Lights not steady
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
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From: San Diego, CA/ Yuma, AZ
Is it just when you start your truck or the entire time it is running.
The Glow plug controller will make your lights "pulse" while they are heating up but should subside after 30 sec's or so after your truck is running.
Thats all I have.
Gary
The Glow plug controller will make your lights "pulse" while they are heating up but should subside after 30 sec's or so after your truck is running.
Thats all I have.
Gary
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Check all battery connections, including grounds on both ends and the connections on the starter relay.
Also check the connections on the glow plug relay.
What shape are the batteries in?
Did you happen to glance down at the wait to start light?
Old style glow plug controllers like to fail and turn the glow plugs on while driving.
And the wait to start light is outside your normal field of vision while driving unless you look down there.
Also check the connections on the glow plug relay.
What shape are the batteries in?
Did you happen to glance down at the wait to start light?
Old style glow plug controllers like to fail and turn the glow plugs on while driving.
And the wait to start light is outside your normal field of vision while driving unless you look down there.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: TENNESSEE, GO VOLS
Mine does the same thing and it drives me crazy. Changed the voltage regulator and put in a manual glowplug controller and still the same thing. I will check the grounds. Thanks Dave for that info.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
My batteries are fairly new the PO told me, although there not the same size or amp batteries. The Voltage regulator looks old and probably original so I could get a new one since it shouldn't be but a couple dollars. I will check all my grounds on the truck also.
My Gp light comes on a few times after I start my truck, I've been told this is normal? But I've never noticed the light come on once the truck is to operating temps.
My Gp light comes on a few times after I start my truck, I've been told this is normal? But I've never noticed the light come on once the truck is to operating temps.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: TENNESSEE, GO VOLS
My batteries are fairly new the PO told me, although there not the same size or amp batteries. The Voltage regulator looks old and probably original so I could get a new one since it shouldn't be but a couple dollars. I will check all my grounds on the truck also.
My Gp light comes on a few times after I start my truck, I've been told this is normal? But I've never noticed the light come on once the truck is to operating temps.
My Gp light comes on a few times after I start my truck, I've been told this is normal? But I've never noticed the light come on once the truck is to operating temps.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Sometimes my Starter will stick so maybe its going bad, but I will use the volt meter to see things.
Whats the Ford part number for voltage regulator?
Sorry to always keep asking for Ford part numbers but I like to research through Green Sales to see if they have it.
Whats the Ford part number for voltage regulator?
Sorry to always keep asking for Ford part numbers but I like to research through Green Sales to see if they have it.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
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there were two different volateg regulators one if equipped with an ammeter the other for a light only , but both are replaced with a single replacement regulator so dont be alarmed if the new ford regulator looks different , i bought mine at napa
you wont be able to find one at a dealer they have long since discontinued them
also see if the ground wire to the body of teh regulator is corroded and a bad rectifier in the alt. will cause the pulsing
if you have a DVOM set it to A/C voltage and probe the battery while its running if you get a reading on A/C scale the recitifier has one or more bad diodes
you wont be able to find one at a dealer they have long since discontinued them
also see if the ground wire to the body of teh regulator is corroded and a bad rectifier in the alt. will cause the pulsing
if you have a DVOM set it to A/C voltage and probe the battery while its running if you get a reading on A/C scale the recitifier has one or more bad diodes
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
I hooked the volt meter to it but it shows 000 so Im guessing the diodes are good. I will start with getting a voltage regulator first then if that dont work go on from there
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I forgot to list the body to engine or negative battery post grounds in my first post.
The battery grounds both go to the engine block.
The engine block should have a ground wire from it to the cab at the rear of the engine.
Also check the grounds over by the voltage regulator.
Since the inner fender is plastic, you need ground wires to everything down on the inner fender.
Before I spent money for a regulator, I would go have the batteries load tested at a parts store.
Even more so since the batteries are not the same size or capacity.
The battery grounds both go to the engine block.
The engine block should have a ground wire from it to the cab at the rear of the engine.
Also check the grounds over by the voltage regulator.
Since the inner fender is plastic, you need ground wires to everything down on the inner fender.
Before I spent money for a regulator, I would go have the batteries load tested at a parts store.
Even more so since the batteries are not the same size or capacity.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
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daves right , i forgot to mention that also and its is one of the common problems
most had a pigtail originally coming out of the negative battery cable end and was attached to the fender on the right side and usually the radiator support on the drivers side and many times over the years they get cut off or corrode badly
and the metal tray the regulator is attached to also has a ground wire from it to the fender
for additional redundancy i added a ground wire from the regulator to the alternator housing ground terminal
and adding several grounds from the engine block to the cab and also to the frame these will cure a lot of electrical issues on these trucks
most had a pigtail originally coming out of the negative battery cable end and was attached to the fender on the right side and usually the radiator support on the drivers side and many times over the years they get cut off or corrode badly
and the metal tray the regulator is attached to also has a ground wire from it to the fender
for additional redundancy i added a ground wire from the regulator to the alternator housing ground terminal
and adding several grounds from the engine block to the cab and also to the frame these will cure a lot of electrical issues on these trucks