Howdy all. Been watching this sight now for about a year drivin' my 86 Burban that long as well and lovin' it:D. The sight and the truck. I would not have bought the truck if it where not for this sight. As I like to work on my own vehical and I would be clueless without this sight. So thanks to all of you that share your knowledge on this sight.

8k miles of trouble free driving I have my first dilema. After driving say 20 miles or so the truck will not restart. I let it sit for an hour or so and she fires right up. The one thing I have noticed is that when it does not start the glow plug light does not come on. When the glow plug light does come on the truck starts right up. I thought the glow plug light didn't need to come on after it was warm? This is a new problem that just started (or didn't start) yesterday. This is an 86 GMC Suburban.

I did just change the oil and used Chevy oil in a blue bottle made for diesels. I had been using Shell oil. Air filter looks like new and the truck is completely stock mechanical fuel pump & all. No turbo. The temperature gauge does not seem to work ether unless it's always about 115degs. Nore does the "water in the gas" light come on (if this truck is suppose to have one). The truck does not run hot. Infact I now leave it running to go shopping or eat lunch (like I did today) and it purrs as usual. 185K still running strong. That's about all I know. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Pete

try this, take it for a drive to get it warmed up. then shut it off, let it sit for 10 mins and see if it will start. if not pour some cool (not cold) water over the injection pump and see if it starts. if it does the injection pump is worn out and thats your problem. a cheap remedy to that is to wire in a push button control for the glowplugs.

That sounds like it. I will try that. I've always lived by the rule " If it aint broke don't fix it." That's great till your stuck in the Walmart parking lot cause you didn't do the upgrades everyone swears by. Thanks Pete

Another possibility is that your truck NEEDS glow to start. 4320 in fact NEEDED glows before he replaced his starter or IP or injectors or something. Your truck has a glow override which makes your glows stay off if it's warm enough. If that's working but your truck needs glow time then pull the plug and wire it straight through which eliminated that override. Or you can put in a manual glow switch. Hopefully it's that and not a new IP cause if it starts with the cool water you're in for a new pump fairly soon.

i needed my glowplugs to work before the truck would start. the problem was the glowplug relay died. wouldnt start on ether, WD-40 or anything. glows or nothing for my truck.

I did try the water trick and am not sure if that worked or not. Yesterday I did the water trick and it started on the third try after about 10min. The day before that it took 20min to start no water just patience.

All winter I was afraid it wouldn't start in the South Georgia cold HA HA. I had never heard of not starting in the heat? And it's not even hot yet.

Since I'm as clueless as a cat in a doghouse, I'm sending it to a diesel tech and let them tell me what's up. It's a great running truck I'm sure it will be simple. I just hope I can afford to keep it going. Thanks for all y'alls input i'll keep ya posted on what they tell me. More than likely I will fix it myself expecially if it's the IP as I know I can't afford to pay them to do it. So be ready for 101 questions. Pete

Some needs glow plugs warm, some dont. MY CUCV doesn't, my burb does. Do a glow plug override. That is the cheap thing to try.

I will try the glow plug over ride. Infact I'll do that before it goes to the shop. That does make sence. I've been wanting to do that since i've owned it. No better time than the presant. Expecially when you need it.

Some needs glow plugs warm, some dont. MY CUCV doesn't, my burb does. Do a glow plug override. That is the cheap thing to try.


Not too unusual when they get some miles. The heat of compression is just not quite enough when warm. Hot, ok, warm, not so good. My truck needs glow plugs after it sits 15 minutes, even when all indications say it shouldn't. It's just mileage wear. The pump is fine, starts right up with seven seconds of glow plugs. Runs smooth all day, gets fair mileage, no other indications other than the 'no start' when hot soaked. Within 10 minutes, starts quickly, 15 minutes or longer, needs the plugs.

The Suburban, which I sold recently, didn't exhibit that problem, the engine was newer with less miles. It would start after being shut off hot, for at least an hour. In hot summer weather it would start easily for several hours after being shut off.

Actually the Burb and CUCV are close in mileage and the burb has new IP and injs. I think the 24v starter helps the CUCV but glows don't even turn on if it's remotley warm. The Burbs glows go on even if you just shut it off on 100 deg day.

my 85 burban has the same problem. short trips, under 10 min, needs glow to start. i have a manual override switch for this problem. were is the temp switch that smackzed was talking about? t want totry and bypass that on mine.

on an '85 the temp inhibit switch is on the head (I think) passenger side near the fuel filter kinda below the Trans oil tube. Apparently it should have a light blue wire going into it from glow relay and then a light blue/black wire going out towards the glow controller.

i think your right, i think i have messed with that before. will that also have anything to do with my glow plugs not coming on when its below 32degrees? they work perfect in cool weather but when it gets really cold i have to bump the starter to get them to turn on. thats why i put in the manual button.

Y'all hit the nail on the head! Glow plugs, Glow plugs, Glow plugs!!!!! I had 4 bad Glow plugs. I'm impressed the thing ran at all on just 4 good ones. This truck is deffinetly getting the glow plug over rider. Thanks for all the input. @ 185k this beast purrrrs like a kitten, gotta love a diesel. I'm temted to go to the store to get my pregnant wife some ice cream just so I can drive it again. :D It runs so doggon goooood with those Bosch Glow plugs.