I was wondering if there was a way to bypass the glow plug relay, so I can keep the plugs on for a bit after the car turns over in the cold weather? Is this possible?
Thanks-

there's an updated relay that does exactly this, available now from bosch.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

You can.

The glow plug relay shuts down when the violet wire to the relay is interrupted by the ignition switch. If you were to manually run the violet wire to a switch in the cabin, you could control when the plugs shutdown.


The alternative is the afterglow relay as mentioned above.

With the violet wire mod, the plugs will shut down in half a minute or so anyway. Just use afterglow rated glow plugs with the mod.

__________________
Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

Yep, I forgot about the timer. After the full timeout of the relay, they will shutdown conventionally, so, the risk of burning them out is reduced.

yea, a lot of people don't realize that the light is just an indication ofthe minimum time to when you should start cranking. The glow plugs stay on untill the internal timer drops out or you start cranking. Disabling the violet wire just prevents the glowplug box from sensing that you are cranking so it leaves the plugs on for the full half minute or so.

In cold weather, I usually wait a few seconds extra before cranking for an easier start. That is easier on the plugs than cycling the ign. switch twice while still getting the plugs hotter.

__________________
Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

... and ditto the above and Brian's comments earlier... and IF you are at all skeptical about what the amber light is a true indication of, do as I did... use a VOM to monitor the voltage being delivered to any of the GPs while you are going through the your typical ignition on / start-up procedure. My two 1980(s) would shut off the amber light in ~15-to-20 seconds but kept the GPs powered up for ~45 seconds during the coldest times spells in our rather mild winters here on the coastline No. of S.F., Ca.

P.S. - edit and fill in your car(s) basic stats as you see just below... this to allow us to do a better job of advising you.