Diesel Repair for Conifer, CO Trucks That Live Up High
Diesel repair for Conifer, CO trucks means a drive down US-285 to our Golden shop, not a long haul across the metro. Powerstroke, Duramax and Cummins owners on the hill bring us the work that comes with living above 8,000 feet.
Specialty diesel help without a long trip
Conifer has its share of trucks and few shops that work on diesel engines every day. When a Powerstroke, Duramax or Cummins needs more than a quick fix, the choice is a long drive across Denver or a shorter one down 285.
We are a family-owned shop and have fixed diesel trucks in Golden since 2007. The shop runs 13 bays and current OEM factory scan tools for Ford, GM and Ram.
A truck that comes in for a hard start can also turn up a seeping coolant hose or worn front-end parts, and you hear about both.
How a trip down to the shop works
Tell us what the truck does, when it does it, and whether it only happens cold. A problem that shows up at 8,000 feet on a January morning may not repeat in a warm bay that afternoon.
Plan to leave the truck with us; expect a findings call within one to three days, depending on how busy the bays are. We call with what has to be fixed before the next trip up the hill, what can wait until spring, and which jobs are cheaper done together.
The wrenches stay down until you say go. If you only need routine service, call and we can give you a set drop-off day.
What starts each diesel on a cold morning
The three platforms handle a cold start differently, so our diesel diagnostics start from a different place on each truck.
| Engine | What gets it lit cold | What we check first |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Powerstroke 7.3 and 6.0 | Glow plugs, plus oil pressure. These HEUI engines use high-pressure engine oil to drive the injectors, and cold, thick oil is slow to build it. | Glow plug circuit, injection control pressure while cranking, batteries |
| Ford Powerstroke 6.4 and 6.7 | Glow plugs and a high-pressure common rail | Glow plugs and module, rail pressure while cranking, fuel filters |
| Chevy and GMC Duramax | Glow plugs and a high-pressure common rail | Glow plugs and controller, rail pressure while cranking, fuel filters |
| Ram Cummins 5.9 and 6.7 | An intake grid heater that warms incoming air, instead of glow plugs | Grid heater, its relays and wiring, battery cables and grounds |
Diesel can gel in the filter on a hard cold night. If the truck ran yesterday and will not stay running this morning, tell us when you call. That points the test away from the glow plugs.
Three highways from Conifer to our bays
Take 285 down the hill, pick up C‑470 along the foothills, then US‑6 into Golden. If the truck is running hot or down on power, leave the trailer home and take the grade easy.
- Call ahead so we know the truck is on its way.
- If it is in limp mode, keep it gentle and let it hold its low speed.
- Bring notes or invoices from any shop that already looked at it.
About 15.3 miles straight-line from the center of Conifer. The road distance is longer.
Three more jobs a Conifer winter can leave behind
Starting is only the first test. These are the next ones, and each has its own page if you want the detail.
DEF freezes on a normal Conifer night
DEF freezes around 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Heaters in the tank and lines thaw it on the drive. When a heater, sensor or pump fails, the warning sticks and the truck counts down toward a speed limit. We fix the system; we do not do delete work.
DEF system repairFour-wheel drive that will not engage
A truck that rides in 2WD all summer often shows the problem on the first snowy morning: a shift motor, a front hub or actuator, or a switch. Watch for a flashing 4WD light, a grind going into 4 Low, or binding in tight turns after you shift back to 2WD.
4x4 and transfer case repairThe climb home is the hard part
A loaded trailer coming back up 285 is where cooling systems and turbos get tested. If the needle starts moving on the climb, find a pullout and let the truck idle; if it is still rising, turn the engine off and call us.
Truck overheating repairTell us what your truck is doing before you drive in from Conifer
Send the year, the engine and what you are seeing, and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.
- Year, make and engine
- What it is doing, and when it started
- Any codes or recent repairs
Rather talk it through? Call (303) 808-1563
Questions from Conifer truck owners
What owners up the hill ask before they make the drive.
We are in Golden, about 15.3 miles straight-line from the center of Conifer, so the work happens here. Drop the truck off, and we call with what we found before any work starts.
Usually, if we know the pattern. Tell us the temperature and how long the truck sat, and we test the starting aids, batteries, cables and fuel supply one at a time. Cold-start trouble usually gets worse as winter goes on, so it pays to find it early.
Let the truck warm up fully first, because a frozen tank that thaws can clear the message. If the warning stays with no countdown, drive down carefully and call ahead. If it is counting down to a speed limit, come sooner so the derate does not catch you partway down 285.
Yes, on American gas pickups and larger SUVs: F-150, Silverado, Sierra, Ram 1500, Tahoe and Suburban. Diesel is our specialty, but a transfer case does not care what engine sits in front of it.
When it is more than one thing
From a Google review, unedited.
319 reviews
- Customer
- Warren Feichtenbiner
Turbo went to hell, along with intercooler, FICM, IPR pigtail. Mel and Jeremiah worked hard to fix everything in time for me to head home. Wonderful mechanics, detailed everything for me. Great guys! Thank you so much.5 STARS
Coming down 285 with a truck that is not right? Call first.
Tell us what it does on a cold Conifer morning and what it does warm, or use Request Service to send the details. Or drop us a line right here from the website and we'll get back to you as quickly as we can.