I haven't checked the card, but will try shorting the relay near the booster. When I key on, I can certainly hear *some* relay in the dash area (engine bay or interior can't tell.. just a dull relay thud) donking on and off by itself, but it only stays on for a couple seconds at a time, and when its really cold out, maybe like 4 seconds at the most. Then cycles here and there. Also I've had the truck for at least three years, maybe four, and the glow plugs and fuel filter haven't been changed.

Filter has a date of '08 on it.
If I short the relay, how can I tell if the glows are actually doing anything? take them all out one at a time and see if they get red hot? That seems inefficient...
I do realize that in order to get this figured out I'll have to turn a wrench at some point, but since the truck is currently 30 miles away I have to be wise with the few times I get to troubleshoot.
Whether or not the automatic controller is working I don't trust it, and eventually I think I'd like to take it out and just run a push button with some 60Gs. That way I can count to ten and know for sure that something is happening!
Before I get there though, I'd like to nail down what the problem is.