2320 glow plug problem

Glow plugs are located on the cylinder head. I would start by trouble shooting by checking for any blown fuses, next check for voltage at the glow plugs. If you have voltage there when the key is first turned on then you probably have bad glow plugs. If you have no power going to the glow plugs the next thing trace the wiring harness back to the glow plug relay and timer looking for unplugged connectors, frayed or pinched wires. Then check the glow plug relay and timer, i believe they are located behind the dash panels. Also check for power coming to the relay and timer. Hope this helps.

Thanks T-man, I've checked for blown fuses and they're all fine. I spoke with a former JD mechanic who feels as a best guess that the relay is probably bad and possibly the timer. He feels that since everything was working fine 2 months ago and after jumping the tractor yesterday to start it that the tell tale glow plug light coming on during operations that the charging system thru the bad battery never reached adequate voltage and kept tripping the relay on and off, it's the weakest link. I'll follow the procedure you suggested and check for any voltage to the relay and from it. Looks like I'll be taking the dash apart, I think the steering wheel has to come off to remove the dash cowling, am I headed in the right direction ? Thanks for your advice !!!!:thanku:

I'm not sure what you are expecting to find behind the dash. I have included a picture of what is behind the dash of my 2320. Please excuse all of the dust.

Getting the dash off isn't all that bad. Good luck and let us know what you find is wrong and how you fixed it.

Big D, Thanks for the pic of the area behind the dash according to the diagram from JD Parts in your pic the lower right hand quadrant of the picture shows a small square black box mounted to the the cross bar. This is supposed to be the glow plug relay, next to it is supposed to be the plug timer. I haven't been able to get to the tractor yet but you're experience with taking the dash apart is encouraging. One question, removing the steering wheel did you have to use a puller to get it off ? Thanks.

No puller. I just removed the nut and rocked the wheel a little bit.

If you do remove the dash, and maybe the skirt below it, don't forget to grease that hard to get to front engine drive shaft U-Joint. On my 2320 there is an access plate on the right hand side, behind the skirt, at about calf level. Removing this plate makes getting to the Zerk much easier. I only mention it because you have to remove the dash or remove the floor to get the skirt off.

Good luck. I have a few other pictures if you need them.

Well the 2320 is heading for the dealer. Spoke to the service manager, Russ, heck of a nice guy, he e-mailed the test procedure from the service manual to me. I'm a backyard mechanic just enough to get me in trouble. Tore into the dash panel, got out the test directions and I thought it was in Greek. If this result go to step 3, if this go to 5 and on and on. Called dealer back and Monday they'll be diagnosing the problem on my little tractor, I'll post up what they find:banghead3

Well after a week at the dealer it has gone from a defective instrument panel, because the glow plug light was burned out therefore it somehow effected the complete circuit, a new panel runs about $400 from JD. This light bulb that was burned out per JD couldn't be replaced, since it was a sealed unit. I thought that this sounded ridiculous so the manager agreed and took it upon himself late Friday to see if he could change the bulb and he was successful, said it was actually pretty easy. Still no power to the glow plugs, so he retested the relay that he said a mechanic had bench tested and while on the tractor it failed ????? He called this morning and gave me the news that everything was fixed and that he felt bad about all the run around and would drop the charges for diagnosis and installation of the new relay. At least I learned how to by pass the the timer and relay to energize the glow plugs from the service manager when it looked like the only solution was to spend $400 to get a replacement light bulb. Never stop learning !!!:fing32: