are they the same

[REBELHIGHBOY]

I was wondering if the gp relay was the same as the starter relay?

 

[The Warden]

I recall that the glow plug relay has the housing filled with a special inert gas, whereas IIRC the starter relay's simply open to the atmosphere. I don't know if they'll interchange, though...

 

[typ4]

I was wondering if the gp relay was the same as the starter relay?

NO

 

[REBELHIGHBOY]

What's the difference

 

[itsacrazyasian]

the starter relay grounds through the body. The glow plug relay grounds through one of the two screw posts on the top of the relay.

 

[icanfixall]

And don't buy the look alike fake ones... Mels did a R&R on what he felt was a good deal on an aftermarket solenoid. It failed shortly. So he took both the ford and the aftermarket apart and fond why the ford was more expensive... Better built with better material....

 

[TWeatherford]

I was in a pinch one day when my glowplug relay died and I was able to rob a starter relay off a parts truck. That was 2 years and 16000 miles ago and the glowplug relay I bought to replace the starter relay when it died is still in my toolbox. The glowplug relay probably is different and better but I am going to see how far the starter relay gets me mostly out of curiosity.

 

[flareside_thun]

Does anything need to be connected differently between the starter relay and GP relay?

 

[Kevin 007]

I also used a starter relay in a pinch once. It worked fine till I swapped a Motorcraft relay back in. That starter relay that I used would make a whistling/hissing noise when the GP's were lit up, but the thing didn't melt or short out or anything.

 

[TWeatherford]

I hooked them up in an identical manner. When my GP relay failed, it made a noise like an angry bumble bee was stuck in a jar or something the last few time I started it. Once you hear it making noise when energized, replace immediately because mine made enough smoke that I believe it would have caught fire.