starting before "Wait to start" glow plus
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
starting before "Wait to start" glow plus
What happens if someone tries to start or starts a PSD before the “Wait to start”/Glow plug light goes off? What I’m trying to get to is, I had this arrogant tow truck guy jumping my batteries and he had no clue how to start a Diesel. He just started my truck like a car and that very night I noticed that two roof clearance lights burnt out which was immediately followed by right headlight bulb. Would this be related? I mean the truck was in storage for last 9 months so I have no idea if somethng else happened to it...
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 487
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From: CT
Ive seen someone try an start a 7.3PSD without waiting for the WTS light, It was about 50degs outside and the truck just kept turning over. It didnt start untill he waited for the WTS light to go out. If the engine was warm I think it wouldnt be that bad, but I always wait for my glow plugs. As for your lights burning out, I wouldnt think that not waiting for the WTS would have anything to do with it. I would have slapped the dummy for doing that to my truck tho lol.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
Being able to just "car-start" the 7.3 will depend a lot on your HPOP condition. Mine i evidently fine, because I've only waited for the WTS light about 5 times in the 25,000 miles I've owned my '02 in the past 15 months. Now, when it was a lowly 32 degrees on Christmas eve morning, it did seem a little dull at wanting to start, but it did it all the same after winding on the starter for about 8 seconds.
All the diesel guys I've talked to about this have told me that if the trucks starts easy that way, there isn't a problem with doing it that way. On top of that, I can honestly say that the few times I have waited for the WTS light to go off, it actually takes the truck LONGER to start than if I just hit the switch adn fire her off.
Just my experience.
All the diesel guys I've talked to about this have told me that if the trucks starts easy that way, there isn't a problem with doing it that way. On top of that, I can honestly say that the few times I have waited for the WTS light to go off, it actually takes the truck LONGER to start than if I just hit the switch adn fire her off.
Just my experience.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
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From: Marengo, Iowa
All the glow plugs do is preheat the combustion area so that the engine will start easier, and also have afterglow for the cylinders that were open when the glow plugs were energized. they will not and can not do any other damage inside the electrical system.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
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From: Montana
Originally Posted by Shane1041
The way I have it figured is if it didnt need to be on there then ford would have left if off 
...I will take the time to let the glow plugs heat before I start cranking on it
...I will take the time to let the glow plugs heat before I start cranking on it
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
The only thing not waiting will do other than maybe some extra cranking is the extra draw on the battery that the alternator has to make back up.My truck won't fire unless i wait, so I wait. I prefer to wait generally anyway, just saying no damage will come from not waiting if it fires up easy.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
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I've accidentally done it a time or two. I get used to one vehicle's characteristics and then switch, and then instinctively do what the last vehicle needed. I've turned the key in my patrol car or my wife's Jeep to the accessory position and waited for a dash light until I realized I was in a gas vehicle and I've hopped in my truck and fired it up without waiting. The only side affect I've ever noticed is I started it without waiting at about 35 degrees and got a puff of white smoke at start up, which it doesn't normally do. It's never failed to start or given me any kinds of problems.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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The glow plug circuit is a totally independent system & doesn't know when or if the starter is engaged or not. It also doesn't know if the engine is running or not. Not waiting for the wait to start light to go out will not hurt your truck in anyway. Waiting for it to go out MAY start your truck quicker once the starter is engaged.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
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From: North of Greenville
Originally Posted by Shane1041
The way I have it figured is if it didnt need to be on there then ford would have left if off...
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Northern IN
I do it all the time, because I have a dash mounted switch that disables the glow plugs unless I WANT them to work. So the WTS light doesn't mean anything in my case, unless I also turn the dash switch on.
They're not needed unless it is below 45 deg or so when I go to start it. Essentially, as long as it starts, no point in waiting.
They're not needed unless it is below 45 deg or so when I go to start it. Essentially, as long as it starts, no point in waiting.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 1
From: South Texas
Originally Posted by Vijay
What happens if someone tries to start or starts a PSD before the “Wait to start”/Glow plug light goes off? What I’m trying to get to is, I had this arrogant tow truck guy jumping my batteries and he had no clue how to start a Diesel. He just started my truck like a car and that very night I noticed that two roof clearance lights burnt out which was immediately followed by right headlight bulb. Would this be related? I mean the truck was in storage for last 9 months so I have no idea if somethng else happened to it...
