L

luke4755

New Member
Hi everyone. Just bought my first P38 last friday and have a few small issues i would like to try and sort out if anyone can help.
Firstly the passengers door lock doesn't operate with the central locking. I've had a quick look on the forum and i'm led to believe it's the actuator at fault and that these can be obtained from an MGF?
Secondly, the temperature gauge. Never seems to get past the first white line even after a good half hours drive? Any common faults?
Another small thing that's bugging me is the passengers side dual climate temperature control doesn't illuminate when the lights are on. Petty i know but i like everything to be as it should.
And finally the car can be intermittently difficult to start. This has happened first thing in the morning on a couple of occasions and once after a 20 minute trip to work when i tried to start straight after. I have plugged into it at work and got the fault code 25 Glow system using a snap on solus. Poss. relay?
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Luke.
 
We can assume it's diesel then if it has glow plugs. Could be relay but far more likely a few duff plugs. Check for voltage at a plug with glow lamp lit.
 
Try a new temputure sensor,but more than likely its hasn't a thermostat
You can buy a bulb kit from island 4x4 for the bulbs .
You have to remove the heater control unit ( hevac )
 
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Temp sensor could have a film of gunk around the bronze probe I took mine out, cleaned it up on a wire wheel put it back in and it sprang back into life worth a try and it is a free fix if it works.......
 
I doubt an actuator from an MGF will fit. having said that, I'll try to find a picture of one to see. Most likely to be the lock motor in the actuator. They're the same from any lock so you can swap it over from a working one and retest.

If you can find where to buy the motors you're winning. I'm at the stage of asking Mabuci how much for a hundred and see if anyone on here wants one too!
 
MGF actuator certainly looks similar although the wiring looks slightly different to mine. Could be worth a punt though. The motor and microswitches are probably the same and frankly there's not a lot else in there to go wrong. be interested in how you get on there.
 
Sorry for the late reply guys been really busy the last couple of weeks !
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Managed to sort the HEVAC back lighting issue with a bulb kit from island 4x4 so thanks to Grit Valve for that.
Changed my glow plugs on sunday and all seemed to be well until this evening. Was probably the coldest it's been this week and it did struggle, took approx 10 seconds to start. I did opt. for a cheap set of plugs from ebay and i'm questioning them now. I have power getting to the plugs so i assume that means the relay works.
I do have a fault code for the glows though which made me question the relay? Could a code occur due to weak plugs?
Haven't had a chance to look at the other little niggles, will do when i get more time.
As for the actuator Grrrrrr i read somewhere on a forum that it is possible to unsolder two wires and swap them over to make the MGF ones work? Not sure how much truth is in this but might be worth picking one up cheaply and comparing the two.
Thanks again, Luke.
 
luke4755 said:
Sorry for the late reply guys been really busy the last couple of weeks !
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Managed to sort the HEVAC back lighting issue with a bulb kit from island 4x4 so thanks to Grit Valve for that.
Changed my glow plugs on sunday and all seemed to be well until this evening. Was probably the coldest it's been this week and it did struggle, took approx 10 seconds to start. I did opt. for a cheap set of plugs from ebay and i'm questioning them now. I have power getting to the plugs so i assume that means the relay works.
I do have a fault code for the glows though which made me question the relay? Could a code occur due to weak plugs?
Haven't had a chance to look at the other little niggles, will do when i get more time.
As for the actuator Grrrrrr i read somewhere on a forum that it is possible to unsolder two wires and swap them over to make the MGF ones work? Not sure how much truth is in this but might be worth picking one up cheaply and comparing the two.
Thanks again, Luke.
Click to expand...

Think of a glow plug like a light bulb , it will light up or not , swap relay if your not sure have you got an early model pre egr if so you have a connector on engine bank for the glow plugs check and clean that to .

Ps you were warned of eBay fake cheapos
 
Is it possible then that a cheap set of plugs don't glow as hot ? I tested all the new ones before fitting so i know they work.
It is pre EGR yes. I'll have a look for that connecter tomorrow, is it just a little multi-plug?
 
luke4755 said:
Is it possible then that a cheap set of plugs don't glow as hot ? I tested all the new ones before fitting so i know they work.
It is pre EGR yes. I'll have a look for that connecter tomorrow, is it just a little multi-plug?
Click to expand...
No just pop like a bulb because they are or cheap construction for the sake of a few quid and the hassle of removing the air intake manifold ...

Yes its a black connector that plugs into the plastic cover towards the rear end you can get to it. Use electrical cleaner not wd40 and recheck glow plug wires are all tight ect ect if you are changing glow plugs again
.
 
Grit Valve said:
Think of a glow plug like a light bulb , it will light up or not , swap relay if your not sure have you got an early model pre egr if so you have a connector on engine bank for the glow plugs check and clean that to .

Ps you were warned of eBay fake cheapos
Click to expand...
Yes you can use the light bulb analogy, but it's not a case of light or no light, you get bright bulbs and dim ones, same with glowplugs, some of the cheapo's just do not get hot enough.
The correct glowplugs are 11 volt.
 
Datatek said:
Yes you can use the light bulb analogy, but it's not a case of light or no light, you get bright bulbs and dim ones, same with glowplugs, some of the cheapo's just do not get hot enough.
The correct glowplugs are 11 volt.
Click to expand...

By light bulb I meant like an element, it will either light or not , working or blown
Don't know about cheapos for the sake of a few quid compared to the time changing them I go for the good ones :)
 
Grit Valve said:
By light bulb I meant like an element, it will either light or not , working or blown
Don't know about cheapos for the sake of a few quid compared to the time changing them I go for the good ones :)
Click to expand...
The problem with some of the cheapo's is that they do not get hot enough, so you can have a situation where they appear to work but you still have starting problems, a complete waste of cash, good one's are not thet expensive:)
 
Thanks again for replies. Checked the little multi-plug for the glows today and gave it a clean with contact spray, no difference. I have 10.9 volts at the plugs so i reckon it must be due down to the cheap plugs. Lesson learnt, i'll pop some good quality ones in and see how i get on.
Any particular recommendations for plugs?
 
I also made the mistake of fitting cheepies last year, lasted all of a couple of months before one one went & took the fuse out with it, that was fun at 4am on a Monday morning.
Got a set of Bosch plugs, fires up first turn of the key & no problems since.
 
luke4755 said:
Thanks again for replies. Checked the little multi-plug for the glows today and gave it a clean with contact spray, no difference. I have 10.9 volts at the plugs so i reckon it must be due down to the cheap plugs. Lesson learnt, i'll pop some good quality ones in and see how i get on.
Any particular recommendations for plugs?
Click to expand...
Bosch, Beru, Delphi, NGK.:)
 
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