7.3 idi turbo hard to start

Daniel McCurdy

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Is there a way to get rid of the plug controller like use a lawn mower or car starter solenoid and a switch
 

snicklas

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Is there a way to get rid of the plug controller like use a lawn mower or car starter solenoid and a switch

Yes, run a grounded push button to the post the WHITE wire is on the glow plug relay. This will manually activate the glow plugs..... Done this on a few of my IDI's.
 

IDIBRONCO

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We hit 100 here in August and I needed to glow it for 6 seconds or so to get it going.
That's funny. Mine will start cold without glow plugs at 95*. Maybe even 90*. It does have to crank a little bit longer, but not much longer.
 

Ray Packer

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When I 1st got my 1993 IDI Turbo it would not start worth a hoot. Changed glow plugs, replaced fuel lines, still wouldn't start well. I wired a push button in the dashboard and bypassed the glow plug controller, still hard starting. Turns out that the glow plug controller solenoid was clicking but not making any contact internally. Bought a new generic solenoid for about $15, installed it and she starts every time now. I just hold the button-down for 8 to 10 seconds and she fires right up whether it's a 100゚ or 40°.
 

Daniel McCurdy

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It was definatly glow plugs. I didn't replace anything just grounded out the controller for 10-15 seconds and it fired right up. Most of the plugs are out but there seems to be enough to start it easier. So thanks everyone for your help. My starter also thanks you.
 

Andrew Sang

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When I 1st got my 1993 IDI Turbo it would not start worth a hoot. Changed glow plugs, replaced fuel lines, still wouldn't start well. I wired a push button in the dashboard and bypassed the glow plug controller, still hard starting. Turns out that the glow plug controller solenoid was clicking but not making any contact internally. Bought a new generic solenoid for about $15, installed it and she starts every time now. I just hold the button-down for 8 to 10 seconds and she fires right up whether it's a 100゚ or 40°.
How did you figure this out?
 

Philip1

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If you take your meter and put one lead on each large terminal on the solenoid, with the solenoid turned off, you should read 12v (or whatever system voltage is) with the solenoid turned on, it should read close to 0v. This is measuring the voltage drop across the solenoid during operation. The more voltage the solenoid drops the less power the glowplugs get
 
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