Grid Heaters & Glow Plug Light

[KKlepfer]

On Tuesday I installed my new EZ when my truck was warm. No problems. The next morning I started my truck @ 56 degrees (my grid headers usually go on sub 66) and I noticed my grid heaters didn't cycle on (Volts shot right to 14). I had to get to work so I couldn't fiddle w/ the truck.



That night before I went to bed I disconnected the EZ and started my engine. I shut it down w/ the EZ disconnected and went to bed. This morning I started my truck at 58 degrees (EZ disconnected) and the volt meter went straight to 14 for about a second and then went down to around 12. So my grid heaters are working again. I shut down and reinstalled my EZ and started it again (holding my breath). The grid heaters kicked on immediately and now I feel better.



My only concern left is my glow plug light only stayed on for a couple of seconds this morning. It usually takes longer for the light to go off and I hear a relay switch right before the light goes off. I can't hear that relay anymore when the light goes off anymore. Has anyone had these problems, or know what it might be? This may or may not be related to the EZ but that is when I started noticing the problems.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

KKlefper, I don't think there's anything wrong with your truck and the EZ isn't affecting anything. When temps are in the upper 40s to upper 50s it's going to be hit-and-miss whether your grid heaters kick in or not. You're kinda in the "limbo" zone in terms of temperatures so your grids may or may not kick in.



This is my 3rd Cummins and every one has been inconsistent in that temp range whether they kick in or not. Nothing to sweat about, grids aren't a necessity really in temps above freezing (mainly help with emissions more than starting).



When you're in that temp range the light will not stay on very long, that's normal. I usually don't even bother waiting in the morning when it's above 45 or so, just crank right up, doesn't hurt a thing.



Vaughn



ps. . . the Cummins doesn't have Glow Plugs

 

[lil red cummins]

kklepfer,



as vaughn said, i wouldnt be too concerned. mine is parked in a heated garage every night. the garage is set at 60. i normally only get the grid heater light for 2 seconds. its on about as long as the ABS light and other lights during the check sequence. i think sometimes that they are not really on, because i dont hear the solenoid clunk when the light goes off.



the main thing is that it started right away and ran on all 6.



i have intentionally NOT waited for the light to go out in 50 degree weather and the truck starts right away. the heaters are not necessary until it gets colder.



unforturnately i have not had warm weather since getting the truck, so i dont know if there is a temp at which they dont come on at all.

jim

 

[KKlepfer]

Thanks for the advice. I feel better now. Its supposed to get down to the high 30's this weekend so I'll see what my glow plug light does then. Oo.

 

[Dean Upson]

I listen for and have always heard that relay go off with the light.



Dean

 

[KKlepfer]

Dean, That's what has me worried.



I'll probably have to take it in and get a new relay or something. But I'm pretty sure my glow plugs or whatever heats the combustion chamber is not heating anymore. Whether it is necessary at the temps I live in isn't the point. I like my truck to run with everything working properly. Thanks for your feedback Dean.

 

[rashwor]

They are working correctly. Don't sweat it. I have a '92 and a '99 and both work the same as yours.

 

[Jengle]

FWIW, mine seem to have a mind of their own. And the light stays on for random amounts of time, sometimes short, sometimes long. And I don't have any box on mine. Bone stock. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by KKlepfer

On Tuesday I installed my new EZ when my truck was warm. No problems. The next morning I started my truck @ 56 degrees (my grid headers usually go on sub 66) and I noticed my grid heaters didn't cycle on (Volts shot right to 14). I had to get to work so I couldn't fiddle w/ the truck.

When you start the engine push the temp button on the overhead console. My console has had a problem displaying an incorrect temperature since I bought the truck, but I haven't had a chance to bring it in for warranty work. One day when it was in the 40s and my console was reading 130* I noticed that the grid heaters didn't come on after starting, although I did have the 10 second warm up. Now I'm thinking that the temp sensor that the overhead console uses may be tied in to the grid heaters, too.

 

[KKlepfer]

Thanks for the feedback Crunch.



My grid heaters are working now, and at the time I referenced my overhead console for the temp. I know it is probably not completely accurate but anything under 65 should trigger the grid heater. But yes that is how I deduce that my grid should come on, I don't use another source for temperature.

 

[tbrudder]

If you really want to know if they're working, put a couple LEDs in the console, one attached to the hot side of each grid heater relay. I did this after seeing several others do it, and it's easy. Gives you a nice light show, too--they dance back and forth on the post-heat cycle...



--Ty

 

[KKlepfer]

Oh well This morning my grid heaters did not kick on again and my glowplug light went off almost immediately. The relay that usually makes a noise when my glow plug light goes of didn't make any noise. I'm taking it in to the dealer and I will let you guys know the explanation and fix. Thanks for all your feedback.

 

[Moterhead]

The Cummins doesn't have glow plugs. The only thing they have is the grid heaters which pre-heat the incoming air charge. There is nothing that heats the actual combustion chamber. The light you keep refering to as "glowplug" light simply indicates that your grid heater is on. The little coil type icon represents the coils. No glow plugs in Cummins.

 

[KKlepfer]

Thanks Moterhead,



I remember hearing that the PS 6. 0 didn't have glow plugs so I assumed the HO didn't either. But when I purchased my truck and saw the coil light I thought I may have been mistaken.



Thanks for confirming that for me. So thats good news because that means that my grids are the only that are acting up. So that means that the click we hear before the light goes off on start up is related to the heater grid.

Oo.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Klepfer how cold was it last time your grid relay did not kick in? I think you're making a big adoo over nothing.



Vaughn



ps I just made this post using my iPaq palm pilot, this thing is way COOL!!!

 

[KKlepfer]

Last three morning temps have been in the 50's. I've own the truck since Aug, 2003 and every time my overhead counsel reads temps under 66 degrees my grids have clicked on. The amount of time the grids stay on depends on the temp. I think. I know they automatically shut off at a certain speed something like 18-20 mph. The longest they will stay on regardless of low temps is like 2 min 15 seconds.



Your right about one thing, for me to know how my grids work in certain temps is pretty anal. I don't dispute that. And your right that I probably won't ever need those heaters to start my truck because I live in southern AZ. But I do know one thing, My grids aren't working.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Well my grids never kick in when it's above 60 degrees, I would think there was something wrong with them if they did. Your temp sensor might have drifted somewhat but if it's in the 50s I would expect them to not kick on most of the time. It has been in the 50s here and mine don't always come on.



If they don't come on in the morning after it's dropped below say 40-45F then there might be cause for getting them checked out. It would be good to know they're working if you're going to venture out into the mountains



I think the grids are set up to come on way too much in my opinion. They are hard on the alternator and batteries so whenever I fire up in the morning I take off right away so I can hit 20mph and get the doggone things shut off. If I could dictate how they ran I'd not let them come on until it gets down to the low 30s, then kick off sooner unless it's even colder. And I wouldn't let them come back on again on a restart unless the engine has cooled down completely and the ambient temps are still below freezing.



Vaughn

 

[ScottK]

Hey Klepfer, watch your amp meter and see if it changes with the cycle of the heaters. You can also do a visual w/ your heads lights on. Good luck

TX Motorhead for the clarification.

Scott Scoutin'Sam