glow clicks only while cranking, not before

[after oil]

a cursory search didnt turn up my specific problem.

there is no sound of clicking from the glow relays when i put the key in the "on" postition, but i can hear it clicking on and off while cranking. the engine starts with only a little cranking.

i presume ill have to take out the ecu and have it repaired, but maybe somebody has an idea that will help me before i take that measure.

T minus 10 days until the space antelope takes me to mexico

[Green1]

other possibility is the temperature sensor on top of the engine (2 wires attached to it, one goes to the dash gauge, the other to the glow controller)
check the resistance on it, (from each lead to the block) I can't remember the values you should get, but neither one should be zero or infinite.

[after oil]

i understand that when the sensor doesnt work the ECU will think the engine is cold and fire the glow plugs.
mine is not firing first start of the day until i crank, then fires.
while driving around today, the glow plugs would activate when it should, in the "on" position

i havent got a lot of time before my drive to mexico. i wonder if i can just swap ECU with a known working one?

[Green1]

i understand that when the sensor doesn't work the ECU will think the engine is cold and fire the glow plugs

depends how it breaks, if it's shorted it thinks the engine is overheating and never uses them, and if it's open it just leaves them on and never turns them off... either way they don't last long...

[jfpdelica]

i haven't got a lot of time before my drive to Mexico. i wonder if i can just swap ECU with a known working one?
Hey After Oil, I just had to replace mine and I got it from CCAUTOS. Hope this helps.

[after oil]

i haven't got a lot of time before my drive to Mexico. i wonder if i can just swap ECU with a known working one?
Hey After Oil, I just had to replace mine and I got it from CCAUTOS. Hope this helps.

theres one from them on the way! although lately shes been behaving...

[impalator]

I had an issue with my ecu clicking wildly on and off, even during driving (i.e. when engine is warm). This led to premature glow-plug failure with all four plugs burnt out. Since at the time this first happened, I didn't know about the effects (at first I actually thought the clicking during driving was the AC unit kicking in- and out - as this also produces some "click") I had to change my glow plugs (courtesy of CVI - thanks Butch) just to find that about a week later, the four plugs were all burnt out again.

Now Butch bypassed the ECU alltogether and I have a shiny chrome button on the dashboard. I have to engage my glow-plugs manually now and it appears to work just fine so far.... Mind you, the ECU is still wired in - at least I can hear that thing clicking away... but it doesn't deliver power to the glow-plugs anymore....

This appears the easiest way out (and cheapest....)

Cheers,
Chris

[Skeeter]

Hello Everyone ; I have my new engine installed and works great except when cold starting my glow plugs click when I turn key on and again after 3 seconds approx. but still starts hard at only -5 . I've tried off and on again but doesn't help . Please Help Skeeter

[Golf Cart]

Hello Everyone ; I have my new engine installed and works great except when cold starting my glow plugs click when I turn key on and again after 3 seconds approx. but still starts hard at only -5 . I've tried off and on again but doesn't help . Please Help Skeeter

Its your glow plug controller thats clicking - you should be hearing it right behind you. Its timing for the power to the glow plugs. You should hear a click when you first turn the key on, then again after about 3 seconds. If its hard starting , it could be the glow plugs themselves. -7 here in the valley this morning and after my truck sitting all night not plugged in, started right up after the first click - albiet a tad rough for the first 15 seconds til I got a few more cycles into the lungs. Od a search on testing the plugs would be my first suggestion ( cheapest and easiest too)

[after oil]

i swapped ecu's with a known good one. i still sometimes dont get the first clicks. i think the problem is with the high voltage solenoid.. becuse the low voltgae one works (hence clicking while cranking)

thanks a million to glenn @ccauto for the spares! ill be able to fix it!

[jwfchase]

What about 10-30 seconds of clicking after the engine has successfully started? (this only seems to be occuring below about -5)

[sayulita101]

We had the same problem at Big White at Thanksgiving.Instead of messing around with the computer a simple push button switch from Lordco (14$) insalled on the console beside the e-brake and hotwired to the 12 volt relay worked like a charm. A 4 second push in the a.m. and it starts like a champ. My brother in law did the same mod and my brother is doing his shortly even tho his ecu is still operational.From what Ive been told its only a matter of time before they all go since they were made with sub-automotive grade parts from the factory(they cant take the vibrations they are subject too in this enviroment.Hope this helps.
Paul

[delicat]

jwfchase,

Normal to keep clicking for 10-30 sec when cold, you'll also notice your rpm adjusting accordingly.

[jrman]

Sounds like quite a few have done the bypass mod.
Anyone willing / interested / able to post some photos?
Cheers.

[sayulita101]

Will do after x-mas.start to finish with new glow plugs installed was 35 minutes max!
Paul