Yesterday my 97 CTD 12 valve wouldn't start. I tried about 5 or 6 times and she wouldn't fire. I finally gritted my teeth and grinded on it for about six seconds and she kicked over with tons of white smoke. Checked the two lugs on the manifold grid and they are NOT getting any current when the warm-up cycle starts. I CAN'T find a relay in the relay box on the left fender well that says anything about heater grid. No fuses in the fuse box that mention it. Where are the fuses and relays located that activates my heating grid? I bought the truck used and have no info on it. Much thanks, Ernie in Louisville

 

Never Mind. I found it. Problem was the relays needed a good ground and someone had moved the ground wires to the fender wells. I put the ground wires back on the neg. battery post and BINGO I had a good clean start with NO white smoke. Thanks for being here though. Ernie

 

Good catch on the bad ground. Not sure if you noticed, but when the heater kicks on, you will see the voltmeter nose dive. Bounces back up when the heater kicks off. A good way to tell you they are working.

It's amazing how many "weird" problems can be traced back to a bad ground. I have slowly been giving my engine the once over since buying it used in june. Every time I find a ground wire, it gets removed, cleaned, di-electric greased, and reinstalled. Cheap insurance as far as I'm concerned.

Pay close attention to the ground on top of the engine manifold/plenum, right in front of the heater grid terminals. Make sure it's good clean and tight, cause I found out the hard way too Glad it was an easy fix. Kevin