Okay, I think that my truck is mad at me. I have not started her in a couple of days, and we are getting a cold snap so I thought that I would drive her tonight. It is not that cold, but it is like 25 degrees. My block heater is not working, so I tryed to crank her over, and the first time she did not start. So, when I went to cycle the glow plugs again, there was an electrical solenoid clicking very fast under the dash and the glow plugs took a long time to cycle, but she did start. Then, after she was warmed up all of the way, I went through a drivethrough, and shut her off while I was ordering, and when I tryed to start her up again, the clicking was back, but this time I noticed that the "Wait to Start" light was flashing with it, and was very dim, and would not shut off. After about 30 seconds, I cranked her over, and she fired. But, when I got home I tried it again, and the solenoid sound was gone, but the "Wait to Start" light was VERY dim. It did cycle and start, but I am worried. My truck is an 01 wirth 130K miles on it. I am not sure if the glow plugs or anything has been replaced before, as I have only had it for a while. I did put a new set of batteries in in last year, and I did notice that they have a little corrosion on the wires, but not much. I am going to clean the cables tomorrow, but does this sound like it could be a set of glow plugs or a glow plug controller? Thanks in advance for all of your help!

 

Sounds to me like you my have a bad alternator. With the truck running the alternator should be putting out around 14 volts to charge your batteries. Check that out, If you don't have a voltmeter a local auto supply or shop could check it for you. When you clean the battery terminals make sure to remove each one and clean the posts as well as inside the cable connectors. If the alternator checks out OK and you are still having problems re-post and let us know what you have done. Good Luck.

 

Depends on which glow plug system you have. The California ones and the Excursions have the Glow Plug Control Module. The rest of them just have the glow plug relay.

If you look on top of the motor, behind the water/fuel separator, if there are two relays, the GP relay is the one towards the rear.

If there is a rectangular box behind the fuel separator, then that would be the control module.

Either way, the wait to start light is independent of the glow plug relay so I wouls start by making sure your batteries are fully charged, and clean those terminals with some baking soda and water. Be careful not to let it seep under the caps or you'll be worse off than before.

Post back when all is clean and charged and let us know either way what happened.

good luck,

Austin

 

i would check and make sure the cables are clean and tight and batts are up to full power.

 

clean all corrosion, tighten connections, charge batts, check alt. and you should be good to go.

 

Thanks for the posts, I did not get the chance to clean the terminals today. Luckily I do not drive Ole Bessy everyday. I have been driving my Jeep because I live only 1/2 mile from work, and I hate to do that to my Diesel. I will clean the terminals this weekend at my shop. This afternoon the truck acted normal at first, but the 3rd time that I tried to start it it did the clicking under the dash again and almost did not start. The alternators are putting out 14 volts, so I am hoping that it is just the dirty terminals. I will let you know when happens after I clean the terminals.