glow plugs / relay or may something else

[sharkjazz]

Couple of days ago was camping at the gand canyon and it dropped down to about -20 in the night. The next day we didn't start at all (this has happened befre, but we pushed the van into the sun and 3 hours later it started). Eventually we gave up trying to sun her warm and got towed to a heated garage and the mechanic did some test and said the relay was gone as it wasn't clicking. We tried to get a new relay at an import store but no luck as not many disels here in the US.

Anyways, the next night it wasn't so cold, but was close to freezing. We spent all day trying to start the van, after about9 hours, I heard the relay click after fiddling with some wires and trying to test the plugs. Things looked up when the glow warming light in the dash lit up for less after each half turn of the ignition. Couple of tries later she started with the biggest cloud of smoke ever.

At this point in time, I am assuming the relay does work (sometimes) and at least one of the glow plugs are workig. We are about to camp outside an imports store in El Paso and hoping they have the relay and plugs. Problem is we are pretty spent out after $2000 repairs in the last month

So I got thinking, would it be possible and or advisable, to make a manual glow plug switch I can operate. If the relay is shagged and cannot get another one here in the US I would have to ship one from home (England). I was thinking some wire from the plus terminal to a switch in the dash, then to the glow plug?


Cheers
Martin

[dave friday]

Hi Martin, if you havent got a volt meter get one..then do these checks when it wont start
switch the ignition on then check the voltage at the glow plugs should be 8 to 10volts[set the meter to 20volts and put the red prod to the glow plugs and the black prod to the battery negative terminal].
There are a number of bits that could be faulty;
50amp glow plug fuse.
ignition switch.
glow plug relay;

post back with your findings ta.
ps the wire and switch is a good idea.

[ringo]

To get you going you could just use a jump lead...

Lets hope alll your glow plugs arent faulty...

Good luck,

Ringo

[pauly8888]

So I got thinking, would it be possible and or advisable, to make a manual glow plug switch I can operate.

Hi Martin,
This is what I have on my bus. I press the button for 5 seconds or so, then turn the key.

[California Dreamin]

Looking at the engine you will see all the glowplugs have a 'buzz bar' linking the top terminal. As a temporary work around VERY CAREFULLY (don't touch any other part of the engine) use a heavy cable (jump lead) from the Pos (+) terminal on the battery to one of the glow plug tops (they are all linked so all the plugs will function).
Hold the jump lead firmly to the glow plug top and count 8 seconds 'REMOVE' lead and imediately crank to start the engine...it's best a second person cranks the engine within a second of you removing the lead (otherwise the heat from the glowplugs will be wasted).
Don't worry...it will spark a little because the circuit is drawing a fair amount of amps.
Just be careful not to touch the jump lead to any other part of the engine or body. (it can be a bit scary but if this happens just pull the lead away quickly and no permanent damage will occur)

Your switch idea to the cab is a no no because of the heavy amps involved (25 - 40 amps) you could rig something up in the engine bay with a heavy 50 amp plus switch but you would need to be absolutely sure the circuit was turned off after the 8 second heat cycles. Maybe a heavy momentary switch (push button) so it couldn't accidently be left powered. And...appropriate 60amp minimum cabling, preferably fused close to the pos battery terminal (50 amp) MAXI fuse holder?

Martin

[Oldiebut goodie]

Or a relay and momentary pushbutton?

Or you can use a suitably rated standard relay in place of the glow plug one - you will not have a glow plug light or temperature and timed control but it will work. The normal relay has the same footprint as the glow plug one.

If you were still in L.A. I could have found you a garage that deals with European cars - my uncle owned one in Redondo Beach.