1998 lx 665 will only start with starting fluid.

[big jim]

I have a 1998 NH lx665 that runs good, But no matter how cold or hot it is out, it has to start first time with a couple squirts of starting fluid..... What could the problem be ? I do not have a shop manual...

 

[Tazza]

It shouldl have some sort of heater, be it a grid or glow plugs.
See if you have glow plugs that will be connected with a metal strap to each cylinder then a heavy wire to a relay. Ensure these are getting power when you glow the machine. If you are getting power, remove them and test with heavy gauge wire and a battery, they must glow right to the tip.
If it is a grid heater, it will be in the inlet manifold, it works like a hair drier, but without the fan. It has a coil of wire that gets hot to increase the temperature of the air coming in.
Try as had as you can to not use starting fluid, it can cause severe engine damage.....

 

[jerry]

It shouldl have some sort of heater, be it a grid or glow plugs.
See if you have glow plugs that will be connected with a metal strap to each cylinder then a heavy wire to a relay. Ensure these are getting power when you glow the machine. If you are getting power, remove them and test with heavy gauge wire and a battery, they must glow right to the tip.
If it is a grid heater, it will be in the inlet manifold, it works like a hair drier, but without the fan. It has a coil of wire that gets hot to increase the temperature of the air coming in.
Try as had as you can to not use starting fluid, it can cause severe engine damage.....

Does it go through the glow plug countdown? Sounds like they are not functioning at all.

 

[Mike10]

Tazza has you going in the right direction. I would only add that if the glow plugs were working you probably would have sent the engine into orbit by now. Starting fluid and a hot ignition point do not go together. First check if you have power to the strip which connects the glow plugs together when the key is first turned on. If you have power then remove the glow plugs and check with an ohm meter to see if they are good. These engine usually require some heating even when hot outside to start. Usually about a second or two when it is above 70. Smoke out the exhaust when cranking with no engine starting is a good sign the glow plugs are not working.

 

[big jim]

Tazza has you going in the right direction. I would only add that if the glow plugs were working you probably would have sent the engine into orbit by now. Starting fluid and a hot ignition point do not go together. First check if you have power to the strip which connects the glow plugs together when the key is first turned on. If you have power then remove the glow plugs and check with an ohm meter to see if they are good. These engine usually require some heating even when hot outside to start. Usually about a second or two when it is above 70. Smoke out the exhaust when cranking with no engine starting is a good sign the glow plugs are not working.

Thankyou guys for all the valuable infomation. Machine does count down, and machine does run normal after engine is warm for the first time. I hope Glow plugs are a simple install.