1994 Itasca suncruiser diesel pusher question.

[Pilotrt]

I'm looking at a 1994 Itasca suncruiser diesel. I was wondering if the Cummings engine has glow plugs? If not what does it use for pre-heat. When starting it warm or cold it takes about 15-20 secs of cranking to fire it up. I've had diesels before and it seems to take a bit more cranking to get it going than other diesels I've operated. Once its started it ran great. Took it on a half-hour test run without a hiccup. Any concerns with this engine? It has 165000 kms on it, with regular servicing. I also had to fiddle with the key to get, what I think is a solenoid to get voltage to the starter. The power seemed to be low and the dash lights dim and the volt meter was low. When I fiddled with the keys switch, I was able to get the volt meter up to where it should be and then able to turn over the starter. Oh, also, is there a dash light to indicate a glow plug activation or pre-heat?
thanks in advance
Ron T.

[Kjlunda]

If it's an 8.3 cummins, It should have a pre heater and a light on dash to indicate that.
Don't know about 5.9

[spike45]

[QUOTE=Pilotrt;885144]I'm looking at a 1994 Itasca suncruiser diesel. I was wondering if the Cummings engine has glow plugs? If not what does it use for pre-heat. When starting it warm or cold it takes about 15-20 secs of cranking to fire it up. I've had diesels before and it seems to take a bit more cranking to get it going than other diesels I've operated. Once its started it ran great. activation or pre-heat?
thanks in advance
Ron T.[/QUOTE

No, this engine does not use glow plugs as it is a direct injection (into the cylinder) engine. To accomplish cold start up, the intake manifold has an electrical heating grid, somewhat like a very heavy duty toaster (somewhat!). The grid is controlled by a timer circuit. With this you must never use ether starting fluid or any other flammable liquid as a starting aid in cold weather. When starting, the grid gets very hot then you can start cranking the engine. Incoming air is heated which makes for easy starting. These grids do not burn out like glow plugs do in precombustion chamber engines where the plugs can continue to heat after the engine starts if there is a malfunction in the glow plug timer module.