On my old Powerstrokes (early 90's vintage) the glow plug light stayed on for quite awhile (maybe 30 seconds??) before it went out and then I started. Sometimes in real cold weather, I'd recycle the glow plugs before trying to start. On the LMM even in the coldest weather (10 degrees in Denver this morning), the light stays on for only 3 or 4 seconds. I know it has a fast start glow plug but does anyone know if the plugs actually cylce off when the light goes out? Also, any benefit to going through two glow plug cycles before starting. Thanks.

Yes, it cycles off and no benefit to two cycles,in fact,I don't think you can..

Normal!!, no worries, think about all the time you will save in the morning!!!...lol...

One more question, does the auto start feature allow the glow plugs to do their thing before attempting to start?

One more question, does the auto start feature allow the glow plugs to do their thing before attempting to start?
No - at least that's the general concensus in other threads on this topic. One way to see this is remote start the truck either while you're sitting in it or while looking in the window - you'll be able to see if the glow plug light comes on or not.

remote start does not power the cluster so you won't see anything. some time i will install my tech 2 and watch as of right now i remote start mine without plugging it in and the winter front not on at -5 and it starts every time. no problems. also just an the d-max has an air intake heater that warms the air before it goes to the cylinders. this all that dodge runs. the newer cumminses do not have glow plugs.

gm umm yess you can see the wait to start light if you use remote start and no it will not wait for it to go out however i do agree i dont think it will be an issue

I'll try in the morning - should be nice and cold here in Denver. I remember seeing lights come on in the cluster but for no more than a second on the remote start while when I start with the key on the cold mornings the glow plug illuminates for about 3 second. Even on the coldest mornings (not Canada or Alaska cold) the truck fires right up.

OK - here's how it works on my truck. Cold this morning - 6 degrees. Went out, sat in the truck and started with the remote start function. The only lights in the cluster that come on are the alternator light and the glow plug light but only for half a second or thereabouts. So the glow plugs do come on in remote start but not the 3 seconds or so that you would get with a regular start on this type of morning. The truck started OK but not without a stumble that I don't get when I wait for the glow plug light to go out. Too bad the GM engineers couldn't program in a wait to start function.

Thanks for the info, guys. I did the same thing this morning. Stood outside the window and started it. The glow plug symbol came on but it started before it went out. That sucks. I like getting in a warm truck on a cool morning. I wonder what the long term effects would be on starting like this?

I looked at an aftermarker remote start kit for my wife's Tahoe. I cannot use the remote start function on my new truck unless she has already left for work! Or else I'll be pulling my work trailer with a Tahoe! Looked like a great Christmas gift for her. The instructions included the wiring diagram to wire into the wait to start light for diesel applications so it would wait the correct time. Seems if the aftermarket kits can do it, GM should be able to.

You would think...but it looks like they used the same module on all thier models - Tahoes, Siverados, Malibus, etc. Save some $ standardizing the parts.

The glow plugs on all the newer diesels heat up extremely fast. Whether it is remote started or key-started, the glow plugs only need 2 or 3 seconds to heat up enough to start. EVERYTHING on the LMM is computer controlled; I dont think you can crank the starter until the glow-plug is heated up, but either I am not fast enough with the key, or it hasn't been cold enough yet (mid 20's so far). When the remote start button is held down for 4 seconds, only after the 4 seconds does the start sequence begin, and that sequence is computer controlled; the starter will not turn until the glow plugs are hot enough. That said, it is one of the coolest features ever! And my wife doesn't complain because her car sits in a nice warm garage all nite!:saluteusa:

The glow plugs on all the newer diesels heat up extremely fast. Whether it is remote started or key-started, the glow plugs only need 2 or 3 seconds to heat up enough to start. EVERYTHING on the LMM is computer controlled; I dont think you can crank the starter until the glow-plug is heated up, but either I am not fast enough with the key, or it hasn't been cold enough yet (mid 20's so far). When the remote start button is held down for 4 seconds, only after the 4 seconds does the start sequence begin, and that sequence is computer controlled; the starter will not turn until the glow plugs are hot enough. That said, it is one of the coolest features ever! And my wife doesn't complain because her car sits in a nice warm garage all nite!:saluteusa:


yeah, there's like a split second delay when I turn the key to start the truck. I do not even see a glow plug light on my dash.

Jody

The glow plugs on all the newer diesels heat up extremely fast. Whether it is remote started or key-started, the glow plugs only need 2 or 3 seconds to heat up enough to start. EVERYTHING on the LMM is computer controlled; I dont think you can crank the starter until the glow-plug is heated up, but either I am not fast enough with the key, or it hasn't been cold enough yet (mid 20's so far). When the remote start button is held down for 4 seconds, only after the 4 seconds does the start sequence begin, and that sequence is computer controlled; the starter will not turn until the glow plugs are hot enough. That said, it is one of the coolest features ever! And my wife doesn't complain because her car sits in a nice warm garage all nite!:saluteusa:
See my previous post - the computer isn't that smart - that's what all the complaints are about - the starter will turn before the glow plugs are hot enough - if you sit in the cab and do the remote start, there may be a 4 second delay from when you push the button for the start sequence to begin but there is no delay once the power goes on. Yesterday in very cold weather (6 degrees) I tried the remote start while sitting in the truck - the glow plug light does not stay on for more than half a second and even though the truck started it did so stumbling - not at all like when I start after waiting for the light to go out which on the same type of morning stays on for about 3 seconds. There is no wait to start function in the GM remote start option.

it must get it hot enough, my caterpillar wont start unless the glow plug has heated the cylinder....

I got the an aftermarket on my LBZ and it waits 3 to 4 secs with power on before starting no matter what to heat the plugs

What you need to remember is that just because you engage the starter the glow-plugs don't deactivate. they continue to heat well into the time after the engine has started. watch your voltage guage sometime, its a good indicator. on days around here starting in negative 10 degree weather my glow-plugs will stay on for 60 seconds or more after the engine is running. Just cause the light is out, doesn't mean the plugs are off.

What you need to remember is that just because you engage the starter the glow-plugs don't deactivate. they continue to heat well into the time after the engine has started. watch your voltage guage sometime, its a good indicator. on days around here starting in negative 10 degree weather my glow-plugs will stay on for 60 seconds or more after the engine is running. Just cause the light is out, doesn't mean the plugs are off.

Yes, that is called after-glow...and most diesels have this. My 91 7.3 IDI has it too. That doesn't mean that the glow plugs are fully heated before it starts cranking though. The idea behind the light is to go out when the glow plug and cylinder are at OPTIMUM starting conditions. If you get in your truck, and it's 5 degrees outside and turn on the key, the light will stay on for 3-4 seconds, then you crank and go. If you remote start it, the truck will crank BEFORE that light goes out (hence not at optimum temperature). That's why jeffbco and I get a small stumble in the AM when using the remote start. If we start by key, and waiting, no stumble. If I just jump in the truck, 5 degrees, and go straight from "off" to "start" I get the same stumble as the remote start. As stated before, GM used the same remote start systems in most of their vehicles, diesel or not.

Yes, that is called after-glow...and most diesels have this. My 91 7.3 IDI has it too. That doesn't mean that the glow plugs are fully heated before it starts cranking though. The idea behind the light is to go out when the glow plug and cylinder are at OPTIMUM starting conditions. If you get in your truck, and it's 5 degrees outside and turn on the key, the light will stay on for 3-4 seconds, then you crank and go. If you remote start it, the truck will crank BEFORE that light goes out (hence not at optimum temperature). That's why jeffbco and I get a small stumble in the AM when using the remote start. If we start by key, and waiting, no stumble. If I just jump in the truck, 5 degrees, and go straight from "off" to "start" I get the same stumble as the remote start. As stated before, GM used the same remote start systems in most of their vehicles, diesel or not.

The idea that I was trying to convey with the statement I made was that starting the engine before the light goes out will only result in a slightly longer cranking time and perhaps a short period of rough idle. No damage will result.:cool:

Gotcha, sorry. My question is, what's going to prevent these plugs from swelling up like the old ones did when you cranked before the light went out? Do we have "special" plugs, other than the fact that they heat up really fast?

Yes, that is called after-glow...

I'm sitting here trying to figure out if he's serious or if he's messin' with me. :Wedgie:

hahahaha, no bullshit. :) At least that's what I've been told by a few diesel mechs... Maybe that was the technical term for the after sex... oh shit, forget it.