I have a 1999 Chevy k3500 with 145k on it. Bought it used a year ago and have hauled sporadically. It gets driven about 4x a month.
Last time I drove it was about 3 weeks ago and when I started it, glow plug light came on, waited, started and drove away fine. Stopped 25 minutes later, filled the tank, went to restart...no glow plug light BUT check engine light came on and stayed on.
A week later, had the mechanic check the code...came up with 'glow plug relay'...asked if there was any smoke when starting it...nope. Reset the check engine light and said drive it more to see if anything changes. Waited another week, started it up and bam, check engine light again.
Truck seems a little sluggish...meaning its 'get up and go' is slow but she is fine otherwise.
We are planning on changing the glow plug relay and all the plugs...but what would cause the repeated 'check engine lights'?
Changed out turbo sensor....turbo is fine. All fuel filters were changed too.
Posted 2011-09-11 6:42 PM (#137416 - in reply to #137411) Subject: RE: Check engine light woes
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I can't speak for the GM product, But I remember on my 2000 F350, When the glow plugs went bad, they often took the control module with them. I suspect when you replace the control module and plugs, your check engine light will go away.
Posted 2011-09-16 7:36 AM (#137566 - in reply to #137411) Subject: RE: Check engine light woes
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Oh man... check engine light woes. I have had my GMC in the shop 4 times this summer because of the glow plugs all going bad.I bought the truck used with 45,000 miles on it. It now has 77,000 miles on it. The original owner bought the extended warranty on the glow plugs.Now the light is on again! this will be my 5th time into the shop for this. The dealer will not change out the rest that haven't been changed yet. I told them that this is really getting old. They said because it is under warranty , that they cannot change the rest out until the diagnostic machine says they are bad. Is this ridiculous or what? So, I asked them if the original owner had had the truck in for this as well. They said no. Well then why would he have bought the extended warranty on the glow plugs? He too must have had an issue with this? My check engine light comes on each time,not the glow plug light.
Posted 2011-09-16 8:06 AM (#137568 - in reply to #137411) Subject: RE: Check engine light woes
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Don't mean to make this a glow plug discussion. But Jackbrat reminded me of mine.
On my 2006 F350 I replaced 4 of the 8 glow plugs over about 40,000 miles. Like Jackbrat, I was getting a little frustrated being in and out of the shop. Each time the dealership would charge me the $100 deductable and about 3 weeks later Ford would send me a $100 check saying no deductablle should have been charged. After the 4th repair I asked the Service writer how much individual glow plugs cost, They were $25 each. Most of the cost associated with intalling the plugs was labor to get into the valve head where the pug was located. I suggested that while he had the head area open, Why not replace all 4 on that bank.
He said I would have to pay for the plugs that were not reading as bad. I said I'd gladly pay the $75 to replace the additional 3 glow plugs rather than make a return trip every 6 months. As it turned out, ALL the plugs they changed were on the same bank and that visit was replacing the last of the 4.
Posted 2011-09-16 10:28 PM (#137603 - in reply to #137411) Subject: RE: Check engine light woes
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Yeah- This is every other week for me. I have one replaced, a week later the check engine light comes on. I have to leave my truck in the lot the night before and hitch a ride home. This is getting really old. This will be the 5th time for me now. Well...only 3 more trips to the dealership after this next trip (I guess ).
Check engine light woes
