test accomplish the same as the contribution? the batteries were tested with them in the truck. should i pull them and bench test them at a auto store?

 

I don't know about the rest of the stuff, but on the battery subject, you need to pull them and do a physical inspection (cracked shell, loose terminal, low fluid if not a sealed design, corroded terminals) and have them load tested off of the truck. While the batteries are out, use a good neutralizer to clean the battery trays, and clean up the cable ends.

Good luck,

Keith