Im noobish when it comes to grid heaters how can i tell of mine isnt working because the wait to start light doesnt stay on for my than two seconds even when its extrenely cold, when it does start it bellows white smoke aany help?

 

Well, you should turn on your key, you should be able to count to 5 slowly....Thousand1, Thousand2......so on, then you should hear a thud on your drives side fender, ( Heater relays), then you should start it.
Hook up a multi-tester to your grid heaters. When its cold they should have power once the ignition is on. Then after the thud, should have no voltage. If you do have voltage, place your hand by the intake horn. This area will get hot fast, be warned. Have someone cycle the switch, move your hand before it gets too hot. If its hot, your heaters are working.
If not, and you have voltage, your heaters have taken a dump.
If no voltage, go back to your heater relay. Make sure its getting voltage when you turn the key on. If there is no voltage coming out when its cold, the relay is bad.....

 

Isn't there some kind of temperature sensor as well? I am having a similar problem, but I have already verified that the relays are working, but haven't located what controls them yet.

 

Yes, it senses temperature....thats how it knows to come on....

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Originally Posted by jshafley Sounds like maybe somebody at some point installed the wrong sensor. They are different between I/C vs. non-I/C. That is the only thing I can imagine that would explain such backwards behavior. I say this because the KSB is electrically opposite in the I/C vs. non-I/C (hot/off) and also activates through one of those sensors.

 

Let me clarify. I have the same issue that the grid heater seems to have stopped working under let's say 35 degrees. No parts of it have been replaced ruling out a possible wrong temp sensor. Everything was working fine until about 2 months ago when it started getting cold. What I was getting at is maybe there is a "bad" spot in the sensor causing it not to work at certain temperatures. It sounds like the OP's problem is very similar. My question is not if there is a sensor, but does anyone know where it is.

 

The temp sensor is in the intake on the head.....heres a pic....
1991 1993 Dodge RAM 5 9 Cummins Diesel Air Intake Temperature Sensor Map Sensor | eBay

its wired into the heaters. I just wire in a momentary switch, when its cold I just push the button for 5 seconds. And if its really cold, I can press 5 seconds release of a second, hit it again for 5 seconds....that way I keep the wear off my ignition switch....

 

It is the IAT sensor (Intake Air Temperature) located on the drivers side either on top or below the intake plenum and behind the intake manifold (horn). Take it out and clean or replace.

The below PDFs are for 94+ 12v and 98.5+ 24v but the process and values should be the same....

 

Thanks guys, that helps me a lot and hopefully the op as well.