That's what I wanted to hear. I was looking at it thinking "I know there's a cheaper way to do this that rocks to all holy hell" Man, you rock. With a switch will they stay on till the switch is turned off? I'm not really famaliar with the glow system on...well anything.
-Nate

The purple wire, if switched, only sends the "started has been activated signal"

So if you have the switch off and you start the car then flip the switch off, the relay doesn't care because it still isn't seeing a start signal either way.

I am a fan of not having a switch but for some people the eletronics/eletrical work behind the meathod I used is just tricky.

The switch works good, just think of it as a "trigger off" wire. If you interrupt the wire, the relay won't shut off for the predetermined like 45seconds. (which damages glow plugs)

So, flip switch OFF to disengage starter activated signal. Then after 45 seconds or so or whenever I want to turn off glowplugs turn switch on, plugs go "oh the starter have been cranked, I'm off" then just leave it that way till you want to do a cold start? Sorry I've had a few drinks, long day at the office.
-Nate

Hehe.
No not quite.
Even if you turn the switch back on (the glow plugs will glow for 45seeconds and then automatically shut off (it might be a full min) they won't shut down unless the starter is being activated.

If you want them to shut off after some amount of time you select, you would have to fake a starter signal (not hard but defeats the purpose).

Basically all the switch will do is select whether or not the plugs see the starter signal or not when the starter is being activated.

Savvy? :)

any reason this shouldn't work in a 116 (the relay, not the plugs)? i don't have a cold start problem yet, but it's also 90 degrees out....

This should work with all pencil type plugs with the big black relay box. :)

I have been through the glow plug problem a few times in the past.
It seems like they just do not last very long. I have just gotten another 190D. The previous 190D always seemed to let me down and failed away from home. I always carried a can of ether in th trunk for back up. Yes I know some say do not use ether. What I do is connect a wire to the starter solenoid and hot wire to the battery and shoot the ether while cranking.
Has anyone come up with some GPs that will last longer.
I had the same old BS with my 300 sd.


Tom

Your ether "technique" is just asking for a disaster to happen. Not to mention keeping ether away from an IDI diesel, if the ether ignites on a glow plug during the wrong time of the engine cycle a fire could come from the intake and ignite the can in your hand! I don't know how to tell you otherwise!

For glow plugs, get some of the Bosch brand. Most of the other brands have a reputation for short life. Also, if you have a carbon problem, you need to ream the glow plugs holes at replacement. If there is major carbon buildup, glow plugs develop hot spots and won't last long.

BERU glow plugs are very good, IMO better than the Bosch.