Hotbox heating problem

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Thumbs

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Ram Year
1992
Engine
5.9 Cummins
I have had my 92 350 since new. Last year during the winter I started noticing a clicking noise while waiting for the hotbox to get hot enough to start the engine. Sometime it would click and sometimes not but it always got hot enough to start. This fall is a different story. Although the wait to start light comes on and the voltmeter shows current being used it doesn't seem to be heating the air. It will start sometimes but the light is still on and will continue to be on for several miles then goes out. Now I'm not even getting the clicking but there is a voltage drop. I took it to the diesel guy and he replaced two relays but still not fixed. This guy is good. He knows his stuff but this is an old truck and not sure he sees many of these things. Anyone have this problem before and if so what was the problem?

thanks for the help
 

maxx442

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Just spit balling here, but the intake heater itself may have gone bad. I had that issue on my '93 Cummins.
 
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Thanks. Sorry for not getting back faster. The heater is good. The problem is the wait to start light hangs on for a few miles before it shuts off. The light comes on and power is being drawn. I give it more than enough time for the heater to heat, as per normal, and start the engine. Now the wait to start light lingers for a few miles before it turns off.
 
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Thumbs

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I may take that back? It maybe bad. Checkin to see if one of the coils isn't getting hot . I'll let ya know what if find out. That is if I find out. LOL. Have a box from a 93 to swap out. Cross your fingers.
 

maxx442

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I was told that if part of the heater is bad that the relay isn't seeing the required resistance to shut the "wait to start" off. Eventually the engine warms up enough to shut it off. Not sure if that is correct but it makes sense.
 
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Thumbs

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I was told that if part of the heater is bad that the relay isn't seeing the required resistance to shut the "wait to start" off. Eventually the engine warms up enough to shut it off. Not sure if that is correct but it makes sense.
Yes that is where we are now. That is exactly what is goin on here, the symptoms that is. I guess we will try it and see what happens. Thanks
 
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