1985 300sd glow plug indicator light

Maybe you got a bad glow plug controller ! Did you use a aftermarket part or OEM replacement ?

Its possible the glow plugs when its warm the diesel is warm and starts more easily when its cold the diesle needs warming more so the glow plugs work harder in the winter only way i know how to test them is to take 1 out at a time turn the pre ignition on so the glow plug light comes on and the plug should glow red if not buy the 4 and replace the lot you could also check the wireing going to the plugs hope this helps ivan

Are the batteries in good shape? Starter slower than before? I hope one of those two. Alternative would be glow plugs. In nice weather it probably starts like a champ but when the temperature drops the glow plugs work overtime to get that initial bang to start. I'm a dodge man but have never driven a Dodge powered by cummins so I don't know about the glow plug light situation. On fords they look like a pigs tail or it just has a "wait to start" amber light. Sometimes a double cycle, letting the light go out and turning it off and then letting it cycle again will make for an easy start.

check glow plugs wait a little longer beforecranking after light has gone out

the glow plug relay is a little black box normally located in the fues box, the relay regulates power to the glow plugs, if the relay is not functioning correctly the plugs will not heat enough or, you will have to allow a longer time to let them heat up, it acts like a switch as such, when you turn on your ignition it switches over to make a contact inside, which inturn starts the heating prosess of the glow plugs when they are at the correct tempreture or the onbored computer detects they are it then switches back , without it , say just using a fuse instead, your glowplugs will just get hotter and hotter till they melted, and no you dont have to change the glow plugs hope this helps, ime not good at explaining stuff in writing lol

No power to the glow plugs means no power to the light also. You have a bad fuse or connection to the glow plug relay. Fix that and your good to go. Has nothing to do with your indicator lights on either side of dash. Glow Plug power indicator is labeled THAT and only that.

The Cummins does not have glow plugs as mentioned above. It has intake heaters. I have a 99 also and it is a cold natured girl on a cold morning. You should have a block heater to plug in when it is below 40 F. The electric plug should be on the passenger side just inside grill on the hood. You can plug it in all night or a couple of hours before you are ready to go and it should help. Also, since your wait to start light is not working, the intake heaters may not be working. Check them out.

check fuel pump or relay,run scanner for trouble codes, some auto parts stores will do this for free

if you need connectors and terminals for the glow plug connections under the valve cover, Ford sells then so you don't need a whole $600 harness.

info for your use

Section 03-07B: Glow Plug System 1996 F-250, F-350, F-Super Duty Equipped with 7.3L Diesel Engines Workshop Manual
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Glow Plug System The 7.3L diesel engine uses a glow plug system which preheats air in the combustion chamber to improve cold engine starting. The system consists of eight glow plugs, the glow plug control module (12B533), powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650), engine oil temperature (EOT) sensor and barometric pressure sensor (BARO sensor) (12A644). The glow plug system is electronically controlled by the powertrain control module. The powertrain control module energizes the glow plugs immediately after the key is placed in the ON position and then determines how long the glow plugs will be on according to the engine oil temperature and the barometric pressure. The required time for the glow plugs to be energized decreases as the engine oil temperature and barometric pressure increase. The glow plugs are self-regulating, and the powertrain control module controls relay ON time. The powertrain control module protects the glow plugs by energizing them for short durations if the battery voltage is abnormally high.

Possible Causes: Insufficient glow plug ON time will not allow enough heat to accumulate in the combustion chamber to easily facilitate starting. If the glow plug system ON time does not meet any of the specifications in the accompanying chart the problem is most likely a faulty wire harness connection, ground connections or glow plug relay.

If the glow plug resistance to ground is high, the most likely causes are an open UVC (under valve cover) harness or open glow plug.
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Relay Operation
Install a DVOM on the glow plug feed side of the glow plug relay (large stud with two wires connected). Turn the ignition key to the ON position but do not attempt to start. Note the time in seconds from when the key is turned on and the glow plug relay energizes until the glow plug relay de-energizes. The glow plug relay makes a loud click noise which is easily heard when it energizes and de-energizes. The dome light will dim and the dash voltmeter will dip when the glow plugs are drawing current from the battery. Compare the times measured to the table (time will be affected by engine temperature, battery condition and vehicle altitude). The voltage at the glow plug feed terminal may vary from 9 to 12 volts depending upon battery condition.
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If battery voltage not present check for B+ at power supply terminal (terminal with single large wire). Power for glow plug power supply is supplied from starter relay through two fusible links at solenoid.
Glow Plug Operation
Disconnect all of the glow plug/injector harness connectors from the valve cover gaskets. With the pigtail installed, measure glow plug resistance to ground (preferably B-). A resistance measurement of .1 to 6 ohms indicates a good glow plug.



Glow Plug Harness Continuity
Measure for continuity from the connector harness to the glow plug feed terminal on the glow plug relay. Resistance should be less than 5 ohms.
Incorrect measurements will result if all glow plug/injector connectors to valve cover are not disconnected.

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Glow Plug Relay The glow plug relay (12A343) has a plastic base and two mounting bolts. It is operated by the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) which senses engine oil temperature, PCM voltage and barometric pressure. When the engine oil temperature or the barometric pressure is low, the PCM activates the glow plug relay and the glow plugs. If the PCM voltage is too high, the powertrain control module deactivates the glow plug relay and the glow plugs immediately energize for a shorter duration, decreasing the modulation of the duty cycle.
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Glow Plug Removal

1. WARNING: THE RED-STRIPED WIRING HARNESS CARRIES 115V DC. SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK MAY BE RECEIVED. DO NOT PIERCE.
   Remove valve cover (6582). Refer to Section 03-01D .
   

1. Disconnect glow plug electrical connector using a pair of pliers.
   

1. Remove glow plug using 10mm socket.
   

1. Clean and inspect glow plug tip for damage. Replace if damaged.
   

Installation

1. Install glow plug and tighten to 19 Nm (14 lb-ft).
   

1. Connect glow plug electrical connector. Make sure glow plug wiring is routed to avoid moving parts.
   

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Glow Plug Control Glow plugs are used to warm the cylinders to improve cold-engine starting. The PCM uses the engine oil temperature (EOT) sensor and barometric pressure (BARO) sensor to determine how long the glow plugs will be on. The PCM energizes the glow plugs longer if the engine is very cold or if the barometric pressure is low at high altitudes.
The PCM controls the relay that supplies power to the glow plugs with the glow plug control (GPC) signal. When the GPC signal is grounded by the PCM the relay closes, turning the glow plugs on.
The glow plugs are controlled by the following sequence:

1. PCM energizes the glow plugs.

1. The PCM energizes the glow plugs immediately after the ignition is placed in the ON position.

1. The PCM then determines how long glow plugs will be on based on EOT sensor and the BARO sensor. The required time to warm up the cylinder decreases the engine oil temperature and barometric pressure increases at low altitudes.

Glow Plug Lamp Control The glow plug lamp (GPL) signal controls the WAIT TO START light located on the instrument panel. This light is used to indicate when to start the engine. The cylinders are being warmed by the glow plugs during and after this light is lit. The PCM energizes the glow plug lamp longer if the engine is very cold or if the barometric pressure is low.
When the GPL signal is brought low, the "Wait to Start" lamp is turned on.
The glow plug lamp is controlled by the following sequence:

1. PCM lights the WAIT TO START light after a key on reset occurs.

The PCM determines the glow plug lamp activation time based on engine oil temperature, barometric pressure and battery voltage.

1. PCM turns off the WAIT TO START light.

The glow plug lamp is turned off when the timer counts to the number of seconds specified by the PCM. The glow plugs will normally remain on longer than the "Wait to Start" lamp.
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HAVE YOU REPLACED ALL YOUR GLOW PLUGS RECENTLY? EVEN THOUGH THE GLOW PLUGS APEAR TO BE WORKING I FIND WITH AGE THEY NO LONGER HEAT UP QUICKLY ENOUGH BEFORE CONTROLER TIMES OUT. THEREFOR CREATES A HARD OR NO START CONDITION.