Glow plugs? Relay?

[pluto]

I have a 97 Ford powerstroke and it wont start unless it is plugged in if it is colder than 35 degrees. I have come to the conclusion that this isn't normal. So what is wrong, is there a relay that can go bad or are the glow plugs shot. What do you think...thanks for the help..-Eric

[Big Dave]

Could be either one. I've seen some good instructions on the diesel sites on how to test to see if it's the GPR (glow plug relay) or the plugs themselves. Basically you just need a ohmeter from what I remember. And I'm assuming your 97 7.3 is pretty much the same in this regard as the Super Duty's.

[Jocko]

Check out the link below.

I replaced the GPs in my superduty a couple of years ago. Not hard, just tedious.



http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f28/testing-gpr-150656/

[Clint]

My relay went out, was not working at all. Replaced it and found that during the whole deal, the batteries had went bad. Got it all replaced, and the next day the alternator failed :) 200 bucks for an alt, 50 or so for the relay, warranty on the batteries, and the truck starts in any weather now. Here is an option to upgrade the stock relay.

http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/s_gpr.html

Also, do a seach on thedieselstop.com and it will give you everything you need to test the relay. I started by replacing the relay as I knew I would end up having to replace it if it was glow plugs anyway. I just got lucky that it was the relay and not the plugs.

[Jocko]

My relay went out, was not working at all. Replaced it and found that during the whole deal, the batteries had went bad. Got it all replaced, and the next day the alternator failed :) 200 bucks for an alt, 50 or so for the relay, warranty on the batteries...


That sounds like my kind of luck :laughing:

[Clint]

That sounds like my kind of luck :laughing:

It was kind of funny, I rolled up to the place where I bought the batteries, left it running, told them what happened. They replaced em on the spot, both were bad, a little over a year old. Ran great for about a day, then the battery light came on. Alt was putting out right at 13v but the truck was running fine. Figured with all the fixing I had done, I might as well replace it. Now Im waiting for the plugs to go out :rolleyes:

[CSP]

It's a very popular subject at www.thedieselstop.com in the '94-97 forums. Probably every tenth post there is glow plug related this time of year.

Follow the link that's within the link Jocko posted.

Autozone is supposedly clearing out their Motorcraft ZD-11 glowplugs. I bought two complete sets for $2.99 each and I've seen posts where people have bought them as low as $0.99 each. The regular price used to be $12 each.

Whatever you do stay away from Autolite if yours are bad. The plug ends can/will swell in the bores and they are a real bi%ch to get out without them breaking inside the heads. I spent two days coaxing five of them out slowly with lots of carbon penetrating lube.

[Whitey]

I replaced the GPR on my 2000 7.3L week before last, cleaned up the battery posts and charged the battery, (left side), and it starts very well now.

Only problem I had was finding a 3/8" deep socket, mine are missing from my tool box in the back of my truck. I couldn't get an open end wrench on the mounting studs.

It's not hard to do and is a pretty quick swap. Go to the site mentioned, dieselstop, and there's a lot of info, way more than here, on what to get, hot to replace, test, etc.

[turtle01]

Check out the batteries I had the same problem and i replaced the batteries and that fixed it

[osue077]

I had the same issues. I replaced the glow plugs and relay but only slightly changed things. Turns out that I had 2 injectors that were no good. Good excuse to upgrade to Stage 1 injectors, now it fires up like when she was new. The way that I figured out that I had bad injectors was the exhaust manifold temp. was 40 degrees cooler at the bad ports.

[pluto]

Ok so I check the GP relay and came up with 12.8v in and 10.8 out I read on one of the links that anything greater than .5 voltage drop means it is bad, but after looking I get conflicting info. any way what do you guys think. I have a 2v drop once I turn the key on.. I am looking to replace it but the only one I found locally was from napa and it wasn't a brand name that I had heard of and 85 bucks so were is a good place to get one and what are some good brands... Thanks for the info guys, it is much appreciated-----Eric

[Whitey]

Read this (http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f47/hard-no-start-check-here-first-75094/), you might find it helpful? :shrug:

I used a Mopar part from the dealer. Same price, $85 +-, for me as Nampa and no one else had em in stock at the time.

From reading (http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/593758-post56.html), this part number, International #1831646C1, $25 +-, should fit it exactly. Call the International dealer.

[osue077]

Here are some part # you can call on. I bought mine from Auto Zone, I told em it was for a 95 non-turbo model (cheaper).

(Allied Electronics) 576-1078
(Stancor Heavy Duty 586-902)
(AutoZone) MR99
(Ford) F7TZ-12B533-CA (94-96 with pigtail)
(Ford) F81Z-12B533-AC (96-early 2000 w/o pigtail)
(International) 1807230C2
(International) 1826634C94
(Napa) GPR-109

[CSP]

I use the GPR-109 on mine from NAPA.

They are actually for the pre-PSD 7.3, but work fine on it. I started using them prior to NAPA actually listing a GPR for the PSD. They definitely have lasted longer than the factory GPR ever did at a fraction of the cost from the dealer.

[jeepingpete]

Same issues last year. It was the batteries.