Damm glowplugs again

[pj67coll]

Today I was working on my hirschman antenna. I cleaned it's internals as best I could and then cleaned and lubed the antenna shaft itself. Lot of gunk on it so I switched the ignition on and off several times to get the antenna to extend and retract, cleaning and re-lubing it each time. When I got done with this I see that my glow plug light wont come on!

Bugger. Looks like I've damaged something in the system from the continuous ignition on and off procedure.

Could working the ignition like that cause something to blow in the glow system? I can hear the click from the relay after about 20 seconds but the car started poorly first time after I noticed this. I mean I seemed like it was running weakly until I turned the idle control knob all the way up.

I just replace the plugs back in March last year 8 thousand miles ago.

- Peter.

[sloride]

Any chance they were Autolite GPs?

[vstech]

likely you popped the strip fuse.

pull the cover off the relay, and measure voltage at each screw with the key on/off...

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by sloride

Any chance they were Autolite GPs?

Monarks.

- Peter.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by vstech

likely you popped the strip fuse.

pull the cover off the relay, and measure voltage at each screw with the key on/off...

If that's the case surely the relay wouldn't activate at all? Since it got really cold last month I've been waiting till the relay clicks off before starting and it worked perfectly. So I waited the normal amount, about 20 seconds and sure enough the relay clicks and it started.

I would have begun the troubleshooting today except I was repairing drywall damage in the garage from a storm a few months back so I couldn't devote the time necessary.

So I guess I'll be driving the truck again this week while I troubleshoot nights

- Peter.

[vstech]

ahh... so the light is out, but at least some of the plugs are working.

I would pull plug #1 and replace it. the relay has a comparison circuit in it based on plug 1. if the light is out, but it starts fine after 20 seconds of "glow time" likely you only have to one plug out.

beru or bosh are better glow plugs by the way...

[jay_bob]

Always a good practice to disable the glow relay if you are doing electrical troubleshooting.

Unplug either the 4 or 6 pin connector at the relay.

I learned that one the hard way too.

[mannys9130]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Monarks.

- Peter.

Just as horrible.



You should replace those with Beru as soon as you can.

[mach4]

Originally Posted by jay_bob

Always a good practice to disable the glow relay if you are doing electrical troubleshooting... I learned that one the hard way too.

Interesting...hadn't thought about it before, but that just might be the best reason to go with the Ford solenoid manual glow solution. Thanks for the tip.

[MBeige]

You should only turn the key to position 1, the radio turns on at position 1 so this should allow extension/retraction of the antenna as well.

Position 2 activates the glow plugs.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by MBeige

You should only turn the key to position 1, the radio turns on at position 1 so this should allow extension/retraction of the antenna as well.

Position 2 activates the glow plugs.

Good to know. By the way, which is plug no1? Closest to back or front of engine?

- Peter.

[Air&Road]

Number one is at the front.

[Diesel911]

The Glow Plug Light is out on mine but it starts fine with no symptoms of bad Glow Plugs so I assume it is the light bulb that is the issue.