1985 Ford E350 6.9L Diesel Van Very Cranky Start

[matts6887]

yea those old diesels last a long time but they sure can be cranky depending on the vehicle....lol

[thecrazymotorhead]

sorry i mean diesels

[thecrazymotorhead]

those old diesls sure are cold bloded cool van

[naterade21]

u need more light in that van or a better camera

[IDIDieselJohn]

It's called getting late in the evening. lol

[idiforddiesel]

Whats the upside of having manual glowplugs? and any downsides

[IDIDieselJohn]

Once warmed up, if you have to shut it off, and fire it back up, no need for glow plugs, the auto control would still turn them on causing unneeded wear. Other than that, nothing really. Only reason I did this on this van, it's because it's an 85. The older system, 83-86, the controller has a tendency to fail, and turn ON the glow plugs, untill they all burn out. By having the switch, I control them, so that can't happen.

[auaiao9]

You probably don't like all the cranking but I do.

[GearHead1625]

what did you wire that switch too for the glow plugs? could you show a video of what you did?

[IDIDieselJohn]

This switch was already installed in this van before I bought it, but the controller wasn't by-passed. All I did was disconnect 1 purple wire off the solenoid. I can make a vid how to, very easy, I can explain right now.

[IDIDieselJohn]

You'll just need a momentary push button, run a wire to the GP solenoid purple wire terminal, make sure to remove the purple wire from solenoid so the truck can’t control them, and then find a ignition on hot wire in the cab, connect that to the one side of the momentary switch and the wire you ran to the purple wire terminal, to the other side, bam, done.

[GearHead1625]

@IDIDieselJohn is that solenoid on the pass fender well kinda by the horn?

[IDIDieselJohn]

On the trucks, 83-86 it's on the passenger side inner fender, near the starter solenoid (think). And 87-94 is on the back on top of the engine, right under the air cleaner bowl.

[jmurray01]

My philosophy is as long as it still starts some way or another - The batteries are good! Though, I am a cheap so and so, so maybe my philosophy is a flawed one...

[Vacationtime247]

Ford made the most annoying buzzers ever back in the 80's. They never die either, just like check engine soon lights.

VT247

[IDIDieselJohn]

This van didn't even have a buzzer, someone completely removed it. I have a couple spare ones, so I put one in :D

[NJFordPops08005]

great video, brother. now THAT's the way to do it!

[CorvusCasull]

Starting an old IDI in the cold is considered an art-form by some!