Glow plug or relay issue....

[Grebesbakery]

Hey Guys,
I have a 95' PSD (e350) with 270,000 miles on it. Right now it wont start unless its plugged in. I get the "wait to start" light and I do hear the relay click. I'm thinking the relay should be alright...

With out plugging it in, it cranks and blows a bunch of white smoke...unburned fuel I'm guessing.

SO....i'm thinking glow plugs, BUT just want to make sure, before I start pulling the covers and this being a van, its not going to be fun...

any input would be great.

[JJFLASH]

Oh dude I feel for ya having to get down and dirty with that van

Do you know ANYONE who would lend you their GPR to try before you have to rip off your valve covers? If that doesn't do it then it could be glow plugs or your UVCH. I would suspect bad wiring before the actual glow plugs. Are you familiar with the workings of the UVCH?

[Grebesbakery]

Yeah no luck on finding a relay I could try....I have not a clue on the UVCH...Pretty new to the powerstroke, just got this rig a few weeks ago.

[Patrick Feeley]

Prior to the next cold start, and without plugging it in, jump the relay's large terminals with jumper cables (for about 30 seconds) and see what happens. You can also measure the voltage drop across the relay when the plugs are active (you have up to 1.5 to 2 minutes after the key is turned to Wait-to-Start). Place the meter leads on both large terminals (one on each) and measure the drop. Anything over 0.5V and the relay is bad. Foe a replacement I like the Stancor 586-902 relay. Cheers!

[luca_brasi]

Originally Posted by Patrick Feeley

Prior to the next cold start, and without plugging it in, jump the relay's large terminals with jumper cables (for about 30 seconds) and see what happens. You can also measure the voltage drop across the relay when the plugs are active (you have up to 1.5 to 2 minutes after the key is turned to Wait-to-Start). Place the meter leads on both large terminals (one on each) and measure the drop. Anything over 0.5V and the relay is bad. Foe a replacement I like the Stancor 586-902 relay. Cheers!

Yep, I did this for a few weeks every morning before I bought a new relay.

You should also see a slight voltage drop on your dash within the 1/2 second between turning the key and your glow plugs activating. If you don't see the drop then your relay is bad.

Also, you don't have to pull the valve covers to test resistance of your glow plugs. You just have to unplug the wiring harnesses and perform an ohm test between leads. Search for a wiring diagram. Ours are a little different than the newer ones and you have to be careful to not mistake the injector leads for the GP leads.

[Grebesbakery]

thanks for the info......one more nob question...here is the relay located?

[JJFLASH]

Here ya go.

[Grebesbakery]

Thanks! thats going to be a pain to get to in this damn van.

[JJFLASH]

ten four dude

how flexible are you?

[Grebesbakery]

Could there be an ignition problem? Today I was just messing around to see if it would start bc it went below freezing (not plugged in) last night....the SOB started right up this morning!!! Either way I'm replacing the relay but just wanted to see if anyone ran into this problem.

Side note, I can take my key out after I get the rig started....