Hello CRD knowledge,
I recently rebuilt the top end of my 05' motor (warped head). New head, timing belt, glow plugs, injectors cleaned and tested, upgraded thermostat, rebuilt turbo.
It starts harder, on the first start of the day.
Details;
Glow plugs - replaced the OEM plugs (ceramic) with steel 7v, measured the voltage, 5.44v for 3 seconds then it drops to 3.6v for 10-15 seconds.

Injectors - when the injectors were tested, the test came back with failures for idle and high throttle, specifically the company stated that at idle the 'pressure' was too high, and at high throttle the 'pressure' was too low. Me confused.

Cold starts before the rebuild were not an issue unless it was below 10 degrees F.

Any experience will be appreciated.

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'80 FJ40
'85 FJ60
'05 CRD

your problem is E_TECHNOS 7v GP> we did talk about them many times and we know they do good job keeping CEL off. as for injectors , many fuel injections shops cut corners , not having proper testing equipment , so it is hard to find an honest one . my opinion , your problem is GP , but again if you like to be 100% on fuel injectors , you need to find right fuel injections shop , many people liked Oregon fuel shop , my self i trusted NORTHERN DIESEL , in michigan .

Don't waste your time. It's the metal glow plugs. They don't get as hot as the ceramics. But hey, it's better than a tip breaking and causing internal damage

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2005 Crd Silver Limited- arps, rockers, 7v etechno's, egr deleted, v6 airbox, metal cac's. Yeti's stage 2 tune. Euro TC, Ram tcm, pml transmission pan, facet lift pump

Cycle them twice, or three times if necessary.
Using your block heater helps too.

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U.S. Army Retired

Before leaping on the glow plug wagon I wonder where the OP is located and what the ambient air temps are as there are other potential causes of cold hard starts. In addition I'd like to know more specifics about what the OP considers hard starts compared to before doing the work and if the same issue happens after being parked for say 8 hrs as with a day at work.

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

For me, the OP, i am leaning toward the GPs. I know they do not get as hot.The voltage does not seem right ,5.44v. I've been contemplating running some tests, and building my own manual activator. The original plugs are still good. I have seen what happens to a head when a piece of the tips breaks off.

For 'papaindigo' (does this indicate you have indigo children?), I live in the north east, the cold start issue is first start of the morning, and yes after sitting 8 hours this time of year.

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'80 FJ40
'85 FJ60
'05 CRD

Keep in mind that the power going to the glow plugs is pulse width modulated, so a standard multimeter may not give an accurate reading.