got a deal on 97 f450 ?

[babydoll]

bought a f450 240 k
wont start unless u pull it starts pretty well if its warm and runs pretty well. how many amps do the glow plugs pull [full set] voltmeter does not move at all when the light goes off someone has ethered it and blew the air cleaner apart, cranked on it a lot and never started till we pulled it where do i start? glow plug relay does not seem to be working. it did hit a few times when we cranked it
hope I started this the right place read a lot but havent posted any.

[speeddemon31176]

Test the glow plugs for resistance individually via the pins at the valve cover harnesses. You can jump out the glow plug relay across the large terminals and see if it starts that way. Ether is a bad sign as that means there are probably several bad glow plugs with the tips blown off or swelled along with cylinder wall damage. If the glow plugs are actually working you are looking at a couple hundred amp draw(250 ish).

[babydoll]

does not have any power coming to the glow plug relay
connected cable from bat post to relay for a few seconds some resistance there , does ether destroy the glow plugs? hope they werent working when they gave it ether but something blew the air filter apart and part of the piping, I ll test the glow plugs and hope for the best, thanks

[jtgf250]

The explosion from ether is bad for the motor just in general. If you dont have power to the relay, start there first. The meter isnt going to move when the glow plug light is off do to the fact that the glow plugs are off. All they do is heat the air in the cylinder and that helps ignite on the compression. Thats why it starts ok when warm out. I would bet the plugs are bad and a set is about $80-$100 bucks. No real need in spending a pile on them. I would certainly take care of the air filter and piping though. Good luck

[babydoll]

update , found a corodded broken wire going to glow plug relay [power supply from relay] deteriating connectors going to valve covers at least three, still wont start by cranking, puts out a lot of white smoke, hits good but wont keep running can u get new connector ends, or do u have to buy the whole harness ? at least some of the glow plugs are working and would be hard to tell how many with the bad connectors. wondering what this truck would be worth, have about 900 in it now I guess the high pressure pump is good with it running when u pull it

[speeddemon31176]

The pigtails are readily available at any parts store including ford and international. Fix the wiring for the gpr and replace the glow plugs and I bet she starts just fine.

[diesel_brad]

Just make sure to use FORD/beru glow plugs. Anything else is looking for problems

Also, You can save a BUNDLE by using s WESTERN plow solenoid in place of the OEM one and it is BETTER #56131K And they are $12 vs 75-100 for a ford one

[babydoll]

are the pigtails the plastic connectors on the end that go inti the valve cover? that is what is bad Thanks

[speeddemon31176]

Yep those are the pigtails. If those are burnt/melted, I would suggest pulling the valve covers and checking the connectors and UVCH harnesses underneath for damage as well. If they are damaged and you just replace the pigtails then you will just end up damaging them again.

[babydoll]

thanks agin I ll go deeper and check it all out