Author Topic: Glow plug light kicking off immediately  (Read 4390 times)

September 19, 2006, 03:54:01 pm

shwartzbewithyou

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« on: September 19, 2006, 03:54:01 pm »
I've searched and could only find one post with the same problem but he never answered as to whether or not he got it fixed.

Lately my glow plug light has been shutting off as soon as you turn the key to the "on" position.  
I get in, put the key in, turn it "on", the light comes on, and then goes right back off right away.  
I'm guessing it's the relay because I'm not hearing any click but I can't be sure because I don't know where it is located.  I'm guessing it's in the dash, otherwise i wouldn't be able to hear it when it did go previously.

The weather is getting colder and this is slowly beginning to be a problem.



Reply #1September 19, 2006, 04:21:33 pm

burn_your_money

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2006, 04:21:33 pm »
The relay is below the dash right by your left foot when you are driving. I think the relay is in the second row and on the far right. It has 7 wires I think.
You'll know when you find it because it has 2 massive prongs (one horizontal, one vertical) These are the ones for the glow plug power.
Tyler

Reply #2September 20, 2006, 12:03:40 am

shwartzbewithyou

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2006, 12:03:40 am »
Thanks for the response.
I saw on one other post a guy replied and said that his glow plugs were probably heating anywyas even though the light wasn't working properly.  I tired turning the key on for the normal time period today after work and it started much better so I'm thinking the cirquit is still heating but for whatever reason the light is kicking out.
I normallly just kept flipping the key on,off,on,off thinking that it was getting a small surge everytime the light went on but I guess if I let it go it may be glowing anyways.
Odd.
So how does the light get driven then?  What times it?  Maybe I'm not understanding the relationship between the dash light and the actual glow circuit.

Reply #3September 20, 2006, 04:44:46 pm

burn_your_money

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2006, 04:44:46 pm »
There are 2 sensors on the cylinder head that measure it's temperature. Apparently they are differant but "close enough" for either to work for the GP relay.
I was having a similar problem and what it was was the connection to the sensor on the head. (they are on the coolant flanges, sometimes both on the side, both on the front or one in each place). You can try switching them around (depending on your year) if the wires are long enough.
I'm pretty sure the glow plugs always come on for about 5 seconds when the car is turned on, and they are always on during cranking. Basically the yellow light on the dash is just an extra delay to heat up the area a bit more.
I hope I explained that right.
Here's a great site to read
http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/GlowPlugs.shtml
Tyler

Reply #4September 26, 2006, 02:36:14 pm

shwartzbewithyou

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2006, 02:36:14 pm »
So you just cleaned up the contacts that were currently on there and that fixed it?

Reply #5September 26, 2006, 03:24:49 pm

burn_your_money

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2006, 03:24:49 pm »
yes exactly
Tyler

Reply #6September 26, 2006, 05:14:09 pm

jtanguay

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Glow plug light kicking off immediately
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2006, 05:14:09 pm »
if you want to try and stop it from happening in the future, put some dielectric grease on the contacts :)


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