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Diesel mechanics on the board? Howie?

Started by herm, March 10, 2010, 01:55:38 PM

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herm

March 10, 2010, 01:55:38 PM
thanks in advance folks!

so, here is the scoop. my 99 Power stroke had the glow plugs and controller (or are they injectors???) replaced in 2004. at 138,000 miles. truck was very hard to start, to the point of killing batteries. 5 of 8 glow plugs were found to be dead, along with the controller.

fast forward to today. the ford dealer tells me that i need to replace them AND the controller, at 218,000 miles. the service guy says it is perfectly normal to have to replace them after 6 years (80k.) the reason that this was looked at was that i have been having occasional issues starting up in the morning. not every time, and overnight temps don't seem to be a factor (although i keep it plugged in at night from october to april.)

2 questions... is there any kind of NORMAL for them to wear out? and why did the first set last almost twice as long as the replacements?

i am leaning towards BS, especially since they are already getting me for 2k worth of new brakes....but,... if anyone knows more about this, i would appreciate input.

and on a tangent (sort of.) if the plugs are not supposed to last that long WTF did ford design the engine so that you have to remove the top end to get at them???

If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...

ducpainter

#1
March 10, 2010, 02:00:45 PM
Quote from: herm (not herb) on March 10, 2010, 01:55:38 PM
thanks in advance folks!

so, here is the scoop. my 99 Power stroke had the glow plugs and controller (or are they injectors???) replaced in 2004. at 138,000 miles. truck was very hard to start, to the point of killing batteries. 5 of 8 glow plugs were found to be dead, along with the controller.

fast forward to today. the ford dealer tells me that i need to replace them AND the controller, at 218,000 miles. the service guy says it is perfectly normal to have to replace them after 6 years (80k.) the reason that this was looked at was that i have been having occasional issues starting up in the morning. not every time, and overnight temps don't seem to be a factor (although i keep it plugged in at night from october to april.)

2 questions... is there any kind of NORMAL for them to wear out? and why did the first set last almost twice as long as the replacements?

i am leaning towards BS, especially since they are already getting me for 2k worth of new brakes....but,... if anyone knows more about this, i would appreciate input.

and on a tangent (sort of.) if the plugs are not supposed to last that long WTF did ford design the engine so that you have to remove the top end to get at them???


First of all the Powerstroke is an International design.

From the very first 6.9L models the glow plugs and controllers have been junk...FHE form working at a Ford dealer.
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Buckethead

#2
March 10, 2010, 03:00:39 PM
So the originals lasted from 99-04, or 5 years.

And the replacements lasted from 04-10, or six years.

Would you say that you're driving less often? Or maybe fewer miles per average trip?

Either way, 6 years is A LOT of starts.
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herm

#3
March 10, 2010, 03:58:25 PM
the way i am looking at it is the first set were good for 138 thousand miles. the set i put in in 2004 only lasted 80 thousand miles. almost 1/2 as long...

i gotta say though, for all my pregnant dogin about this, my cost of ownership (repair wise) has been pretty damn good with this truck...
If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...

herm

#4
March 10, 2010, 04:00:18 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on March 10, 2010, 02:00:45 PM
the Powerstroke is an International design.


yup..
If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...

ducpainter

#5
March 10, 2010, 04:01:13 PM
Quote from: herm (not herb) on March 10, 2010, 04:00:18 PM
yup..
So why you blaming Ford for the accessibility issues? ;D
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Popeye the Sailor

#6
March 10, 2010, 04:05:17 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on March 10, 2010, 04:01:13 PM
So why you blaming Ford for the accessibility issues? ;D

'cause they put it in the dang truck  :P
If the state had not cut funding for the mental institutions, this project could never have happened.

ducpainter

#7
March 10, 2010, 04:06:12 PM
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 10, 2010, 04:05:17 PM
'cause they put it in the dang truck  :P
freakin' school bus engine.... [roll]
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howie

#8
March 10, 2010, 06:03:36 PM
Off hand, it seems your glow plugs are lasting a pretty long time.  It wouldn't be such a big deal if the labor involved wasn't so bad.  I don't know when the change was, but at some point Ford re designed the glow plugs and controller.  The second generation can be fitted in the older trucks, this requires a new harness also.  From the lifespan you are getting you probably already have the later generation, check with your dealer. 

herm

#9
March 10, 2010, 06:17:42 PM
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 10, 2010, 04:05:17 PM
'cause they put it in the dang truck  :P

thank you.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 10, 2010, 04:06:12 PM
freakin' school bus fire struck engine.... [roll]


had the same engine in one of my heavy fire engines (an international..) but maintenance on that was on your (all y'alls) tab, not mine.

Quote from: howie on March 10, 2010, 06:03:36 PM
Off hand, it seems your glow plugs are lasting a pretty long time.  It wouldn't be such a big deal if the labor involved wasn't so bad.  I don't know when the change was, but at some point Ford re designed the glow plugs and controller.  The second generation can be fitted in the older trucks, this requires a new harness also.  From the lifespan you are getting you probably already have the later generation, check with your dealer.  

the labor is EXACTLY the problem.. the frickin heat sticks only cost 20.00 each. its the whole day to pull the top off the engine and replace them that adds 500.00 to the tab.

so,.......am to understand that opinion is that my glow plugs have had a long and fruitful life, but that they are legitimately used up? i know i asked....but i dont like that very much.

If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...

herm

#10
March 10, 2010, 06:21:03 PM
the real killer is that i was planning on getting the suspension done on my bike this spring. thats not going to happen now..
If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...

Bun-bun

#11
March 10, 2010, 06:37:23 PM
Be glad you got the life out of them that you did. Neighbor had to replace theirs at 3800 (Yes, hundred) miles after buying their new powersmoke in '07. Had to replace them again this year at 67xxx miles.
I haven't had any problems with glowplugs in my '97 Dodge Cummins at all.


























'cause it ain't got none!
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z0mb1e_DUC

#13
March 11, 2010, 02:37:20 AM Last Edit: March 11, 2010, 02:39:01 AM by z0mb1e_DUC
Quote from: Bun-bun on March 10, 2010, 06:37:23 PM
Be glad you got the life out of them that you did. Neighbor had to replace theirs at 3800 (Yes, hundred) miles after buying their new powersmoke in '07. Had to replace them again this year at 67xxx miles.
I haven't had any problems with glowplugs in my '97 Dodge Cummins at all.

That was one of the 6.0L International engines, they put em in from 03' to 07'.  Complete piece of junk.  Things are constantly blowing up, esp the fuel injectors.
'09 m696 Dark

herm

#14
March 11, 2010, 02:39:39 AM
ne
Quote from: Bun-bun on March 10, 2010, 06:37:23 PM

I haven't had any problems with glowplugs in my '97 Dodge Cummins at all.


























'cause it ain't got none!

is that because you dont have a diesel? or because it uses direct rail injection? my truck does not actually have glow plugs either....uses some kind of injectors....but its hard to refer to them as anything but glow plugs.
If you drive the nicest car in the neighborhood, work in a cash business, and don't pay taxes, you're either a preacher or a drug dealer...
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