Anyone know of a link to a FTE Thread/Post describing Dan's manual N/O push-button GPR switch mod in a little more detail?

 

What's to describe?

Locate some kind of spring-loaded, momentary-contact, normally-open switch. Get one that you find aesthetically pleasing.

Mount it somewhere handy to your reach.

There are two leads on the back of it. Attach a couple of wires. Solder them for reliability. Insulate the connections to prevent shorts.

Run one wire to a dependable ground. Remember, there's a lot of plastic in these trucks and plastic doesn't conduct electricity.

Run the other wire out to the GPR.

Remove the wire on the GPR that goes back to the PCM. It's on that #3 terminal diagrammed above. Insulate it well to prevent shorts.

Put the wire from the switch on the GPR's terminal you just took the other wire off of.

Test: Push button, watch the GPR's LED light up (but only if you installed that mod first).

Done.

Pop

 

Perfect. Thanks. Mostly wasn't certain which terminal on the GPR to attach the N/O switch to, and whether it was grounded or a positive.

 

clintbonnie, I was wondering if you have ever noticed what the amps read when your glow plugs are on. I ordered one of them gauges from amazon. I have cold start problems I'm presently working on. You also responded on my post this past weekend.

thanks
armstrong

 

Since this thread is titled "GPR cycle time" I thought I would add this.

 

Great ideal with the Scan Gauge light to come on below 12.5 volts Joe.

I'm going to give it a try.

 

After thinking about that myself, I decided to just use the one LED. I got the stuff today to do my 2000 F350 and my cousin's 2001 F250. We're both in Tennessee so I went with orange.

 

That's exactly why I did it, to reduce wear on both the glow plugs and the alternator.
They draw down so much power that the alternator cannot keep up and the truck is basically running off of the reserve capacity of the batteries while the glow plugs are heating. The alternator is still charging but the glow plugs are pulling more amps than the alternator can generate, so the charge rate drops to 12v.

SpringerPop described the mod perfectly.
I took it one step further by disconnecting the small power wire on the opposite side of the relay and insulating it so it won't short out.
I then made a small jumper wire from the large power wire to the small terminal that I just disconnected so that small terminal is "hot" all the time.
By doing that, I now can energize the glow plugs without having to switch the ignition on.
My morning routine is to get into the truck, insert key in ignition, press button, count to ten, turn on ignition, count to three for fuel pressure, engage starter, release button.
If there is ice on the window, then I press the button and turn on the key at the same time and wait for the wait to start light to go out.
.
Now here is a thought for you people that live in colder areas. Instead of having a manual push button like I do, but still want to do something like this, consider installing an ON/OFF switch that keeps the position that you put it in, like a fog light switch or something.
During the warm up cycle in really cold weather, you will want to have those plugs warming to help control the excessive amount of smoke that will come out if the glow plugs are not hot.
My truck won't quit smoking until I drive it away.
It's not billowing, but it's enough to see.
Soon as I drive off and work the engine, then it clears up.
Right now the winter temperatures overnight are in the mid to high 30's.
Above freezing, but not by much.

 

Ok, I may be missing something now... I thought that your GPR dropped out when the engine started. I understand that if you bypass it manually it will stay engaged, but without being modded it will drop out. Did I misunderstand? The reason I ask is, if it drops out upon ignition, the alternator wouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind I'm VERY new to diesels. Just trying to learn.

 

The glow plugs are computer controlled and they stay on well after you engage the starter and the engine is running.
It determines how long the glow plugs stay on by getting a reading of the oil temperature.

 

Ok. Thank you for clearing that up.