Glow plug relay issue

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Oct 25, 2025 | 01:49 PM

1993 IDI turbo

Thread Starter

1st Gear

Joined: Oct 2025

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Glow plug relay issue

Hello! New to the forum, hoping to get some help on my 1993 f250 7.3 turbo truck. Here is the issue.

bought the truck with a bad glow plug relay. Installed a new one, however I can not get it to work!

the guy before me used a button with one wire that I would touch to the back left terminal on the relay, and the other wire to the body to ground and it works great. However with the new relay hooked up properly, nothing.

any help would be appreciated

Oct 27, 2025 | 09:22 AM

knottyrope

Lead Driver

Joined: Apr 2016

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From: Bahstun

Do you have power to the push botton switch?
Did you clean the connections prior to assembly?

Oct 27, 2025 | 09:59 PM

FORDF250HDXLT

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Mi'kma'ki

Ohm out the ground wire or supply direct ground to controller. Check fuse K in the power distribution box. Check the fuse link, probably at the fender mounted starter solenoid.

Oct 30, 2025 | 07:06 PM

mattnj

Tuned

Joined: Jun 2010

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 1993 IDI turbo

...the guy before me used a button with one wire that I would touch to the back left terminal on the relay, and the other wire to the body to ground and it works great.

I don't quite understand this... Did you have to get under the hood to do these manipulations? Since you have turbo, your relay is on the fender, not all the way on the back under the air cleaner, but anyway...

Oct 30, 2025 | 10:31 PM

ihc1470

Tuned

Joined: Jun 2013

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From: Craigmont, Id

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattnj

I thought they were relocated to the right valve cover is it was a factory turbo. At least that is where it is on my 94.

Oct 31, 2025 | 07:07 AM

Olds64

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jun 2017

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From: Edmond, OK

Didn't the later 7.3l trucks use a relay & controller in one?

Oct 31, 2025 | 09:06 AM

WCMtn1990

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From: Ougadougou

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olds64

Didn't the later 7.3l trucks use a relay & controller in one?

Yes, but a lot of people, myself included, switched to a manual GP setup. The white wire in that picture is removed and taped over. A new wire runs from a switch in the dash to take the place of that white wire and the switch is grounded to complete the circuit and activate the plugs. I suspect the OP has a problem with his ground or something simple like that. I recently upgrade to the monster White-Rodgers/Stancor glow plug relay, https://dieselorings.com/products/16...low-plug-relay
It's a big-*** relay.