Prostar with Maxxforce 13 hard to start

Been working for a craft beer company for a couple of months. One of our trucks is a 2012 prostar with a maxxforce 13 engine. (Yeah, Ive heard all about this engine being a mechanical #########)

Last week it "sometimes" started having a hard time starting. Sometimes it would start normally within a second or two of turning over. Other times it would take multiple attempts turning it over for 10 seconds or more before it would start. I could find no commonality for when this happened. Basically whenever I started it, I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. It isn't throwing any codes that I'm aware of. I was wondering if there were some things I should check before we take it to the dealership.

 

2011 and 2012 had multiple recalls on the high pressure fuel pumps, Could be a fuel pump just going poof. And yes the motor is total junk, the company one I had was rebuilt 3 times in 420k we had the truck.

 

could also be an injector leaking down, we had one that only leaked down if engine stopped with it compressed any other time was fine its a 1 in 6 chance.

 

These are hard to start in the cold. Are you waiting for the cold start light to flash indicating it is time to crank? We find if it is really cold to turn on the key, let the cold start assist cycle, once the light starts to flash, turn the key off, then turn back on and let it cycle a second time for easier and faster starts. If it takes too long to build up fuel pressure because fuel is leaking back it will log a code right away. If you are cranking too fast after key on and not letting the cold start assist do it thing, this will also log a code but won't turn on the warning light until you do it a few times in a row.

 

I do wait for the light to cycle. Cold or warm, doesnt seem to make a difference. It is sometimes hard to start either way and sometimes fires right up either way.

 

Here is a stupid question but have you checked the priming plunger on the fuel filter ? It sounds stupid but they used to have a bad habit of vibrating loose and unscrewing and it would allow the filter to deprime. Would be a simple thing to check just to make sure its screwed in tight.

 

I will definitely check that out.

 

I am having the same problem. 2012 MaxxForce 13 ProStar 243,309. Week ago it would not start. Boss thought it could be the clutch switch as it is a magnetic type. I am not sure when it did not start if it was cold or hot. When he had me look at it, unit was at op temp. It started every time. I did adjust the rod to bring the pedal further down. sent it on its way. No cel on. These units are on the road running less them 1 hour unless they to into Oregon. A lot of stop and go ect.
This morning the unit was in our wash bay as it would not start. Pulled it with the shop truck into the bay. I connected our computer to it and no cel or history. After reading this thread, with motor bone cold. I let the heater icon flash, shut off, turn back on till it flashed, and I did this 3 times. Started unit, cranked for 15 seconds and started right off. let it run till it built air up. Shut off, turned back on, let heater light flash, and she started right off. I do not see, feel, or taste diesel fuel in the oil. Diesel fuel in oil will have a pepper taste. I also inspected the fuel primer and it is tight and not wet. The compu port is not wet. The other guy who works here said he changed the filters when he got called about it.
More info. Wednesday we took the unit to International dealer. Unit has been randomly shutting off going down the road, guages will randomly sweep, and cc will shut off. Codes it had was. Spn 2589/FMI 15, Spn 2588/FMI 15, SPN 639/FMI 19. SPN 639/FMI 14, SPN 102/FMI 16. Vehicle overspeed (1,2) even log, none extreme, J1939 data link error (ecm unable to transmit or receive) (ecm unable to transmit) Overboost. Deal said it had loose battery connections, and pressure sensor in the intake or exhaust side wires rubbed through. I am not sure what "they really did" having worked for a dealer before, I been down a road like this before. On the way back from the dealer later Wednesday, the gauges swepped and cc kicked off. Now will not start. Temp outside is high 30s and 40s in the wash bay. In our shop its 58/60.
The amount of sensors in these units, I would think it would log a code for oil psi if it is low. I need to buy the or make a psi gauge test kick for these units. If the injector is leaking down, is there a way to test it without special tools? Like on the old school DD series 60s, we would splice a clear hose from the fuel pressure valve at the back of the motor. Did the same on the fuel intake side. Look for air in the fuel. Most of the time was a bad water fuel separator cap, gasket, ect. For now, I will let them know to cycle the key 3 times and wait till the heater light to flash.

 

Ok, so when it is hard to start, are you saying it won't crank, or cranks but won't fire? The shutting down on the highway and gauges sweeping is an engine electrical power problem where it is losing either ignition or battery power. If it isn't cranking, that has nothing do with the wait to start light, and is probably just a bad starter.

 

If missed info, my bad. It cranks and turns over. Will not start. It starts now after waiting for the heater light to flash. I did find the fuel heater fuel popped. It's a bi-metallic fuse. One maxi 100 amp fuse is bad. There are two right next to the air cleaner. Will replace them monday. Then let her have a test drove to see. Not sure why fuel heater was popped. Do not have time to work on that right now.