JonnysDodge

So I might be out of my mind here. But I can't find anything on Grid Heaters. I must not be searching right . My question is how do I know if they are going bad. I have a hard time starting my truck in the day time,(temp is about 15), should it be really hard to start, or is my grid heaters going bad? Could use a little help. Thanks.

infidel

Is your voltmeter dropping when the wait to start light is on?
Is the light coming on at all?

JonnysDodge

The volt meter is low when the wait to start light is on.

infidel

Then your grids are working.
Try giving it a little throttle when cranking.
It could also be your idle is set too low.

JonnysDodge

I have the Idle set around 800, and I do give it some throttle. But it sometimes takes me about 5 min to start. I have to crank on it awhile, then let the starter cool. Any other idea's on this. Get tired of going out every couple of hours to start my truck up, and let it run for about 20 min then 4 hours later do the same thing all day.

infidel

Sounds like you have an air leak in the fuel system.
Most common one is the rubber return hose in red below.
Use about 2' of 5/16" diesel rated hose or better yet measure from the tank to the engine and abandon the entire metal lines. If you want to replace the supply line at the same time it's 3/8".

infidel

You might want to check this out also https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=132619

JonnysDodge

I talked to a couple of people around town here, and they said that since when you plug it in it fires right up, that the rubber tube is not the problem, it would more than likely be some switch or relay going to the preheater.. Could that be right?

infidel

Like I said before, if the voltmeter is dropping the grids are coming on. It could be that only one is coming on though. Easy to check, when the wait to start light is on check that you have voltage inbetween the each of the nuts (separately) under the rubber boots at the intake and a good ground.

JonnysDodge

Thanks for the help I will start there