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I'm finding four different brands ranging from $16 to $36 at Schucks, and two at Napa ranging from $16 to $26. I've seen where several experienced people around here recommend one and ONLY one brand of glow plugs. Anybody have any good/bad experiences with the glow plug relays made by any of these six manufacturers?
MPE
Echlin
Niehoff
Borg Warner
Sorenson
Standard Motor Products
I just bought an '87 F250 with a 6.9 Diesel and was wondering how long the "glo plug" light light is supposed to stay on? Mine stays on only a couple of seconds and is hard to start but once the engine is warmed up starts right away.
cheaperjeeper,
i wonder what the difference is between the $16 unit and the $26 unit. maybe the cheap one does not come with all the associated parts??
and dyoungen, it sounds like your glow plugs are burnt out. if your wait to start light is coming on at all, the controller is most likely OK.
cheaperjeeper,
i wonder what the difference is between the $16 unit and the $26 unit. maybe the cheap one does not come with all the associated parts??....
Dunno'. What "associated parts" are supposed to come with a big honkin' relay? LOL! Replacement screws to hold it down maybe?
All I can say is make sure it is a glow plug relay. There is a starter relay that looks exactly like the glow plug relay. I had a call from a fellow that could not get his glow plugs to work after he changed the relay. Turns out they sold him a starter relay. We had to change some wiring around to make it work and he was really happy that his truck started without being plugged in. That was fun troubleshooting electrical problems in a truck in Arizona from WV.
I can tell you the difference is a starter solenoid grounds through the mounting screws to energise the solenoid, but the solenoid is mounted on a plastic inner fender.
The glow plug relay grounds through one of the small terminals on the relay to energise the relay.
Look at the relay carefully, if it is a starter relay you will see an S by one small terminal and an I by the other small terminal. If you see that, it is the wrong one.
I use a lot of Echlin relays from NAPA and get good service from them.
Got Info From A Ford Diesel Tech. Told Him When I Start The Truck, Neither My Wait To Start Or Water In Fuel Lights Come On. Also Noticed No Clicking Noise, He Said It Was Glow Plug Relay. He Said Runs About 90 Bucks. That Was For 98 & Up. 88 Was More.
The glow plug system changed between 86 and 87.
The 83 thru 86 had the old style glow plug system.
The 87 thru 94 had the new style system.
They have nothing in common as far as parts go other than the names.
new style relay controller located on the back of the intake manifold
old style relay mounted on the inner fender
Considerable difference.
Last edited by Dave Sponaugle; Sep 13, 2006 at 11:38 PM.