I dont know how he did it but there hasnt been a controller on that motor in years and it used to crank without a problem. Im not sure what volt plugs ive got all i know is theyre diesel rx glow plugs for my year model. i got the batteries on trickle charge right now im gonna let them charge through the night and check them tomorrow. can the relay be bad and still be able to hear it click on and off?

 

Yup. Ford starter relays are notorious for that. Granted, the relay requires a lot of power (at least 12 volts) to actually jump the posts, but the relay is a cheaper fix than a battery. I would try it first.

So there's nothing on the back of the block where the old controller was? It's screwed into a water passage... makes me wonder how the P.O. plugged that threaded hole up. Still, the 7.3 controller and push button mod is a good way to go.

 

theres something screwed in it but i dont know what it is i cant screw another controller into it and its got alot of crud in it

 

ive replaced the silinoid that bolts on the fender wall on the pass. side but it didnt help any

 

I should probably get my part names straight here... I sometimes blindly call a solenoid a relay. So I'll correct myself. The SOLENOID on the passenger fender gives power to the glow plugs, and is told when to turn on and off by the glow plug controller. There we go. Sorry 'bout that.

So, how fast does your engine turn over? My 6.2 in my GMC can go from dead batteries to jump-started in about 5 minutes. So even low power on the batteries should still get you somewhere.

Does it help anything to plug in the block heater? Can you see gray smoke coming out of the exhaust when you're cranking the engine over?

 

grey smoke- yes
block heater- dont use it got a cracked block from the first owner when he used it
turns over good when batteries are charged but takes me 20 minutes to get it started
whats the silinoid on the top of the fender?

 

There's two solenoids that look almost identical. One is for the starter and one is for the glow plugs. Which one did you change out? The starter is usually the one on the side of the outer fender and the glow plug is usually down on the inner fender next to a vacuum reservoir / canister.

 

starter silinoid

 

The starter solenoid has almost the exact same properties and hookups as the glow plug solenoid. Maybe throw one of your spares in place of the glow plug one then?

 

dont have a spare ill have to run to town again tomorrow to get it. both siliniods look exactly the same i noticed it when i installed the starter silinoid.

 

so a new silinoid should fix my glow plug problem?

 

If you are using or going to use a push button system you do not need a controller at all. You wire the button to the relay and the operator becomes the controller.

Glow Plugs 101 Tutorial

 

That was a nicely done "how-to".

I'm guessing that it will. One way you can test it without buying a new relay is just to swap your current starter and glow plug solenoids. If the truck won't turn over, then the solenoid was bad and needs replaced.

 

alright ill try that

 

There should be 2 10ga wires that go from the starter solenoid to the glow plug solenoid, on the right fender apron there is a grey connector that those orange wires go to. I have seen corrosion in that connector where the terminals inside break.
Make sure you have power at the battery side of the starter solenoid, check the fuse links, I believe you did, than make sure you have 12 volts back at the glow plug solenoid. I have seen it too many times to count. Let us know