2003 f250 powerstoke, remote start

I am getting ready to install a compustar 1wams on my 2003 powerstroke. I am trying to decide on the best option for the glow plugs. Can I hook it to the wait to start light, to the glow plug relay itself, or try and find someone with the programmer to extend the internal timer. I have checked and locating someone who can program the controller is not going to be easy. I am partial to the glow plug relay as it will allow the truck the longest wait time. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here is a note from Bulldog Security :

NOTE #5: For WAIT TO START LIGHT, do not use the wire in the vehicle, use the 5,10,15 or 20 Second PROGRAMMABLE Wait To Start Timmer on the Remote Starter

Here are some notes from DEI :

On the remote start, make sure to program the Accessory State During Wait To Start to ON.

On diesel vehicles the tach wire is GREEN / WHITE in a 5 wire harness held up with white tape behind the parking brake release. ( Actually it's above the E-Brake release & behind the fuse box, taped to a thick harness going to the back of the fuse box. )  The tach wire on these vehicles may generate an unclean signal. Options maybe to set the threshold jumper to “on/low“ when programming tach in some Directed remote systems or use part number 454T tach signal generator.

Wait to start      see Tech Doc 1091         Link to Tip 1091 :  https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/file.asp?ID=1016

Which Compustar brain?  The CM4200 has programming option 1-8, Opt 2, that will give an 18 second delay.

Soldering is fun!

I believe I have the cm4200. The brain has a built in timer hat can be programmed but it requires a special tool that none of.the shops in the area have. I am probably just going to tie into the pcm wire that grounds the glow plug relay to activate the glow plugs. This will set the delay up to 2 minutes in cold weather. My question is if there is a reason not to wire it this way.

If it is a Compustar CM4200 brain and you have the 4 button remotes, it should be possible to program an 18 second start delay for your diesel engine.  Here is a link to the CM4200 Install Guide   :   https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/file.asp?ID=399    The programming instructions are on Page 8.Soldering is fun!

The manual I have and the one I found online shows that the only to program the diesel timer is to use the optional op500 programmer that I dont have and cant find locally. If u can program the timer up to 99 sec. There should be no problems with using the pcm wire from the gpr that grounds the relay to power the glow plugs and connect it to the neg glow plug input on the cm4200 harness, right?

Never  tried it that way.  As far as I know the CM4200 doesn't have any Special Option Groups that require the OP-500, but being as I have the OP-500 programmer, I always use it instead of the remotes.Soldering is fun!

Why a 2 min.need more than 4 seconds on a modern diesel. 10 seconds should be more than adequate.

I can garuantee from experience that 4 sec is not long enough on most modern diesels. Even the crappy wait to start light stays on longer than that on a 50 deg day. During the winter with 0 deg temps I know 10 secs will not be long enough to start my truck. Thirty secs sometimes isnt enough. Is the purpose of the neg glow plug wire on the controller there to activate the starter after the ground signal has stopped?

iaff284 wrote: I can garuantee from experience that 4 sec is not long enough on most modern diesels. Even the crappy wait to start light stays on longer than that on a 50 deg day. During the winter with 0 deg temps I know 10 secs will not be long enough to start my truck. Thirty secs sometimes isnt enough. Is the purpose of the neg glow plug wire on the controller there to activate the starter after the ground signal has stopped?

Is your truck a 6.0 or a 7.3? They made both engines that year and depending on which you have will determine what to do.

It is a 7.3 without the keyless entry