How does a glow plug work?

[rasorbackq]

I dont have a block heater.

 

[jjeff]

In a pinch on more than one occasion I've ran a diesel fired salamander (carefully positioned) sometimes with a tarp draped over the hood to start a diesel. If your forced to go this route use some common sense and don't walk away from it when its on.

 

[rasorbackq]

Don't have a salamander so that's not going to happen. Too cold to work out tere now. -10 and windy. +6 tomorrow . Good day to concentrate on it.

 

[rasorbackq]

Thanks for the diagrams posted guys. Yesterday was way to cold to be working it it at -17 with wind chill. Supposed to +6 today.
Did check out the fusable links and both were good. Dealership told me to carefully apply power from battery to glow plugs with a jumper cable . To get it going during storm . Going to test that today.
Looking at the diagrams the glow plug light should be on ever if the plugs are not and its not. Might be a switch issue!

 

[workinonit]

"Looking at the diagrams the glow plug light should be on ever if the plugs are not and its not. Might be a switch issue!"

How did you come to this conclusion? You must be looking at a different drawing than me.

 

[rasorbackq]

Think it was #14 but its gone now. Looked to me there was only 2 fuses to get the lite on.

 

[Erik M]

Today is much warmer, hopefully you will get it started OK without glow plugs. What are you using for oil, I would suggest a good synthetic and would also get a block heater or a robust in line coolant heater.

 

[WranglerX]

Think it was #14 but its gone now. Looked to me there was only 2 fuses to get the lite on.

ITs still there... Check you browser....

 

[LouNY]

Think it was #14 but its gone now. Looked to me there was only 2 fuses to get the lite on.

On the schematic in post 14 it is showing a 5 amp fuse for the temperature indicating gauge and the glow plug indicator light.
following down from the glow plug light notice the letter B, then look over to the side a bit and you will find that letter B again
going back into the glow plug control module. The light will get it's ground from that module. Likely when it switches on to activate the glow plug relay.

 

[rasorbackq]

Thanks LouNY . Thought that was a ground line

 

[rasorbackq]

So our last snow storm was not snow but freezing rain.
Lots of hanging trees and broken limbs. Great for me the temp was just below freezing so tractor started each time. Still no glow plug on dash though.
Been starting it like that for last 2 weeks. Yesterday the glow plugs lite started working again. ?? Today we get another 12 " on snow but haven't tried the tractor yet!!

 

[rasorbackq]

Yesterday I tried to start the tractor and glow plugs not working again. It was -12C .I did get it started by cranking it over for 15-20 seconds. Im thinking maybe a wiring issue somewhere . Not thinking it s a modual but who knows.

 

[rasorbackq]

Today Plus 6 and no glow plug lite on dash.

 

[Raul-02]

So what is the power that a glow plug operates o

the eponymous glow plug runs off the power from the battery, and it really does nothing more than glow red for a bit on start up.

 

[Thunder chicken]

How’s your temp gauge working?
I’m wondering if the temp sensor is not working properly, would it cause the system to not call for glo heat? Looks like the light is connected closely to the water temp sensor. Could be rodent damage to wires causing intermittent issues?

 

[rasorbackq]

Bought the tractor with 100 hrs on it from KIJIJI .Tractors 11 years old . In 11 years I never seen the temp gauge move . Never budged even in the hottest days of summer running it all day. I have no clue it it works! But after seeing the schematic it had crossed my mind a few times.
Last 15 times it started the glow plugs have worked.

 

[rasorbackq]

Bought the tractor with 100 hrs on it from KIJIJI .Tractors 11 years old . In 11 years I never seen the temp gauge move . Never budged even in the hottest days of summer running it all day. I have no clue it it works! But after seeing the schematic it had crossed my mind a few times.
Last 15 times it started the glow plugs have worked..

Well been a year almost since I was on this thread. The glow plugs worked ever day since last Feb. Today the coldest day yet at -17C NO GLOW PLUGS again. Once it warmed up to -5C the plugs started to work again. My dealer told me last year to just apply 12 volts to the plug terminals for 10-15 seconds and start the tractor. I tried that today but didn't work . Wasn't sure if I had a good ground.


What would cause the glow plugs not to work when its cold???

 

[LouNY]

I would suggest getting a new temperature sensor and trying to get your temperature gauge working.
Also you may very well have a separate sensor for water temperature for the glow plug controller.
On my Branson it has two different sensors and the resistances are different on both, you could even swap the wires on the two sensors and see what happens.

Edited to add: also your safety interlock switches have to be made for the glow plugs to work.

 

[Hay Dude]

I would suggest getting a new temperature sensor and trying to get your temperature gauge working.
Also you may very well have a separate sensor for water temperature for the glow plug controller.
On my Branson it has two different sensors and the resistances are different on both, you could even swap the wires on the two sensors and see what happens.

Edited to add: also your safety interlock switches have to be made for the glow plugs to work.

If the glow plugs are tied into thermostats, sensors and the ECM, it can get complicated. I had to disconnect my glow plugs from the ECM and install a manual switch for them. It was tied to an air temp sensor, a water temp sensor, a timer, the key switch and the tractor ECM.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Hard to believe..... 5 amp for 4 plugs?.... ITs probably the control circuit to operate a relay someplace else.... I would expect at least 10 amp per plug, 4 in parallel would be 40 amp...

Low voltage control. You are correct.