Hello all, I own a 1997 F250 HD, with a PowerStroke Diesel engine. I have had this truck since 1997. Last year, I finally started to have starting problems in the winter. I live in Michigan,and it was quite a cold winter last year. I figured it was time for new plugs and relay switch. I have purchased these items, but blew off putting them in. Recently we have had a couple nights that got pretty cool (maybe 40 degrees or so). I am already starting to notice harder starts at this temp. Unfortunately, I am no mechanic, and usually only do the minimal work myself. I took the truck into a local shop(not a dealership) to get a price on the installation of the plugs and switch. They wanted over $400 for this service. Naturally , he also told me that it wasn't a good idea to attempt this myself. Does anyone have any advice on this matter? This just seems to be a bit pricey to switch out eight plugs and the relay switch. I am sure I can handle the relay switch easy enough, but getting to the plugs, I just don't know if I can, or want to deal with it. I know most on here look at this as almost a hobby, but I would much rather be out fishing on my time off, rather than stuck under a hood. Any way, should a novice mechanic attempt to do this, and how much time can I expect this to take? Also, does the $400 price tag seem way too high for this service? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

If you can change spark plugs, you can change glow plugs. The difference is in how much you have to dissasemble to get to them. You need to remove the valve covers to access the glow plugs, and that's a little time consuming, though not especially difficult. I've had my valve covers off a number of times, and the first time, each one took over an hour to get off. I can do either one in 20 minutes now. The only hard bolt to get out on either valve cover is the 10mm bolt in the back, near the firewall. I've found that a 10mm deep socket, a swivel extension, and two long socket extensions make it only awkward, but not impossible.
Click here, and after you've read it, ask any questions you might have.

 

Helpful hint: use a deep-well 1/4" drive socket to loosen the glow plugs, but then use a piece of rubber fuel line to reach down there and grab them and spin them out. Otherwise your socket gets jammed up against the rocker arm and you can't get the socket or the glow plug out. Same thing when putting them back - snug them down in with the rubber hose, then tighten them with the socket wrench.

Duncan

 

CLICK HERE to go to an excellent how to. I have this same one saved as an MS Word document with a couple updates along with the starting post I made on a thread when I did mine and another document with glow plug relay information if you would like them. Just click on my user name and send me an eMail (NOT a private message) with GLOW PLUG INFORMATION in the subject line and let me know what eMail address you would like them sent to. It is not a bad job if you have a decent automotive set of tools.

Let me know if you want the attachments.

Dave / Believer45