Hard Starting, Glow Plugs?

[horsecamper]

I'm having a hard starting probem. A couple of years ago, (approximately 10,000 miles ago) I had hard starting problems and had a new set of glow plugs installed. I've had no problems until now. If I plug it in, I get a good start, otherwise I need to crank it a few times. I've also noticed something strange about the glow plug light. On the first try to start up, the glow plug light takes the normal reasonable time to go out. The second and third times, the light stays on for quite a long time before it goes out. Without plugging it in, I can manage to get it started, but it's really ragged sounding and hard to keep lit for a minute or so. Once I get it started, it runs great as usual and the successive starts during the day are just fine. Could my glow plugs need replacing again, or is it something else in the glow plug system? The batteries were getting a bit old, so I've installed new batteries and checked and cleaned the cables to the battery terminals.

[DennisG01]

Welcome Aboard!

Did the glows test OK? There's a couple of quick ways to test them while in the truck - multi-meter and 12v probe/light being very easy. Before we start a whole new thread on this, try using the search function for "glow plug test, testing, etc". That'll at least get you started and then we can go from there. And, yes, it is possible that the plugs are bad - especially if they're the "quick heat" type.

[85-m1028]

ac delco 60g's are the ones to get!! one sign of bad plugs is lots of white smoke on start-up

[rustyk]

Agreed on the 60's. However, hard starts and white smoke can also result from a leak in the fuel return lines.

[damork]

In addition to using the 60G's, don't forget the relay that powers them. I installed a set of new glow plugs on my Yukon at around 80k miles but it wasn't starting right even with them. A new relay made all the difference - but make sure you have good grounds and all good wire connections along with a decent set of batteries.

[DmaxMaverick]

I haven't used them, but Borg Warner (http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/adpeeps/adpeeps.php?bfunction=clickad&uid=100000&bzone=directlink&bsize=468x60&btype=3&campaignid=375938&adno=34&transferurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.borgwarnerglowplugs.c om) looks and talks up their plugs, and they have a 1 year warranty. And, they're a new TDP supporting vendor.

[horsecamper]

It was the glow plugs. Most of them tested bad. AC Delco 60g's installed. Fire's up great now. We'll just see how long they last. The originals made it around 80,000 miles. What's everybody's experience with how long replacement glow plugs last?

[DennisG01]

I'm confused - in your first post you said they were 10,000 miles old and in your last post you said they're 80,000 miles old???

10,000 miles would be a very short life. 80,000 would be great.

[JohnC]

I'm confused too. My '95 had the original AC9G(?) plugs in it when I traded it in at 139K miles, and they all still worked...

[Turbo Al]

He would have had the AC9G's in for the first 80,000 miles then changed them to ??? then to the G60 which is pretty much what happened to me as well on the 1993. I can't remember the # on the defective glow plugs off hand but they sure didnt last very long -- not even one year and five were dead.
Al

On Edit: 11G were the ones that burned out within a year.