Glow relay clicking?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
Glow relay clicking?
On my 93 7.3, when I turn the key on the wait to start light comes on for 10-15 seconds and I can hear the relay click on, but after it clicks off, it clicks on and off erratically until I try to start it. If I turn the key off, it will not go through the same cycle. The wait to start light comes on then goes back off quickly and starts clicking again. I have new glow plugs and a new glow plug relay. Any thoughts?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 4
From: 8600 ft in Colo
It's working correctly. The clicking after the wts goes off is called afterglow, which is to help keep it running after it starts. When you try to cycle it again, the controller senses that the plugs are already warm and doesn't heat as long.
Everything you need to know about the glow plug system is in the sticky threads at the top of this forum.
Everything you need to know about the glow plug system is in the sticky threads at the top of this forum.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,602
Likes: 132
From: Centerville TN
Mine used to do this. When it started and was running, it would white smoke and splutter for a minute. It done this for awhile but I wasn't too concerned with it as it started OK when it was cold. Got to looking one day and one of the glow plug wires was unplugged under the turbo. Can't believe I didn't see it sooner. Last winter I was having starting issues and replaced all the glow plugs (zd9's) and I now realize that the relay doesn't cycle like that anymore. Is my controller bad? The wts light comes on and stays lit for 15 seconds or so.
It's a little difficult to start cold, especially after sitting a few days.
It's a little difficult to start cold, especially after sitting a few days.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 594
Likes: 3
From: West Des Moines, IA
Mine used to do this. When it started and was running, it would white smoke and splutter for a minute. It done this for awhile but I wasn't too concerned with it as it started OK when it was cold. Got to looking one day and one of the glow plug wires was unplugged under the turbo. Can't believe I didn't see it sooner. Last winter I was having starting issues and replaced all the glow plugs (zd9's) and I now realize that the relay doesn't cycle like that anymore. Is my controller bad? The wts light comes on and stays lit for 15 seconds or so.
It's a little difficult to start cold, especially after sitting a few days.
It's a little difficult to start cold, especially after sitting a few days.
What your GPC is doing now sounds normal. 10-15 second burn time for a glow plug is just fine. You probably just don't hear it anymore, because the amount of power required for afterglow on new plugs isn't near as much as old plugs, so your relay isn't going to click on and off as often as it used to.
And your issue with starting after sitting for a few days is fuel related, not heat related. Do your return lines and see if that fixes the problem.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 594
Likes: 3
From: West Des Moines, IA
Did you replace the "olive" o-rings when you did your return lines? There's one at the filter head, one at the hard line going from filter head to rear of injection pump, and a third one at the rear of the hard return lines. Those o-rings are the most often neglected part of doing return lines, and cause all sorts of stupid problems on otherwise healthy systems.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,602
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From: Centerville TN
Did you replace the "olive" o-rings when you did your return lines? There's one at the filter head, one at the hard line going from filter head to rear of injection pump, and a third one at the rear of the hard return lines. Those o-rings are the most often neglected part of doing return lines, and cause all sorts of stupid problems on otherwise healthy systems.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 594
Likes: 3
From: West Des Moines, IA
And the one at the back of the engine where the return lines turn into a hard line?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,602
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From: Centerville TN
The one that goes into the little block at the back of the engine on the driver's side? I figured the e-pump should take care of all the intrusion problems anyway.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 594
Likes: 3
From: West Des Moines, IA
It masks the problems more than it fixes them. And it will make re-priming the fuel system faster and easier. I still think your issue is fuel related. You should probably start a new thread to get more attention specific to your problem.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,602
Likes: 132
From: Centerville TN
Thanks lindstromjd. I'll check that out. Been battling this for awhile now. I don't smell any significant diesel under the hood, but it's going somewhere. Sorry for the hijacked thread fifty-two_f1.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 594
Likes: 3
From: West Des Moines, IA
Air leaks in faster and easier than fuel leaks out. Smaller molecular structure.