NikTheGeek

NikTheGeek

New Member
Even though it's warm weather at last, the car is needing 2 goes on the glow plugs to start perfectly. If I only allow one cycle of the glow plug light, it will start, but it will splutter in to life rather than firing in to life.

Is that a symptom of failing glow plugs?

What's the best to get and where from?

Many thanks

Nik
 
Yes it is, you have plugs that have failed. Or the plug relay or ECU temp sensor is failing. Glow duration is not constant it varies with temperature. Simply if the engine is very cold as read by the ECU temp sensor the glows will stay on longer. The warmer the engine is within the glow plug activity window the shorter will be the cycle. If when the engine starts you get cylinders chiming in as engine speed picks up you almost certainly have plugs that have gone down.
 
Right, replaced all 6 glow plugs and it didn't make any difference. Still stuggles to start on first light of glow plugs, but is fine on the second.

What next? I figure I'll check the in tank pump as that comes on with the glow plug light. But anything else? How do I check the plug relay? I assume the ECU temp sensor will show its reading on my Nanocom?

I gave everything a good clean whilst I was doing it and replaced all the leak-off pipes too, but no sign of leaking.

tnx

Nik
 
Last edited:
NikTheGeek said:
Right, replaced all 6 glow plugs and it didn't make any difference. Still stuggles to start on first light of glow plugs, but is fine on the second.

What next? I figure I'll check the in tank pump as that comes on with the glow plug light. But anything else? How do I check the plug relay? I assume the ECU temp sensor will show its reading on my Nanocom?

I gave everything a good clean whilst I was doing it and replaced all the leak-off pipes too, but no sign of leaking.

tnx

Nik
Click to expand...
Decent Plugs (Delphi, Bosch, NGK ??)??

Weak In Tank Lift Pump can cause starting issues as can leaky/split leak off (spill) pipes!
 
Put a volt meter across one plug and the engine and get someone to turn the key to position 2, you should see about 11 volts, much less could indicate a problem with the glow relay the engine earth or the battery. Do the same but with the meter across the battery and see what you have.
 
Hi Nik

after doing all of the above if you have the same issue, try adding in some regular diesel or even a small amount of petrol into your bio diesel. I have the same issue when running on SVO or WVO thinning with a little of the juice from the pump always resolves it though.
 
JohnnyCrash said:
Hi Nik

after doing all of the above if you have the same issue, try adding in some regular diesel or even a small amount of petrol into your bio diesel. I have the same issue when running on SVO or WVO thinning with a little of the juice from the pump always resolves it though.
Click to expand...

It's the same on straight diesel too. But thanks anyway. How was the sensor???

Nik
 
Did you check the glows before you fitted there are duds some times there are many ways to test them but the most effective is out with plug and check resistance .
If the resistance value is around ∞ Ω, the glow plug is defective.
If the resistance value is below 5 Ω, the glow plug is okay.
When cold does your glow light stay on for a minimum of 5 secs
 
Last edited:
Grit Valve said:
Did you check the glows before you fitted there are duds some times there are many ways to test them but the most effective is out with plug and check resistance .
If the resistance value is around ∞ Ω, the glow plug is defective.
If the resistance value is below 5 Ω, the glow plug is okay.
When cold does your glow light stay on for a minimum of 5 secs
Click to expand...

I'll be able to test them fitted if I remove the wire off each one.

Yes, it does stay on for 5 secs or more. I'll take a look at them tomorrow...

tnx

Nik
 
NikTheGeek said:
I'll be able to test them fitted if I remove the wire off each one.

Yes, it does stay on for 5 secs or more. I'll take a look at them tomorrow...

tnx

Nik
Click to expand...

Me too but others don't like my method wire on Positive with all leads removed from plugs touch the tip of each plug get a spark all is well.
 
Ps the safest way crimp a female bullet connector to a piece of wire push on glow plug tip touch on positive terminal no spark duff glow plug ;)
 
NikTheGeek said:
I wasn't going to do it hot, I was just going to use a multimeter between the tip and earth :)
Click to expand...

Your supposed to remove them to get a true accurate reading .
You don't need to do them hot the spark indicates there is no break in the plugs circuit thus no need to remove .
 
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