I have an 02 PSD with 20k on it. Temps have been below 50 and truck won't start, or when it does it smokes (white) for 45 seconds. I tooke it to the dealer and they checked the glowplug/relay sytem out and said nothing was wrong. 3 days later truck will not start again so it's back at the dealer. Can a glow plug relay display the above symptoms or do they just go bad? Is this just the begining of a larger problem?

 

When my 1996 did that it turned out to be the glow plug relay. I guess that's a pretty common problem in these.

Here’s what I learned when it happened to me:

1: The “wait to start” light going out in two seconds on a cool morning may be one clue that this relay isn’t working. It should stay on longer. Maybe 5-10 seconds.
2. It was, as Quadzilla suggested, available at NAPA as part GPR109. $21.49 at my NAPA. Your NAPA may be cheaper.
3. Its under the center cover to the left of the fuel filter. It has two big wires and two small wires leading to it.
4. You need to remove the center cover to get to it.
5. It takes about ten minutes, IF you don’t drop any bolts or nuts or tools into the center of the engine.
6. Bolts or nuts dropped into the center of the engine are pretty much…..history!
7. The connections DO have power going to them even with the key off (Don’t ask how I know this…)
8. The nuts from your old relay may, or may not, fit your new relay.
9. Color of the relay didn’t seem to matter.
10. Either I am a very lucky guy, or it doesn’t really matter which small wires go to which small terminals. I’m not sure which.
11. The markings on the top and the plate that hold the relay down may be reversed on the one you buy.
12. If it works and the truck starts right up the following morning without all the white smoke. Your wife will smile, and think you smart again...


Good luck!