Arduino Glow-plug Controller, Build & Walk-through
- Thread starter TheHappyHacker
- Start date
Booyah45828
Full Access Member
I'll be following. I too switched to dual coil plugs and have wanted an automated way to light them correctly. I'm not an electrical engineer by any means, but I don't think it'd be all that difficult to build a box that varied on-time based off a thermistor reading. I think the older 6.9 controller did that, but read that they would often fail in the on position.
I would think one could even add a screw pot to it to make it variable and tailorable to each truck. Fresh batteries and good compression wouldn't need near the glow time that something worn out would need.
Don't get me wrong, the push button was easy enough and simple enough. It just gets tiring having to explain to the wife(or anyone else that's mechanically uninclined) what to push, how long to hold it, and why you have to do such a thing.
and why I have the old pile
and why I have so many vehicles
and why the house isn't finished
and why can't I just be normal.......
I would think one could even add a screw pot to it to make it variable and tailorable to each truck. Fresh batteries and good compression wouldn't need near the glow time that something worn out would need.
Don't get me wrong, the push button was easy enough and simple enough. It just gets tiring having to explain to the wife(or anyone else that's mechanically uninclined) what to push, how long to hold it, and why you have to do such a thing.
and why I have the old pile
and why I have so many vehicles
and why the house isn't finished
and why can't I just be normal.......
asmith
Full Access Member
I thought I was the only one that got these questions from the wife, family and friends.
XOLATEM
Full Access Member
I know that it has been a few months on this...but...if explaining things get a little tiring for you, why not make it a little more interesting..?
Simply tell them that you have an anti-theft self-destruct system on it and the push button disarms the thing for one more drive cycle.
IDIBOBS
Registered User
Oh. I’m just spitballing here, one could just buy the original controller and put everything back to stock and live head ache free for a few 100,000 miles. The. Do basic maintenance and replace the controller, plugs and harness every 5 years or so. Pro tip. Move the controller off the fire wall. It’s too hot up there.
Booyah45828
Full Access Member
Keep spitballing.
Dual coil plugs and a pushbutton are much cheaper then an OE controller and zd9 plugs. That's why I went with it. And that OE system isn't going to make it to 100k miles, unless you start it once and run the thing continuously until you hit that 100k miles
Dual coil plugs and a pushbutton are much cheaper then an OE controller and zd9 plugs. That's why I went with it. And that OE system isn't going to make it to 100k miles, unless you start it once and run the thing continuously until you hit that 100k miles
Black dawg
Registered User
They used to last that long, but not seeing anywhere near that with current beru plugs.Keep spitballing.
Dual coil plugs and a pushbutton are much cheaper then an OE controller and zd9 plugs. That's why I went with it. And that OE system isn't going to make it to 100k miles, unless you start it once and run the thing continuously until you hit that 100k miles
IDIBOBS
Registered User
My zd9 plugs from oriellys have 50,000 miles on them. Starts up perfectly fine down to 10deg. When they start to show wear I’ll replace them under warranty and not pay a dime and my controller has 95,000 miles on it. I can afford $80 every 90,0000 miles for a new controller. Just take care of your stuff. These trucks ran great from the factory. With a few basic mods like turbos, turned up fuel 1-2 flats to match turbo, timing, moving the controller off the fire wall and basic maintenance the stock systems work fine with out hacking up the harness or adding buttons and switches.Keep spitballing.
Dual coil plugs and a pushbutton are much cheaper then an OE controller and zd9 plugs. That's why I went with it. And that OE system isn't going to make it to 100k miles, unless you start it once and run the thing continuously until you hit that 100k miles
I disagree.
I wonder why we have so many threads on here with people having glowplug problems if it was such a great system?
Booyah45828
Full Access Member
I'm not either. And that's with OE parts from the dealer, on rigs that have decent wiring and batteries.
It's bad bad, almost to the point I'm half tempted to try autolite again
IYKYK
This is awesome! I just finished up a programming fundamentals class for college, and I have had this exact idea. I wanted to pair it with a remade 3 light indicator that's on the bottom right of the cluster. I have to measure it up and try to make it in CAD.
