Hard start in cold weather at higher elevation
 

I have a 2000 F350 7.3 that is hard to start in cold weather at higher elevations. It never has a problem where I live in southern Calif---only in the above conditions. Will the cold start relay have something to do with this and how would I check it? The truck has 80,000 miles on it.

/me moved.

have u tried plugging in the block heater over night? or at least 4 hours before starting or trying to start?

check glow plugs, GP relay and switch to a 5W-40 full synthectic oil like scheaffers. and the block heater is a good idea to.

Plug in The block heater

You need to check the Glow Plug system, I would bet if your coming from Cali that you have a GPC (glow plug controler) not a GPR (glow plug relay). The GPC is about 180 bucks from the dealer and they go out quite often. There is NO reason you should have to plug the truck in at temps above 30* if the glow plugs are working. Is it easier to start and does it warm up quicker, yes. But it should still start just fine.

Check your glow plug system.

I agree with What Joe said. a bad Glow Plug system will make it very difficult to start, and 30* is nothing to start in for these trucks.

well im a little slow but im gonna say check the gpr and the gpc=glow plug curcuit

FYI... GPC= GLOW PLUG CONTROLER... On cali trucks and exursions... A very expensive, failure prone GPR that you cant really test...

Ie, junk that I hate on the excursion...LOL

It's also used on some Federal level smog trucks, and there's a TSB to 'upgrade' the factory relay to the module style GPCM.

Same style piece is used on the 6.0/6.4