how do i check if my glow plugs are good?
 

how do i check if my glow plugs are good? is there a test? getting colder now and my truck is not starting very well in the mornings, i crank it for 30 seconds then i have the cycle the glow plugs twice by turning the key off and on before starting,,,,,did that just make any sence?...LOL

Glowplugs
 

Pull of the electrical connectors and take a 12V Test light. Put the pigtail on the +ve on your battery and check each plug by touching the electrical connection of the plug with your test light. Make sure not to not touch the body of the plug as it is always grounded.

1.0 If the Test light lights up brighly the plug is good.

2.0 If the Test light does not light up the plug is bad, change it.

3.0 If the Test light is dim, the plug is pretty much gone, change it.

Every plug I every had to deal with was either 1.0 or 2.0 above, a dim light (poor resistance) is rare and I have never seen one yet. I was always

Always use motorcraft/beru plugs. Use anti seize and watch the torque. Be careful cranking too long. Your starter won't like it. Gets hot quick. Expensive. Make sure your batteries are good and all conections are clean.

May not just be plugs - it's possible that the glow plug controller is bad.

yeah i checked the glow plugs and they seam strong, how and where is this controller and how do you check it?

the rely is on the back of the intake its under a little plastic cover and it will look like the starter relay w/ a bunch of wires on it

Have you tried plugging it in at night? How old are the batteries? Do you have good connections?

This is a good way to check them but also remember the test light will light brightly when a glow plug has shorted out also.

When your controler is operating properly you should hear it cycle on- off a couple of times when the wait to start light goes out. Right now - if it is 20 deg outside - then the controler should stay on around 15 seconds. In my 93 I've changed the controler 3 times in 12 years. Glow plugs once.