I just wanted to say I think this is a great forum- very helpful.

1997 F-250 PSD. This vehicle has become progressively harder and harder to start- even on somewhat mild mornings. Cycling the glow plugs over and over seems before trying to start does help. I want to nip this problem in the bud before the cold comes on.

So I started with the glow plugs and I figure I must be doing something wrong. I find four wiring conncections total into the glow plugs. When I pull each connection, I find 5 terminals. I set my Fluke to resistance and after attaching to a ground, test each of the outside terminals. The resistance is .8 or .9 ohms for each glow plugs. I know these glow plugs haven't been changed in at least 80,000 miles. Am I performing the test correctly? Is it possible that all the glow plugs are that good and consistent after at least 80,000 miles?

Can anyone confirm that I am doing the glow plug test correctly?

Thanks,
Jason

 

Your GP's are ok if they ohm @ those numbers. They are more likely 8-9 ohms.

Check your GPR (Glow plug relay). One big terminal is always B+ the other big terminal should have more than 10V when the key is first turned on.

Plug in the block heater for a couple hours, if it starts good your GPR is bad.

 

BTW: welocme to FTE.

I forgot to teel you that those are the correct pins in the connector.
It's like this:

G I C I G

G=glowplug
I=injector
C=common (ground)

 

Thanks a lot for the welcome and the help, Jim. I just rechecked the GPs and they are now all about .9-1.1. I use a fluke meter and manually put in the scale just to check and I believe those numbers are correct. I guess I can't say that I am sure the meter is properly calibrated.

I will test out the GPR next. Thanks!

 

Had to reread. My Bad.

Bill

 

Clean up those battery terminals! seriously it helped mine out. Could also be weak batteries check the fluid levels.

 

Those are very good readings. It's just unusual to see them that low when checking throught the UVC connector. There is a harness under the v-cover that would add resistance. Generally, anything under 10 ohms through the connector is good...so your's are good. The test can even be done with a test lite but you wouldn't see the weak GP's.

Oh yah, doo what ^^^foreman said^^^ theses engines need a lot of battery to get them going.