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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Ok, 2000 Ford F250 with 7.3L Turbo diesel. Starting very hard now. 150k miles too. Anyway, I suspect a glow plug or two are not functioning anymore. Anyone know how I can check and how I find them and how I replace them?
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Finding is easy, look for something that looks like a spark plug stuck in each cylinder.
Checking them isn't any harder, just pull the wire off them and put an ohm meter between the contact and ground. If it is an open circuit, the glow plug is dead.
If you need to replace one or two they are just like swapping spark plugs.
Best of luck.
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Remove the valve covers they have a small two wire plug on them and a 10mm hex head change them all about 7 dollars each. Tape the socket too the ext and do not drop into the valley hard to get it back
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Thanks guys. I wasn't sure where they were. Some things I saw had them like spark plugs, others had them located under the valve covers. Obviously it's easier if I don't have to remove the valve covers...sigh. But if I have to, I will.
Since I moved, I don't have a house yet so no garage. So the cold mornings in Wisconsin cause problems. She really doesn't want to start when it's 5-10 degrees outside. Wasn't a problem 3-4 years ago so I suspect some glow plugs no longer function properly.
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Everything Murf said is true, but testing them isn't anywhere near that simple. First you have to get the acceptable resistance range (in ohms) from Ford. Then you have to remove them from the truck. Then clean them with parts cleaner and a wire brush to get rid of all the carbon and grease. Then wait till they reach room temp, as consistent resistance values are best taken at 70F. Replace any glow plugs that do not produce a resistance value inside the Ford specs.
Personally - at 150K - I'd skip the testing and replace all eight.
//greg//
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Greg, like spark plugs, they may work fine, but it's a pain to find out. At the cost, I'll just replace them if I can get to them. That's the key since I have limited work space and tools since I'm homeless.
If I pop the valve covers to get to the glow plugs, do i need new gaskets? I know the answer, just checking.
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
As with the glow plugs themselves, I'd say odds are good that 150,000 mile gaskets need replacing as well.
//greg//
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Me way of testing glow plugs... A pair of jumper cables. With glow plug they either work or they don't. Remove them hook them up to the jumpers if they get cherry red they are good. If nothing happens, guess what? There bad.
The book calls for 3.2 hours to replace all of them. That is for some one with intermediate skill level. I do not know what your skill level is. But it is cold out side right now as you stated. You may just want to call around and find a shop with a cheap labor rate or some one that does side work.
Also have you been plugging the truck in over night? If not That will definitely help. If you are I would sure not forget because chances are you Will not get it started in the morning until you get it warmed up with the block heater.
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Oneace: I can't plug the truck in overnight since I'm living in a glorified hotel (extended stay place). I sold my house so I'm in temp quarters until we get another one. I do have my tools as they are sitting in my brother's garage.
Since my truck sits outside now, the cold mornings are causing fits. Multiple attempts to start, massive surging when it does catch, etc. My wife hasn't found a job yet so I have been trying to cut expenses. So I'll try to do the job myself. But I'm having trouble finding the time. Since I don't have a garage, I'm stuck to weekends. Now with the holiday period, I have no choice but to travel to my in-laws out of state. So again, at least 2 weeks until I can work on it. Sucks!!
Maybe I will need to find a decent mechanic... sigh.
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Ford 7 3L Diesel glow plugs
Now your's wife mechanical ability comes into play here...glow plugs ought to make great stocking stuffers and 8 of them no less. Sounds like a plan to me. Then there is the option of brother in law chipping in to help as their place. (Assuming you have a brother in law)
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