I hope so
glow plugs
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New User
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glow plugs
hi guys im new here and i just got a new van, well i own a 1990 E-350 cube van that i just baught last week it has a 7.3L IDI and i hate to say it but i did a pretty dumb thing, well i was in the cab and just testing out the lights and **** and turns out i left the glow plugs on for 2 days. I had a battery charger on at at a 2 amp trickle charge and the batterys were almost dead when i put the charger on so i dont really know how long the plugs where on for. So does anyone know if this a destroyed the plugs or are they gunna be ok?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
I've heard of glow plugs being destroyed that way, but if the controller is working properly you might be OK. But test each one BEFORE attempting to start the engine just in case. If one or more burned up, a GP tip might be in the engine. Its not very likely to happen if you used beru plugs, but its best to play it safe.
Heres why:
Heres why:
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New User
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glow plugs
thanks alot man knowing be i would have probably just tryed to start it and just maybe destroyed my engine thanks agen i really dont know much about diesels the help on this site has saved my *** a few times
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
I think that refers to the reset time of the bi-metal switch type controller (1983-1986). It means if you do a brief run of a few seconds after startup and turn the engine off immediately, it takes up to 2 min before you will get a full glow (~10 seconds) on the plugs to be able to restart the engine. I don't know if this applies to the later solid state controllers.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Jackson
This is the sticker on the visor of my 1988 model with the solid state glow plug controller.
Leaving the ignition key "ON" for over 2 minutes without starting may make starting difficult because the glow plugs will stop cycling. Reset the system by turning the ignition key "OFF" and then back "ON" again.
Leaving the ignition key "ON" for over 2 minutes without starting may make starting difficult because the glow plugs will stop cycling. Reset the system by turning the ignition key "OFF" and then back "ON" again.
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thanks
Great man I appreciate you going through the trouble to take a picture. My truck is a 1990 so it should be the same as your 88' i sure hope that my controller is working but if it wasn't I would think that they would have burned out long ago thanks agen.
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New User
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yea maybe
thats what I'm hoping didn't happen the interior light was on and the batteries where almost dead when i put the charger on at a 2 amp charge so I'm hoping that the low power also didn't hurt them. Would that be a good thing or bad thing? Will they still turn on with such low power?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
The cycling would be good as it should have turned off when they got up to temp and turned back on when cooled. It probably didn't cycle any more when amps got low. There are a lot of variables in this.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Marianna, Florida USA
If you left them on for two days and your battery still has life in it, I doubt you destroyed your GPs. They draw about 10 amps each. Your controller must have tripped out and stopped cycling them shortly after you went into the house. Like everyone said, check them for continuity first to verify they are OK.
The controller has no way of determining how hot the GPs are. It works on a time base only. If you do need new GPs, buy a AC12G or Autolite 1109GPs. Check out the 76f250highboys's Glow Plug Thread on page 2 of the pre powerstroke IDI Thread for more info.
The controller has no way of determining how hot the GPs are. It works on a time base only. If you do need new GPs, buy a AC12G or Autolite 1109GPs. Check out the 76f250highboys's Glow Plug Thread on page 2 of the pre powerstroke IDI Thread for more info.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Jackson
My information is the solid state controller measures the resistance of the all the glow plugs grouped together and regulates the time on based on that reading.
Two observances bear this out. The warmer the engine, the shorter the wait to start light stays on and when a glow plug or plugs is burned out, its resistance changes to infinity for that plug and the controller short cycles not allowing the rest of the plugs to heat up.
I put Autolites in my truck when I first bought it and was told on "The Diesel stop" and oilburners.net that they are bad about the tips swelling, some badly enough to cause the tip to break off during removal. I was advised to replace with Motorcraft (mfg. by Beru) ZD-9's from AutoZone which were cheaper and have a better track record. Since that time AutoZone has stopped carrying them, but they are available on the net.
Found the hard data, see pic.
Two observances bear this out. The warmer the engine, the shorter the wait to start light stays on and when a glow plug or plugs is burned out, its resistance changes to infinity for that plug and the controller short cycles not allowing the rest of the plugs to heat up.
I put Autolites in my truck when I first bought it and was told on "The Diesel stop" and oilburners.net that they are bad about the tips swelling, some badly enough to cause the tip to break off during removal. I was advised to replace with Motorcraft (mfg. by Beru) ZD-9's from AutoZone which were cheaper and have a better track record. Since that time AutoZone has stopped carrying them, but they are available on the net.
Found the hard data, see pic.
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Thanks for info
Thanks for the info its a lot more than i have asked for. I also just found out that the GP are stock. So is there a good chance that they are burned out anyway? I'm and thinking of changing them regardless, 350 000KM and 18 years is along time to have the same ones. I looked at some on eBay 60 bucks for a set, this after my dad saying they would be $75 each. Anyone know a good place to get some? I am up here in Canada so they where used for a fair bit of the year.
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From: Jackson
It's pretty simple to check them. Take a 12V test light and clamp to the positive (+) post of your battery. Next, remove the wire from the glow plug, I ****** them off with pliers, and touch the test light to the terminal. It should light nice and bright. If it doesn't, the plug is bad. The years don't matter, it's the number of starts. Also if there are burned out plugs the wait to start light will just flicker and the controller will start clicking the relay on and off rapidly in just a few seconds. If the wait to start light comes on for about 10 seconds and the controller does not click the relay on and off until about 45 seconds, chances are everything is fine.
There is a sponsor with the right parts on this thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...w-plugs-2.html
There is a sponsor with the right parts on this thread https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...w-plugs-2.html