Glow Plug Relay hacked to manual relay - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

yvairguy · #1 12-12-2013, 01:28 AM

OK i just soldered on to the hot terminal in the relay, the one that is in the middle and sits a bit higher from the other terminals on the board, and then on to the feed side of the relay and to the terminal that lights the dash light(it was an afterthought and i didn't take a picture of that), it's ugly but it all gets replaced when the parts come in that i ordered so neatness wasn't really a concern just that it worked.

All the original wiring is used so if anyone wanted to just throw in a factory relay it would work as designed. when i "rebuild" the relay i will do the same and use the factory wiring and will be reversible by just changing the relay. the built version will have the timer functions, light the dash light and have a remote bypass switch.

Zacharias · #2 12-12-2013, 11:13 AM

You are a god walking among men.

The reason for my shameless buttsmooching is the next question: any any chance are you planning to build and sell a few of these?

I just picked up a generic 12v solenoid, with plans to convert my 300d over, but this is way more elegant than my underhood wiring skills (as seen on my CD, which I converted a couple of years ago).

Thx

mach4 · #3 12-12-2013, 11:47 AM

Here's another option that uses the GP Relay as a fuse and pass through for stock wiring to the engine. In this scenario I use a Ford relay and a switch in the dash.

380SL Diesel Conversion Project

Yours is a little more elegant

yvairguy · #4 12-12-2013, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

Here's another option that uses the GP Relay as a fuse and pass through for stock wiring to the engine. In this scenario I use a Ford relay and a switch in the dash.

380SL Diesel Conversion Project

Yours is a little more elegant

I actually bought a Ford relay and was going to make a setup like the guy that has all the youtube videos from the NW but didn't want to hack up my wiring harness or build another one right now so i went back to modifying the old relay again.

i like the encapsulation of the parts and the fact that you did the same and used the mfg wiring harness. Did you then mount the Ford relay under your "new" part?

yvairguy · #5 12-12-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

You are a god walking among men.

The reason for my shameless buttsmooching is the next question: any any chance are you planning to build and sell a few of these?

I just picked up a generic 12v solenoid, with plans to convert my 300d over, but this is way more elegant than my underhood wiring skills (as seen on my CD, which I converted a couple of years ago).

Thx

Hadn't thought about building any... shoot then i would have to get myself a gray coat with a Mercedes emblem and start making youtube videos, not that there is anything wrong with that.

why are you planning on converting yours over? just reliability?

mach4 · #6 12-12-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvairguy

i like the encapsulation of the parts and the fact that you did the same and used the mfg wiring harness. Did you then mount the Ford relay under your "new" part?

No it's actually located up next to the firewall on the passenger's side. It's out of the way and because it's mounted directly to the chassis, I get audio confirmation that the solenoid is engaging as well as the LED in my momentary switch.

yvairguy · #7 12-12-2013, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

No it's actually located up next to the firewall on the passenger's side. It's out of the way and because it's mounted directly to the chassis, I get audio confirmation that the solenoid is engaging as well as the LED in my momentary switch.

that's funny they bent over backward to make these things quiet and one of the things i like about this now is i can hear the OE relay click because i hit it before i put the key in the ignition.

Zacharias · #8 12-12-2013, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvairguy

shoot then i would have to get myself a gray coat with a Mercedes emblem and start making youtube videos

Signs on the walls of the garage. Don't forget the signs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvairguy

why are you planning on converting yours over? just reliability?

I did the coupe because it had the old loop plugs with the $$$$$$ early style controller, which died as soon as I got the car.

As I seem to be having problems with all the used preglow relays I buy for the 300d -- one last winter would not activate at under -8 F, the one I replaced it with worked great rest of last winter, then started staying on this winter when it got that cold, and fried my glowplugs -- I would rather just go manual or semi-controllable and not spend the $190 on a new Bosch box or $100 on a Korean one.

yvairguy · #9 12-12-2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

Signs on the walls of the garage. Don't forget the signs.

I did the coupe because it had the old loop plugs with the $$$$$$ early style controller, which died as soon as I got the car.

As I seem to be having problems with all the used preglow relays I buy for the 300d -- one last winter would not activate at under -8 F, the one I replaced it with worked great rest of last winter, then started staying on this winter when it got that cold, and fried my glowplugs -- I would rather just go manual or semi-controllable and not spend the $190 on a new Bosch box or $100 on a Korean one.

I had thought about putting a light on the dash that would show when power was going to the glow plugs, had kind of thought about dropping that but it could save a battery and the glow plugs if they stick shut like yours did.

Lycoming-8 · #10 12-13-2013, 12:37 AM

That was the beauty of the old Gorilla Knob system. The GP's were only on while you pulled the knob out, and there were extra points for positive engine shut-off when you pushed it all the way back in !!
No electronic relays, vacuum games or parts....

winmutt · #11 12-13-2013, 10:13 AM

Did the purple wire mod not work?

funola · #12 12-13-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvairguy

I had thought about putting a light on the dash that would show when power was going to the glow plugs, had kind of thought about dropping that but it could save a battery and the glow plugs if they stick shut like yours did.

Why add a light on the dash when there is one in the cluster?
I simply rewired the glow controller so the light is connected to the glow plugs. I had one wire coming out of the controller to a toggle switch to +12v for manual control. Added a chime warning that sounds with power to the plugs. Loved it. First thing opening the door was to flip the glow toggle switch, chime sounds and cluster glow light goes on. Put key in ign and flip glow toggle switch to off before starting engine. Glow plugs were heating up while I sit and put key in ignition with ding dong ding dong in the background. Loved it.