starter solenoid

[trrun]

hey guys,
can anyone tell me why my soleniod is getting really hot. I'm assuming its the starter solenoid and there are 2 of them one in front of the other,right next to the fuel filter. And the back one is getting hot, like to hot to touch, but it is only getting hot where the big hot wire comes into it. Any help would be appreciated!

thanks Tim

[wesjones]

do you have the wrong fuse in the panel for that line? that might warm things up...

wes

[super_stroke]

i'm almost positive your talkin about glow plug relays. the stater solenoid is on the passenger side inner fender. right next to the battery. the glow plug relays are the only relays on the engine, and they are lined up in a row just like described.

[trrun]

ok sooo can anybody tell me why my glow plug relay is getting really hot?
actually now its not getting hot at all. i will feel it warm up then i feel a click in the relay and it cools back down, i'm assuming thats probably how it should work correct?but before when it was getting real hot i don't believe i felt it click, also it would only take about 20-30 secs and it would be to hot to touch. I hasn't done it in the last 10 or so times i've cycled my ignition, any thoughts?
Thanks Tim

[super_stroke]

if you cycle your ignition while yuor engine is warmed up the glow plugs will only work for a short amount of time if at all. depends on how warm the engine is. i'd guess that the reason it gets so hot is the amount of current going through it. thats just a guess thou. the click is the relay tuning off. i would assume thats normal. others will chime in with thier opinon's.

[mschn99]

if shes gettin warm.....then so are your glow plugs....nothing to worrie about and its perfectly normal. there is a large amount of current going through that relay to the plugs and thus the heat........Marc

[trrun]

thanks marc,but this baby was so hot the reason i noticed it was that the rubber boot that covers the hot wire was actually smoking. Is it posible that if that relay stays on to long it will heat up to much and is it posible that those relays can get stuck open creating a problem? also it was only the back one that was doing it the front one seemed just barely warm.
thanks for the responses Tim

[super_stroke]

i dont think thats normal!

[mschn99]

follow the wire that comes off of it and see if it is for the glow plugs (goes towards the valve covers) or if its for the intake manifold heater.....im thinking the back one is the intake air heater relay.....but im not sure sitting here thinking about it now.......anyways....one is for the heater and one is for the glow plugs....but either way.....check the resistance through the wiring to the relay....from the relay to whatever it controlls...if it controlls the glow plugs look for virtually no resistance from the battery to the relay and .5-2 ohms or so between the relay and ground on the ouput side....if its for the intake air heater....there should be virtually no resistance from the battery to the relay...and same to the heater......if all tests good and its the glow plug relay....replace the relay....if all tests good and its the air heater relay....first pull the intake air heater out of the manifold and check it very closely for the big wire to be broken.....if its not......then replace the relay. im almost certain your relay is bad....but you dont want to replace something without testing. also, if the wires are also getting very hot....there is a higher chance its something besides the relay......Marc

[super_stroke]

how in the h*ll do you pull those resistance numbers outa your head like that? i'm lucky to remember the numbers to do my time sheet every week.