I have a 7.3 in my 88 f-250. It started fine all winter. All of a sudden it won't statrt.

I don't hear the click click after the "wait to start light goes out".

I think the relay for the glow plugs may be finished. If so, how do I change it. I think it's at the rear of the engine, but it's my first diesle.

Thanks,

Adam

 

Hello Adam,
If you remove the air cleaner from the engine you will be able to see and get at the glow plug controller much easier. Sometimes the controller will become corroded on the hot terminal (one of the larger ones. If you very carefully loosen the nut and retighten it, it may work for you. I use a 3/8 drive ratchet with a long extension and 9/16 flex socket. This will get the connection loosened for you and you can retighten it and this will let you know if the controller has taken a dump or just corroded. Be very careful doing this as there are lots of metal parts the ratchet and extension can come into contact with.
If that doesnt work for you, then probably the controller has taken a dump on you and will need to be replaced. Another thing that will cause the system to act that way is if some glow plugs have gone bad. they can be checked while in the block by removing the wire from the top of each one and using an ohm meter on the top of the glow plug and the other contact on the block or intake manifold.
Good luck, keep us posted.

 

hey adam

check your grounds, epessially on you glowplug control unit
i had a simular problem

 

Yes, check the ground. You may want to disconnect the batteries first just in case. If some of the plugs were bad you would be getting some short cycling. No cycling at all tells me a connection is bad or the relay or controller has gone south.