Glow plug replacement
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,965
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From: H-town, MN
Glow plug replacement
I am going to be replacing glow plugs in near future and wonder if valve cover gaskets are rubber (reusable) or need replacing. Also any tips or pointers that are not in the official glow plug thread would be wonderful as it will be my first experience inside a diesel motor 
. I am sure all will go wrong and words will be said but in the end it WILL work. thanx! 
. I am sure all will go wrong and words will be said but in the end it WILL work. thanx!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Bobcaygeon Ont.
Yes your valve covers are reusable. You will need a 10mm thin walled socket to get at the glow plugs. The rocker arms are very close! The hardest part of the job i found was getting the damn dipstick tube back in the oil pan!! 
Mine leaked and i had to replace the o-ring later(the tube is hooked on a stud on the corner of the rocker cover so you have to lift it up to get bolt out!) Other than that it pretty straight forward. Good luck!
Mine leaked and i had to replace the o-ring later(the tube is hooked on a stud on the corner of the rocker cover so you have to lift it up to get bolt out!) Other than that it pretty straight forward. Good luck!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 3
From: Florence,SC
to save you some money and time ohm out your glow plugs. anything over 2 ohms are crap. my suggetion if you do pull the valve covers and you have high mileage it might be a good idea to replace the gaskets and harnesses due to oil ingestion in the connectors and the softening of the plastic locks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Originally Posted by BowTieHatr
to save you some money and time ohm out your glow plugs. anything over 2 ohms are crap. my suggetion if you do pull the valve covers and you have high mileage it might be a good idea to replace the gaskets and harnesses due to oil ingestion in the connectors and the softening of the plastic locks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 7
From: Central, Al
KC9 CHECK GLOW PLUGS
Note: Run these checks if starting difficulty occurs in cold temperatures.
Disconnect glow plug/injector connectors at both valve cover gaskets.
Check resistance between ground and each glow plug connector using a digital multimeter and Glow Plug Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent.
Is the resistance between 0.1 and 2.0 ohms?
Yes
GO to KC10 .
No REMOVE valve cover and INSPECT harness for opens and shorts. If harness is OK, INSTALL a new glow plug.
I would say Bow is dead on
Note: Run these checks if starting difficulty occurs in cold temperatures.
Disconnect glow plug/injector connectors at both valve cover gaskets.
Check resistance between ground and each glow plug connector using a digital multimeter and Glow Plug Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent.
Is the resistance between 0.1 and 2.0 ohms?
Yes
GO to KC10 .
No REMOVE valve cover and INSPECT harness for opens and shorts. If harness is OK, INSTALL a new glow plug.
I would say Bow is dead on
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 7
From: Central, Al
Its basically just a piece of harness that plugs into the VC to make it easyer to Ohm out. I made one out of an old harness i replaced.
I dont know if Ford would sell it but give them that part number and see
I dont know if Ford would sell it but give them that part number and see
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 376
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From: South Dakota
I thought I needed that harness to test my glow plugs, but when I pulled the connector off I was able to touch the lead of the multimeter to the pins without the harness. To make sure I had a good ground, I connected the negative lead on the multimeter to the negative post on one of the batteries.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
Originally Posted by amiller93
KC9 CHECK GLOW PLUGS
Note: Run these checks if starting difficulty occurs in cold temperatures.
Disconnect glow plug/injector connectors at both valve cover gaskets.
Check resistance between ground and each glow plug connector using a digital multimeter and Glow Plug Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent.
Is the resistance between 0.1 and 2.0 ohms?
Yes
GO to KC10 .
No REMOVE valve cover and INSPECT harness for opens and shorts. If harness is OK, INSTALL a new glow plug.
I would say Bow is dead on
Note: Run these checks if starting difficulty occurs in cold temperatures.
Disconnect glow plug/injector connectors at both valve cover gaskets.
Check resistance between ground and each glow plug connector using a digital multimeter and Glow Plug Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent.
Is the resistance between 0.1 and 2.0 ohms?
Yes
GO to KC10 .
No REMOVE valve cover and INSPECT harness for opens and shorts. If harness is OK, INSTALL a new glow plug.
I would say Bow is dead on
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,497
Likes: 7
From: Central, Al
I have always Heard and used 20 also TJ.
I pulled that from the Ford Factory Service Manual after I went and looked it up
But it sure is nice to ohm them out standing in front of the truck
I pulled that from the Ford Factory Service Manual after I went and looked it up
Originally Posted by nodakford
I thought I needed that harness to test my glow plugs, but when I pulled the connector off I was able to touch the lead of the multimeter to the pins without the harness.
Last edited by Uzumati; Oct 22, 2006 at 07:12 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Bobcaygeon Ont.
I a firm believer in if i have to take the vc off replace them all! It only takes a couple of minutes to change them. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure i always say. Thats just my .2 cents! Iether way i hope all goes well!!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 376
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From: South Dakota
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-7-3L-POWER-STROKE-GLOW-PLUG-TEST-HARNESS-9-PIN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33693QQihZ019QQitem Z8055905740QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V
Here is that harness referred to in the Ford manual. When my truck wouldn't start, I found the L/H bank of glow plugs ohmed out between 1.8-2.1 ohms and the R/H ohmed out between .2 and .3 ohms. Changed out the L'H glow plugs and truck started right up. Wonder why Mitchel on Demands states less then 20 is good?
Here is that harness referred to in the Ford manual. When my truck wouldn't start, I found the L/H bank of glow plugs ohmed out between 1.8-2.1 ohms and the R/H ohmed out between .2 and .3 ohms. Changed out the L'H glow plugs and truck started right up. Wonder why Mitchel on Demands states less then 20 is good?
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 3
From: Florence,SC
a PCED from ford states
Disconnect all of the glow plug/injector harness connectors from the valve cover gaskets. With the Rotunda Glow Plug Injector Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent installed, measure glow plug resistance to ground (preferably B-). A resistance measurement of 0.1-2 ohms indicates a good glow plug.
if your fine with 20 ohms i am fine with that, me i replace them if they are over 2.
Disconnect all of the glow plug/injector harness connectors from the valve cover gaskets. With the Rotunda Glow Plug Injector Adapter 134-00132 or equivalent installed, measure glow plug resistance to ground (preferably B-). A resistance measurement of 0.1-2 ohms indicates a good glow plug.
if your fine with 20 ohms i am fine with that, me i replace them if they are over 2.