glow plug question
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Livingston
glow plug question
after the wait to start light goes off there is a clicking sound. I understand that this is the glow plugs. am i supposed to wait until the clicking stops to start it. or am i supposed to start it right after the light?
thanks
chris
thanks
chris
Junior User
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No, the best way is to watch your volt/amp gauge on the dash (if you have one).
That light on your 90 has nothing to do with the glow plugs being on or off- it is a solid state device that lights for a certain period when you switch on the key, everytime, all the time no matter if you have eight good plugs or five.
Next time watch your gauge- and the light. When you switch the key on, they light will glow and the gauge will dip. After the light goes out, watch the gauge still. When the gauge pops up, that means the plugs have finished a cycle. Try starting, if it does not light off, then switch key all the way off then back on again, and watch the gauge. Use the plugs to save your starter, no need to crank and crank and crank when you can cyle again and boom! Crank her over and light her up.
If your gauge bounces up the same time the wait to start light goes off, chances are you have some glow plugs out- your 90 can sense that some glow plugs are hashed and won't burn out the rest by burning them too long, so it shortens the cycle time, hence making it harder to start.
If it is working properly, the light will go out, and after another breif pause, the gauge will pop up and it should start.
That light on your 90 has nothing to do with the glow plugs being on or off- it is a solid state device that lights for a certain period when you switch on the key, everytime, all the time no matter if you have eight good plugs or five.
Next time watch your gauge- and the light. When you switch the key on, they light will glow and the gauge will dip. After the light goes out, watch the gauge still. When the gauge pops up, that means the plugs have finished a cycle. Try starting, if it does not light off, then switch key all the way off then back on again, and watch the gauge. Use the plugs to save your starter, no need to crank and crank and crank when you can cyle again and boom! Crank her over and light her up.
If your gauge bounces up the same time the wait to start light goes off, chances are you have some glow plugs out- your 90 can sense that some glow plugs are hashed and won't burn out the rest by burning them too long, so it shortens the cycle time, hence making it harder to start.
If it is working properly, the light will go out, and after another breif pause, the gauge will pop up and it should start.
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
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Newbie here reveling in the great info I've gained in just a couple of days of reading all ya'lls posts!! New PSD owner and the glow plug info, engine heater info and "door ajar" light fix have already made me a happier Ford owner!!! Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: newfoundland canada
A short wait to start light is an indication of some bad glo plugs.MRZ the next time you are starting try and watch both the light and the guage and you will see that they are indeed tied together. The wts light should be staying on for a good 10 secs on a cold start.Chris,when the light goes off the,give it 1/2 throtle and crank it,if it doesnt fire up turn the key off and repeat .The clicking your hearing is as rancherman said,normal after glo to help to get it firing on all 8.
I am not sure on the older style gp systems used on the earlier 6.9s,but can tell you for sure the light and the gps are tied together on the solid state 7.3 system.Any half decent repair manual will tell you short wts time is a sign of some gps not working.
I am not sure on the older style gp systems used on the earlier 6.9s,but can tell you for sure the light and the gps are tied together on the solid state 7.3 system.Any half decent repair manual will tell you short wts time is a sign of some gps not working.
Junior User
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Originally posted by pnose
A short wait to start light is an indication of some bad glo plugs.MRZ the next time you are starting try and watch both the light and the guage and you will see that they are indeed tied together.
A short wait to start light is an indication of some bad glo plugs.MRZ the next time you are starting try and watch both the light and the guage and you will see that they are indeed tied together.
Try this- in a quiet garage or something, open your hood and your door- and turn your key on. Forget about the light- listen for the relay for the glow plugs- you hear it click on, the gauge drops, and when it eventually clicks off the gauge pops up. Its that simple. Yes, if the gauge pops up at the same time the light goes off, that is not a very long time- that means not a very long cycle time- and like I said, means you have some glow plugs out.
That stupid light is not going to draw enough current to make the gauge dance, but those glow plugs burning will. Watch the gauge if you want to know truly your glow plugs are burning.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: newfoundland canada
Duh,i know the light is not what is pulling the guage down,all i was saying was the amount of time the light is staying on is indicative to having bad gps.Taken from haynes 10330 repair manual,quote:Indicator flashes rapidly:this occurs often when 2 or more gps are burned out:end quote.There is also a chart listing the control unit temp in relation to the wts light.Coldest end of the chart is -20f with wts 7-15secs,with a total system run including after glo(light and gps cycling)of 35-70secs,up to 140f with 1sec or less,cycling included1-3secs.
I never rely on the light to tell me the gps are on but once i see the guage drop to ensure the system is indeed working i do then look at the light to see how long its staying on,i have no problem hearing the relay click while i an behind the wheel with the door shut.
I never rely on the light to tell me the gps are on but once i see the guage drop to ensure the system is indeed working i do then look at the light to see how long its staying on,i have no problem hearing the relay click while i an behind the wheel with the door shut.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Colorado
What are the best aftermarket glow plugs for a 7.3L? - Also, on a 1991 7.3L, where is the selomoid for the glow plugs?
thanks,
Bart
thanks,
Bart
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Colorado
Thanks Garlicbreth! I'll take a look at the relay tomorrow. Well the whole reason I'm interested in aftermarket glow plugs is because I was talking with a ford mechanic this weekend about my glow plugs, they are two years old and some of them have gone out. I asked him what the best solution was for longevity, I'd rather not be replacing glowplugs all the time. He just laughed and said that the best solution was to buy a newer truck (I've got a 1991 F250 7.3L with the ATS Turbo and she has 282,000 on her). I decided to start looking into aftermarket glowplugs because the mechanic didn't have any confidence in them - I live in Colorado and have hard cold starts - I spend enough time above 10,000' in the winter that I don't mind spending the money on a good solution that will last!
thanks,
bart
thanks,
bart
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by MRZ
If your gauge bounces up the same time the wait to start light goes off, chances are you have some glow plugs out- your 90 can sense that some glow plugs are hashed and won't burn out the rest by burning them too long, so it shortens the cycle time, hence making it harder to start.
If your gauge bounces up the same time the wait to start light goes off, chances are you have some glow plugs out- your 90 can sense that some glow plugs are hashed and won't burn out the rest by burning them too long, so it shortens the cycle time, hence making it harder to start.
I like the glow plugs to cycle completely before starting, so it starts quickly. If you want to go by the light, that is your business. I will watch the gauge (and/or the relay sound) so I know the actual duration of the burn.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: newfoundland canada
[
That light on your 90 has nothing to do with the glow plugs being on or off- it is a solid state device that lights for a certain period when you switch on the key, everytime, all the time no matter if you have eight good plugs or five.
This is the only part i didnt agree with,aside from being called a bullsh##ter.
That light on your 90 has nothing to do with the glow plugs being on or off- it is a solid state device that lights for a certain period when you switch on the key, everytime, all the time no matter if you have eight good plugs or five.
This is the only part i didnt agree with,aside from being called a bullsh##ter.
Last edited by pnose; Feb 20, 2004 at 08:28 AM.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 29
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From: Calgary
Pnose nailed it. -
MRZ - This quote from you is BS -
If you want the details check out Argve's Website - Glow plug system
A short wait to start light is an indication of some bad glo plugs.MRZ the next time you are starting try and watch both the light and the guage and you will see that they are indeed tied together.
MRZ - This quote from you is BS -
That light on your 90 has nothing to do with the glow plugs being on or off- it is a solid state device that lights for a certain period when you switch on the key, everytime, all the time no matter if you have eight good plugs or five.
If you want the details check out Argve's Website - Glow plug system
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
Now kids....
Beru/ Motorcraft plugs are the best.
I have seen constant duty Beru plugs somewhere for about 35 dollars a piece. I can not remember where right now though.
The glow plug relay and controller is a rectangular box about three inches tall, three inches wide, and 5 inches long that should be all the way back on the intake manifold to the right of the turbo from the front of the truck. Cover snaps off to expose the relay, controller is under that.
Beru/ Motorcraft plugs are the best.
I have seen constant duty Beru plugs somewhere for about 35 dollars a piece. I can not remember where right now though.
The glow plug relay and controller is a rectangular box about three inches tall, three inches wide, and 5 inches long that should be all the way back on the intake manifold to the right of the turbo from the front of the truck. Cover snaps off to expose the relay, controller is under that.