long cranking to start

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 30, 2008 | 04:13 PM

#16

Smokin'

Smokin

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 8,849

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by RexinReading

ok wel the bad news is..and possibly good news for me is I came home and the truck is still sitting @ my house. I understand the relay is behind the fuel filter and an easy swap. Are the plugs hard to get to and change? I'm a refrigeration mechanic. If I can get to em I should be able to do the work.

The clock is ticking..............

Plugs are under your valve cover. You'll want to x everything else off your list before bothering with your glow plugs.

Seriously, have someone cross the large terminals on your glow plug relay with a screwdriver while you try to start the truck.

If it starts instantly like magic, you have a bad relay.

Sep 30, 2008 | 04:13 PM

#17

STROKIN'IT7.3

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 1,661

Likes: 0

From: Bridgewater, VA

Got pull the valve covers

Sep 30, 2008 | 04:27 PM

#18

RexinReading

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

I believe it's going to be on the left side of the engine. Am I correct in assuming I'll have to get to it by removing the engine cover inside the truck? In anticipation of this being the porblem I called my bud @ Car Quest. He said the relay is special order and costs $180. Ouch

Sep 30, 2008 | 04:31 PM

#19

Smokin'

Smokin

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 8,849

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by RexinReading

No, its a little brown electrical relay behind your fuel filter. You shouldn't have to remove anything to get to it.

Depending on the year of your truck you may also have an air intake heater, it looks the same and is next to it but in a different spot.

NAPA part number GPR110 or GPR109...shouldn't be more than $70. do you have a NAPA near you anywhere?

Here's a pic of the 2 relays (the right side of the pic is the front of the truck for orientation)

Of the two brown relays, the on one the left is the GPR. The other is the AIH relay.

Sep 30, 2008 | 05:30 PM

#20

RexinReading

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

ok got to the relay...a bit more difficult in a van as it's "under the dash" but removal of the laternator should make the job easy. I jumped it out and the truck started. I tried again without jumping it out and the truck started again. I'm going to replace it anyway. Thanks for all the help and good advise.

ps..the tow truck called a few mins ago and said he'll be here tomorrow. I told him....don;t bother

Rex

Sep 30, 2008 | 05:34 PM

#21

Smokin'

Smokin

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 8,849

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by RexinReading

Rex

Well what the relay does is supply power to your glow plugs, which in turn pre-heats your fuel before you turn the truck over. In contrast to a gas engine, which relys on spark plugs to ignite the fuel, a diesel uses its own compression to ignite its fuel. The colder the fuel, the harder it is to ignite..is I guess a easy way of explaining things.

Since you got it started, and it ran for a minute or two, your fuel warmed up just enough that it made it easy to start when you turned it over once again.

Yay.

on the tow truck driver.

Edit: And Rex, when you get your new relay, use an end wrench to put the new one on. They are just plastic and can break pretty easily if torqued on with a socket.

Sep 30, 2008 | 06:26 PM

#22

Nick 99

More Turbo

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 636

Likes: 7

From: La Mesa, Ca.

voltage drop at GPR

Place a voltmeter across the large terminals of the Glow Plug relay, the reading should be 12+ volts before relay is energized. Once the relay is energized the voltage should drop to less than 1 volt. A reading of more than 1 volt when energized means the contacts inside are badly pitted and cause a voltage drop due to poor connection.

Sep 30, 2008 | 09:44 PM

#23

RexinReading

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

will do lisa. I hpe to find one tomorrow....and nick...I will check that before replacing as I suspect it's possible I also have several bad glow plugs. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks