Thread: Starter Solenoid or Glow Plug Relay are they different?

Hello All,

I might have found the twin of the solenoid fitted to my 2A Shortie. The only differences I can see is that the previous owner has straightened out the mounting bracket and the position of where details of the unit are stamped. The two smaller posts on the clone appear a tad longer too.

I wonder if they noticed that in the end elevation photo the bottom left-hand corner of the unit is broken - does not say much about their level of care and attention to detail.

Would be good to know its operational specifications though.

12V 4 Position HeavyDuty Car Truck Starter System Solenoid Relay For Ford MG | eBay

Kind Regards
Lionel

What i can tell you is that the p/n for the original starter solenoid for Series modells is 13H5952LG , if you are after part numbers downlod this SugarSync

As you probably know, Series 2a did not have a glow plug relay. In fact, any of the relays shown would work perfectly well as a glow plug relay, bearing in mind that your setup apparently does not have a timer.

Strangely there is a resistor on the glow plug circuit (PRC1716) ... i can't understand what's it's purpose

Hello Sierrafery & John,

I consulted the big web and found a discussion on a Toyota forum about "Glow Controllers" on the Land Cruiser BJ40. Toyota Part numbers vary between 28550-46021 or 28550-57010. A replacement part for both these alternatives is 28551-42GCK - Resistance Coil Kit Repair for Glow Controller BJ40 BJ42 -9/82.

Photograph sourced June 24, 2018 from, 28551-42GCK - Resistance Coil Kit Repair for Glow Controller BJ40 BJ42 -9/82 - ToJo 4wd Centre, Toowoomba

Or other Toyota forum members describe "counting to 15" while holding the glow plugs on.

I have a similar glow plug visual controller fitted as standard to my Yanmar tractor.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello All,

Since my last posting on this thread my new Ford four post starter solenoid has arrived. While I was waiting for the new solenoid I looked at a number of videos on youTube. In the videos I noticed that how they suggest that the solenoid should be wired is different to the arrangement that the previous owner used on the 2A with a Toyota 1B Series diesel.

My apologies for the person's voice however Klowny goes into the greatest detail - accessed July 2nd 2018 from, YouTube this is backed up by a brief introductory video Vintage Auto Garage YouTube and one clip that details the use of the smaller "I" post from Wiringharness YouTube


Anyway, tonight I checked how the Ford 4-post glow plug starter solenoid was wired by the previous owner as shown on the attached photograph.

The previous owner used a welding lead to join from the positive battery terminal to the positive post that is located low on the passenger side of the engine.

• A thinner wire starts from the same post as the welding lead and the wire then travels up the engine bay to be connected to the right hand side thick post of the Ford solenoid.
• The wire that connects directly from the glow plug rail joins onto the left-hand side thick post.
• The switch wire then joins onto the left-hand side thin "S" post.
• There were no wires connected to the thin right-hand side "I" post

According to the youTube clips the wire from the positive post on the side of the motor should be connected to the left-hand thick post "Battery Post" on the solenoid.

Which means the wire from the glow plug rail should be connected to the "Output" or right-hand side thick post.

Is the technique of wiring up the solenoid shown in the youTube clips the way you would connect the solenoid up?

Why would the previous owner have wired the solenoid in what is the reverse of the youTube clips?

I would like to avoid a loud bang and lots of smoke and sparks flying everywhere.

I also found another Ford link that actually features a four post solenoid being described as a Glow Plug Relay for F-Series Ford diesels. This means the previous owner was going down the right path. I even found a similar 4 post "Ford Glow plug relay for F Series Diesels so it answered my question can these 4 post solenoids be used as a power source for glow plugs? Amazon.com: DB Electrical Sfd6026 Glow Plug Relay Solenoid For Ford F-Series, E-Series, Excursion: Automotive

This answers my previous question of whether starter solenoids can be used for glow plug relays? Yes

The other thing is that the metal mounting bracket is the "Earth" and it was only held in place by one of the two anchor bolts to the firewall. By the marks on the firewall it had only one anchorage point for a very long time.

Kind regards
Lionel

The glow plug wires can be connected either way round without issue, a relay like that doesn't have a preferred direction. The "I" terminal is for petrol vehicles with a ballast resistor ignition coil that is cut out during starting. You can continue to ignore it.

Originally Posted by bee utey

The glow plug wires can be connected either way round without issue, a relay like that doesn't have a preferred direction. The "I" terminal is for petrol vehicles with a ballast resistor ignition coil that is cut out during starting. You can continue to ignore it.

Hello bee utey,

Thank you for the reply. I am pretty much a "bear of little brain" in regards to auto electrics. I noticed that each of the three videos featured the same labelling for each of the posts. I found it to be more than a wee bit disconcerting when I compared the videos' content to how differently the previous owner had wired things up.

Kind regards
Lionel