Hello Forum!
This is my first post on the 6.2L forum, and I hope it isn't too boring or lengthy for others to read. I thought I had this problem solved, but apparently not - it has come back to haunt me some more...
My 6.2 is in a 27' Pace Arrow Class A motor home (1984) on a Chev P30 dually chassis (1983) with a TH400, and a 4:10 rear end. I bought the rig 15 months ago, but it has been in storage until last month. I've only put on 300 or so miles, but have been upgrading the running gear and various appliances in prep for a trip to California on June 16th (we hope).
It has always started after a few revs, but the glow plug lamp stopped working after the second or third time I started the engine. Since then I press the "Emergency Start" button (links the house batteries with the start batteries for maximum amps), count to 10, then turn the key. I didn't understand the glow plug system until recently, and thought it might just be the bulb seeing as it always started.
I was installing a new stereo and had trouble removing the old unit, and must have disrupted something behind the dash facia without knowing it because the clock, cig lighter & horn ceased to work (blown fuse), and for the first time ever, it failed to start. Actually when I first noticed the clock had stopped and tried to start the engine, I turned the key and there was nothing. No turning over, nothing. An hour later I turned the key again and it cranked well but wouldn't start. That inconsistency worried me.
After doing some internet research and studying my Haynes Manual for the 5.7 6.2, & 6.5 diesels, I gathered up my tools and got ready to troubleshoot the problem. The key was still in the ignition, and without thinking I turned it to the "run" position and voila - the glow plug lamp was lit. So I turned it to the "start" position and she fired right up with no hesitation.
When she reached normal operating temperature I shut her down, and then finished the stereo install and buttoned the dash facia back up. Then tonight when I went to move the rig back to the storage area for the night, there was no glow plug lamp and nor would she start. Cranks fine, but won't fire.
Based on what I've read, it has to be something electrical in the glow plug system. I pulled the doghouse cover and air cleaner assembly to check the pink wire on top of the fuel injector pump, and with the key in the run position there was no voltage at the connector. I have examined what is visible from the top of the engine looking for the glow plug relay, the glow plug controller and what the Haynes Manual calls the amp gauge idle fuse, but I haven't found them as yet. The firewall in front of the engine makes it difficult to trace any wires to the various electrical parts and terminals that are mounted on the other side, so it became a guessing game.
Can anyone help me identify & locate those parts (glow plug relay, connector & idle fuse) so I can continue the troubleshooting process? Any other advice, suggestion or input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help...
JT