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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Kneale Brownson on May 30, 2008, 05:41:44 am

Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Kneale Brownson on May 30, 2008, 05:41:44 am
My ETKA says the glow plug for my 1994 Jetta TD is part # N 102 130 02.   A parts source I use regularly says that part number item is no longer available and has been replaced by a fast (seven seconds) glow plug that requires an updated relay.  (See  http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=orblpn45pebzgd45pwpbhq45&partnumber=n10213002)

How do I know whether I have the updated relay?
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Possum79 on May 30, 2008, 02:04:47 pm
I read somewhere that usually you can tell by the color of the text on the relay. I think they said white text was fast. Slow is some other color. Also by the nuts on the glowplugs themselves. Something about aluminum or brass nuts. I'm trying to figure out where I read that at.

Don't quote me on any of that untill I find where I saw it.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Possum79 on May 30, 2008, 02:23:00 pm
Red letters is fast system and plugs will have a brass nut. White lettering is slow system with aluminum nut on the plugs


http://vincewaldon.com/images/documents/protraining_diesel_77-83.pdf


Page 37 of the pdf file.

Courtesy of vincewaldon.com

Check out other stuff on that site for excellent vw how-to.

Of course I would recommend getting the part number from your relay and cross referencing it to fast systems.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Kneale Brownson on June 01, 2008, 03:47:52 am
Vince's book says the slow system powers the glow plugs for 90 seconds, while the fast system lasts just 15.

My car's glow plugs do not have brass nuts, but the power to the plugs goes off within 15 seconds after turning on the key.  

Mine also fail to light up a test light if I disconnect the wiring to the plugs and put the light between the battery positive terminal and the plugs.

So maybe I have slow plugs on a fast relay???  And they've died???

Sure is a PITA to get to the plugs.  Do you ordinarily have to pull all the plumbing to the injectors in order to change the glow plugs?
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Possum79 on June 01, 2008, 04:28:33 pm
Ive yet to change mine so i do not know how difficult it is. Supposedly you can do them with out removing stuff but its tuff. The hard part is the two behind the injection pump. I would take you relay out and get the number from it. Someone can probably look it up to see if its fast or slow. I would assume if there was a cross problem in the fast to slow it would be a fast plug with slow relay. cheaper to change.

I plan on buying the Bosch kit from autohaus to do mine. 80 bucks for relay and plugs if its not on backorder.

are all the plugs not lighting the test light? you have to completely disconnect the bus bar and wires to it in order to test. Also make sure your light actually works.  :wink:


edit: I can also say i know my system is on a slow relay but my light only stays on for 15-20 seconds. I read that the fast is 7 seconds while the slow is up to 60 seconds. It all depends on the temp sensor and things. It is wired to the relay to prove if it needs the plugs or not.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Kneale Brownson on June 02, 2008, 06:01:08 pm
Well, I pulled the relay (PITA) to find it has the white lettering, which Vince's booklet says means it's the "normal" slower relay system.  

Where can I get the slower glow plugs?
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Vincent Waldon on June 02, 2008, 06:52:02 pm
Bosch Duraterms are compatible with both systems.

Actually, the "fast" system is so named because you can start "faster", but the plugs stay on for quite a bit longer (3 minutes or more) to improve driveability with a cold engine.

Pretty sure the entire "slow" system is NLA from VW anyways... get the Duraterms and away you go.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: burn_your_money on June 02, 2008, 06:53:54 pm
Duraterms are the way to go. They are self monitoring so you can't burn them out from them being on too long.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Possum79 on June 02, 2008, 07:13:36 pm
Quote from: "Vincent Waldon"
Pretty sure the entire "slow" system is NLA from VW anyways... get the Duraterms and away you go.


Actually the slow relay is avaliable which is stupid to me, just the plugs are not avaliable.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Kneale Brownson on June 03, 2008, 05:47:56 am
Sources for the Duraterms?
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: burn_your_money on June 03, 2008, 10:02:42 am
for canadians www.autopartsonlinecanada.com

Not sure for you
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Kneale Brownson on June 03, 2008, 11:32:38 am
Got 'em on order from these guys:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/


Had to make direct contact because their website catalog is less than complete.  US price a buck higher or so than the Canadian website.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: burnt_servo on June 03, 2008, 12:46:17 pm
Quote from: "burn_your_money"
Duraterms are the way to go. They are self monitoring so you can't burn them out from them being on too long.


so a person could make a manual push button type system to power the glow plugs and not worry about  them being on too long and burning out  ? ... aka suzuki diesel conversion ......
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: Possum79 on July 09, 2008, 04:39:32 pm
just thought I'd chime in late to say the autohausaz.com part 80010 is a duraterm plug. I emailed autohaus about it because I just was thinking i need some.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: gigaz2 on July 09, 2008, 05:47:29 pm
Quote from: "burnt_servo"
Quote from: "burn_your_money"
Duraterms are the way to go. They are self monitoring so you can't burn them out from them being on too long.


so a person could make a manual push button type system to power the glow plugs and not worry about  them being on too long and burning out  ? ... aka suzuki diesel conversion ......


well yes, that would work.

the timer system is only there for convenience, who would want to follow a complicated starting procedure when you can just wait for the light to go off to turn the key?

well, Im thinking about putting a similar switch on the engine compartment, together with a start button, because I spend more time in the engine bay than behind the wheel anyway :D
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: theman53 on July 09, 2008, 07:46:42 pm
Do you ordinarily have to pull all the plumbing to the injectors in order to change the glow plugs?

I do to change them all, but I can do all but #2 with the hard lines on and usually will start on 3 good plugs in a pinch...recommend taking the lines off and getting all of them.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: subsonic on July 09, 2008, 08:02:19 pm
You would be wise to keep a extra fistful of those little damn nuts that hold on the bus bar.  I always drop the little bastards trying to do the one behind the IP.
Title: Glow Plug Relay Update????
Post by: VW_Commuter on July 09, 2008, 09:22:04 pm
I think I'm going to pimp my glow plugs ala Vince Walden just to make sure I don't lose those little buggers  :wink: