BearKiller

Is it feasible to operate the heat grids via a switch only when wanted??

Are they necessary for the engine to start??

Can they be eliminated and not be missed??

MrHappy

Some info here:

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ad.php?t=78951

BTW, I've eliminated my grid heaters.
I don't miss them, and I doubt I ever will.

rebal

I pulled mine tired of the winking head lights in the winter. starts just as good as new with over 300K on the ticker

Blowndodge

whats involved in "pulling" the heater grid? I live in sunny california where the temps never fall below 40 so no since in it I guess.

brad

bgilbert

Just unplugged them at the heater itself on the intake and the relays on the fender liner.

Blowndodge

Can you narrow that down for us numbskulls who don't know what these components look like?

wannadiesel

There are two relays on the driver's side fender. Pull one little wire (doesn't matter which one) off each relay and the grids will not function.

For the truly uninformed:
Relays are black plastic boxes, there are 2 heavy wires and 2 thin wires going to each one.

Micaiahfied

so would it work if you put a disconnect toggle (mounted in the cab) on the small wire?

apwatson50

Yes but you may want to use a push button switch so you don't forget to turn them off and burn them up.

cLAYH

You can disconnect them if it doesn't get too cold where you live. Also the grid heaters drastically reduce the coughing, sputtering and smoke on cold weather startups.

Micaiahfied

ap... if i just run toggle so that it disconnects the same wire that i pull to just disconnect them... shouldn't they just run as they normally would when i turn them on... and not at all when i turn it off? i don't see why it would make them stay on constantly.

apwatson50

oh I see what your saying now, yeah that would work. I was thinking you would were wanting to just controll them manually.

Blowndodge

I looked under the hood on the drivers fender and saw two "relays" to which had two rubber large wires "like a spark plug wire coming from a distributor cap" on the top of each relay, as well as two smaller wires at the base of the "relays". If I have found the right parts, which wires do I undo? I'm thinking if I stop the grids from lighting up, wont the temp sensor still send a signal to the relays anyway? Wouldn't pulling the temp sensor stop the whole process? Like Dave said, some of us are more uninformed than others!

thanks,

brad

wannadiesel

You found the right parts. Pull either of the small wires off both relays. What this does is disconnect the relays from the grid heater controller/PCM. This will not stop the WTS light from coming on on a cold start, but the grids will not be energized.

Unplugging the temp sensor will make the WTS light flash on the old trucks. I think it sets a trouble code on '92 and up.

Blowndodge

Well I pulled the blue wire on the left bottom of both relays yesterday with the temp about 47 degrees outside and the truck fired immediately like it always does so I guess no harm done. Should save the battery some wear and tear considering I only drive 5 miles to work in the morning.

brad