Glow plug light and the Sears $29 Voltmeter
 

I could see this one coming. 85 300D, 230K. Glow plug light took longer and longer to go off prior to starting. Cold here in N. Cal but car starts up just fine. Now glow plug light won't go off at all untill after engine starts.

Researching the threads suggests that it's time to do diagnostics on the glow plugs and relay. Will the Sears $29 voltmeter do the job?

Further research indicates that just leaving it alone as long as the engine starts is OK too but my Virgo/anal personality wants to get it fixed.

Thoughts, suggestions on the Sears meter appreciated. Happy new year to all!

You might want to look around for another multi-function tester. Harbor Freight has had a pretty decent one on sale for the last month for 3.99. Radion shack usualy has a decent autosensing one for around 10 to 15.00.

As long as that meter measures resistance and DC Voltage, it should do the trick. I am not a fan of Sears electrical test equipment, but then again I am very picky about these types of things since I calibrate and repair electrical test equipment for a living. Again, it should do the trick.

Mike

No, the Sears meters are not a picture of high quality, but for $29 it is impossible to beat. It is not simply a volt/ohm/ammeter. It has capacitance, inductance, frequency, duty cycle and thermocouple scales and works great.

If you use your test equipment for a living, get higher quality stuff, but my gosh, this is a meter you can afford to throw in your tool box and have a whole bench full of lower accuracy but adequate test equipment with your car at all times.

Happy New Year,