need help glow plug relay
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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need help glow plug relay
okay, i really need some help. my glow plug relay started not clicking unless i
tapped it. eventuallly did not work at all. went to international dealer and got relay with wired controller. now it cycles normally, but my lights do not get dim and you do not see the drop on the voltage gauge like it use to. also the wait to start light now comes on and immediately goes off. have to turn on and let cycle about 7 times in the morning, checked voltage at glow plugs and they are cycling, but it seems like they are not drawing any current. I don't know what to check.
tapped it. eventuallly did not work at all. went to international dealer and got relay with wired controller. now it cycles normally, but my lights do not get dim and you do not see the drop on the voltage gauge like it use to. also the wait to start light now comes on and immediately goes off. have to turn on and let cycle about 7 times in the morning, checked voltage at glow plugs and they are cycling, but it seems like they are not drawing any current. I don't know what to check.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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i just replaced the relay on my controller monday,not the whole contoller,you can check for voltage at the glowplug side of the relay,when you first turn on the key i used a little 12v test light,if its on than you might want to pull all the leads off the plugs,than using the test light with one end hooked up to the positive of the battery,touch the test light end to each plug one at at ime they should turn the light on.if not that plug is bad,also can put the test light on each of the plug wires(test light now hooked up to the nagative side of battery) turn the key on and the light should come on at each wire,this is a pain as you must hook up light, turn on key check light and do it all over again for the next plug.hope it helps.by the way i had one bad plug and it made my wait to start light go off in just a second or two at most
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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did your voltage gauge in the truck not go down with one bad glow plug.
I have checked, I have voltage going to all of the plugs, but I am not sure how you are checking them. Can I check with a voltmeter. I do not want to replace them all from the nightmares I have heard. They are the originals at 160k.
I have checked, I have voltage going to all of the plugs, but I am not sure how you are checking them. Can I check with a voltmeter. I do not want to replace them all from the nightmares I have heard. They are the originals at 160k.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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my voltage gauge never went down when the relay was bad but i was getting voltage at all plugs(the 12v battery side terminal of the relay burnt right out of the case and was just kinda sitting over its contact point so voltage would go thru but would not draw and amps to heat the plugs)i found the bad plug after replacing the relay,but had not used it yet, i checked the plugs to make sure that either a plug had not gone bad and burned up my relay or that the relay went bad and burnt up a plug as stated found one bad plug replaced it system works great now. you can use a meter to check the plug wires, also using the meter on each plug should give you about 200 ohms to ground, note that is just what i found on my plugs i have no referance for that other then they all read between 180-200 ohms cold and they work.a test light on each plug head (one side of test light to positive side of battery )should make the test light ,light up if the plug is good,the plug case supplies the ground return if light does not light up that plug is open and bad.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
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From: Huntington Indiana
The cycling of the controler which is very quick is a good indication of several bad glowplugs. Or the new controler could be bad.
Also try this. I found the ground on the controler wasn't very good and caused this same situation. What I did was run a separate wire from the grounding bolt direct to the ground on the battery. This seemed to cure the problem for many years now.
Also try this. I found the ground on the controler wasn't very good and caused this same situation. What I did was run a separate wire from the grounding bolt direct to the ground on the battery. This seemed to cure the problem for many years now.
Last edited by bigredtruckmi; Sep 22, 2006 at 06:21 PM.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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did not have enough time to do much this weekend. but i did check the two glow plugs closest to the radiator. one read 2 ohms, the other one read open. so i know i have at least one bad plug. sounds like your same situation bobpat. my battery side of the relay also burnt through, and eventually broke off. now, i guess i need to know the best way to take out glow plugs. since i have read nothing but nightmares about them. they are the originals. did you just replace the one bad one.
93, 160k.
93, 160k.
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Junior User
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sounds a like what i had. make sure you check them all it appears that the controller senses the resistance as the means to controll on and off cycle,my glow plugs came out no problem none of the stuck or were broke took about 10 min to get them all outi used a 1/4 rachet and 12 point socket
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
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checked tonight. 5 bad glow plugs. I can't believe it. they were working fine until i changed that glow plug relay. Bobpat, did you use any penetrating spray. i am worried, since mine are the originals, and do you think I should do all 8, or just the bad ones.
thanks for the help
thanks for the help
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
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i didnt use ant pen spray it wasnt needed in my case i did vacum the junk up around each plug with a glow plug first just to keep it from going down the hole, the plug i used was from autoworks 9.89 each think it was motorcraft/buri? my options are limited where i live on parts store,unless i feel like taking an hour ride.