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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 10:01 AM
  #1  
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jkh04200
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Cold starting?

First diesel, 95PS

This morning temp was about 40.

Turned the ignition, glow plugs warm in about 4 sec., cranked for about 4 secs. Turned of the ignition and repeated, still no start. Did it again and busted right off on the third try. Is this normal? Or should I have cranked longer on the first try?
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 10:21 AM
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you need to let the glow plugs warm up more. at very least until wait to start light goes out. i go even longer cause I don't like smoke and romps at startup.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 10:24 AM
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I did wait until the light went out. Even after the light goes out do the glow plugs keep warming up?
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 10:35 AM
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Yep, they stay on for up to two minutes. If you wait a little longer after the light goes out it should start right up with no or little smoke.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 12:20 PM
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I'll do that. I thought once the light went out they were comopletley heated up. Or heated up as much as they were going to.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 12:20 PM
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also, Is there a rule of thumb as to when to use the block heater?
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 01:51 PM
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I start using mine when the temps get down in the 30's or lower. My truck doesn't like cold but seems to do okay without being plugged in for the week I am elk hunting in around 10* weather. That is what it usually gets down to at night sometimes colder. I have to cycle the glowplugs a couple times then it will fire up. We will see this year. I have new injectors and a chip. I'll find out in a couple weeks if it will like it or not.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 02:59 PM
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If you watch your voltmeter you can see when the glowplugs kick off, there is a big drain on the system while they are in operation.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 03:31 PM
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Really! So these things keep warming up until I see the voltmeter move? How long will that take?
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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I've read somewhere around two minutes. 1997F-350 will chime in soon. He really knows all the answers.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 05:33 PM
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glow plugs will stay on for a max of 2 minutes depending on engine oil temp and air temps are. I though when you said you let the glow plugs warm for 4 seconds you meant turn key on count to 4 and crank. The WTS light is a set time. it never changes but the actual glow plug on time does change any where from 0 to 120 seconds. I Plug my truck in when it starts getting harder to start with out it. consistant 30 degree weather usually.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 06:02 PM
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Just to add a little more info, I only leave my truck pluged in for about three hours.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2006 | 06:15 PM
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same here utahcrew i use a high amp timer to run it about 3 hours before i plan to run it. same with my plow truck.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2006 | 08:17 PM
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I need a new glow plug relay, but it looks like a regular starter solenoid. Can I use a regular solenoid with 4 terminals, or is there a significant difference?
 
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Old Nov 25, 2006 | 11:37 AM
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I've actually tested this 2 minute timeout by metering the glow plug side of the GPR on a cold startup.

I am thinking that I might install a small 12 volt light bulb to this connection and put the bulb in on my dash somewhere, so that I know if the GPR is working or not.

This still won't tell me how many amps are getting thru the GPR but it will tell me that it is working.

I've often wondered if the contacts get bad on a GPR, will they not pass as many amps to the glow plugs? It might not be as simple as a go/no go situation. Any mechanical contacts can get spotted or pitted over time and this could compromise the relay.
 
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