Testing and replacing glow plugs

[Mattse.cx]

As I stated in an earlier thread, I'm a diesel newbie!

My hard starting problem is most likely caused by the glow plugs. Though before I dish out the $100 for new plugs, I might as well check the old ones with an ohmmeter (or whatever it is that you check plugs with ).

So - how do I do that? What will I need to test them? Do I need to pull them out to test them, or is it done in the truck? What will I be looking for when testing them?

Leading into the next logical question... is there anything I should know when it comes to replacing the plugs, or is it a simple process of pulling the old ones and installing the new ones?

Gradually stripping myself of 'diesel newbie' status,
Matt

 

[brownbear]

I have not touched a 2l-t. So IMOP anyhow.

To test plugs the busbar(joining band) on the plugs needs to be disconnected. So the plugs are individuals. The engine needs to cold, not hot. Room temp best(outside air temp). You put a multimeter(any digital or analog 20 buck one will work) set to ohms, and in the range that is specified in the FSM. You have to look up what the ohms each plug should be in the manual. Or maybe someone will post it. I do not have that manual.

Then you put the red probe to the tip of the glowplug, and the black probe to the engine. In essence you are tesing thru the plug. The number is in ohms, it should be a number like 1,2 or maybe three, I dunno what your plugs are.

That is the basic plug test. Another would be pulling them out and putting voltage from your battery with them. See they glow. They should glow red hot.

To change them you take apart the busbar and remove them with a socket. Be careful. You don't want to put so much torque on them they may snap. But basically changing them is like changing sparkplugs on a car.