Where to buy new PMD and Harness?

[RipnRun]

While I was getting the air out, I noticed something looked "off". I tugged on the wires and it turns out the glow plug controller relay is broken. I can get one from Walt for $69.99.

Three questions. First, is there something that causes this to happen that I need to address?
Second, I am not a mechanic but it looks like it shouldn't be difficult to remove and replace, or will I need to tow it to a shop?
Third, It has been a while but the last time I plugged in the glow plug warmer it caused the circuit breaker in the garage to pop. I assume it is related to the broken glow plug relay. Do I need to do something to avoid messing up the new glow plug relay?

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[grancito]

I buy a lot of parts from Walt and rockauto, compare prices. The two securing nuts are 15 mm, I don't know the terminal ones, easy replacement. The mains plug-in heater is a block heater element, low down on the drivers side of the engine, half way along, it heats the water in the engine. I have never had a GP relay break, and the retaining threads on the suburban one, must be nearly worn out from removing it so many times to remove the head. Someone else had the breaker pop from the block heater, and I think it was because of salt on the heater. It is difficult to remove, even with the engine out of the vehicle. If you are thinking about replacing it, let me know, I will send photos of one removed, and how to release it, I deleted it on the new engine, because the temperature here does not drop below 60 deg F, I also only have one battery in each vehicle.

[RipnRun]

Thanks, please do send the pictures. At this moment I'm thinking that I'm too old and fat to crawl under the truck again. But I said the same thing right before I replaced the starter last time.

Do I need to unhook the batteries before I mess with the glow plug relay?

[grancito]

Yes, remove the ground leads from the batteries. Here are some photos, in the first two you can see the side of the block where the heater fits in the rusty hole. The next is the outside of the heater, the plug is difficult to remove, lever it off with a screwdriver. In the center is the retaining screw, it needs to be unscrewed a lot, as the unit has to be partly extracted and moved sideways to let the clamp come out. The last photo shows the clamp mechanism unscrewed, if you unscrew it too much, part of it will disappear into the cooling part of the block.SAM_0328.jpgSAM_0328.jpgSAM_0331.jpgSAM_0332.jpg I don't know if any of the photos got attached, this site is difficult for me and pisses me off. OK the second photo is the first but not important, at least some were posted.

[RipnRun]

I bought the cheaper of the two glow plug relay options from rock auto. My son commented that it felt kind of "cheap" compare to the original. I guess he was right, it broke during installation. I did not crank down hard on the nut, it just popped right out through the plastic. I am sending it back and ordering the more expensive option.

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[grancito]

Oh, that was unfortunate, it is necessary to buy quality sometimes, but with a lot of purchases, I have had success with the cheap brands. I look for their recommended parts, often just a little more than the cheapest.

[RipnRun]

Good news! The old truck is up and running again. Thanks for the guidance Grancito.

It could be my imagination but the more expensive part felt sturdier out of the box.

[grancito]

Really good news, pleased to be of help.