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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: burn_your_money on May 03, 2008, 08:07:47 pm

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: burn_your_money on May 03, 2008, 08:07:47 pm

I'm working on my brothers 96 AAZ (addautomotive's old car) and the glow plugs are not working. I traced it to a blown 50 amp fuse on the fuse panel, not the one in the engine bay. I've looked through the wiring diagrams in the bentley and can not find this fuse listed. This is like the normal fuses you find in all cars, except it is oversized. It's not the flat chunk of lead/metal.

I couldn't find the proper fuse for it at walmart so I took one of the 1.6 flat 50 amp fuses and folded it up so it would fit in the slots. I started the car and it fired right up however once the car was running, I could smell burning and smoke coming from the makeshift fuse and it crapped out within 2 seconds of the car starting.

Any ideas on what would be wrong with the system and what this fuse is for exactly?

Thanks

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: blkboostedtruck on May 03, 2008, 08:15:42 pm

Tyler,
check the copper strip and make sure it's not grounding out on the motor somewhere?
i've noticed that copper strip is a lighter gage and seems to expand through the years!
or relay could be sticking? or bad ground?
hopethat helps buddy?
thanks Duane

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: burn_your_money on May 03, 2008, 08:19:24 pm

Thanks Duane. I definitely considered the grounding of the bus bar, except it's been replaced with 4 individual wires.

I only have 1/2 a day to work to work on it tomorrow before I have to go home so the more ideas the better :)

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: Vincent Waldon on May 03, 2008, 08:29:21 pm

Yeah, not shown on the Bentley very well.

I believe it's upstream of the glow plug relay (the strip fuse is downstream) and probably takes the place of connector TV2... some cars probably have the connector, others the fuse.

It would be there to protect the wiring ahead of the relay... with the strip fuse in the firewall there to protect the relay.

On the MK3 Jettas the glow plugs stay on for 2-3 minutes after the engine starts... so the fuse can overheat and blow with the engine running.

My guess is that the sizzling you heard had a bit to do with your makeshift fuse connectivity... pretty sure I saw the oversized heavy duty fuses at Canadian Tire the last time... 70A even iirc.

I'd be inclined to get the right fuse and then pull the relay and see if the fuse hangs in there.  If so, you could jumper the relay terminals on the fuse block to see if the strip fuse on the firewall blows.  If not... sounds like a relay issue.  If so, sounds like a shorted glowplug.

'Course, while you're at Canadian Tire you could pick up the parts to pimp  your glowplugs... you're already partly there if you've got separate wires on each GP  ;-)   Ah yes... then theres the time it takes....


Vince

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: burn_your_money on May 03, 2008, 08:38:09 pm

Thanks Vince. Glow plugs are already pimped, half way at least. If it was my car I'd be inclined to do work like that, but it's not so it just needs to work. lol.

The makeshift fuse had good connectivity, I think the sizzling was it starting to burn up, as fuses do.

I'll check for continuity between each plug and the block first. I don't imagine those 50 amp fuses are cheap. I tried c-tire first but they were closed.

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: Vincent Waldon on May 03, 2008, 08:48:14 pm

Quote from: "burn_your_money"

I tried c-tire first but they were closed.

Those turkeys !!

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: andy2 on May 04, 2008, 08:21:47 am

It took me for ever to find the gp fuse/relay on these cars.The later 95 0r 96>99.5 Mk3 TD/TDI have the glow plug fuse located above the fuse/relay panel under the dash.I have replaced 2 of these fuses so far 1 on a 96 IDI and on a 97 TDI.The fuse is not the regular type of glow plug fuse its a big Maxi fuse its like the fuses in the fuse pannel only 4 times the size.Its tricky to get at,you won't be able to see it only feel around above the fuse/relay panel.i used my finger nail to grad the lip on the fuse to pull it out.


edit: I guess you could un clip the fuse/relay panel to lower it for easier access.

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: homerj1 on May 04, 2008, 11:50:30 am

Just a clarification. My newly acquired & not running,  94 Golf has a glow plug fuse (strip) in the engine compartment against the firewall. (just like my 92 jetta td)

But just to the right and slightly below the coolant overflow tank, there is a big white plastic block thingamadealie that has wires going to it - and a little flip up door on top that reveals another strip fuse.

Is this related to the glow plug circuit?

Thanks

HJ1

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: Vincent Waldon on May 04, 2008, 12:39:44 pm

You'd think so, since the fuse looks the same, but that black box is the control module for the radiator fan and A/C (if equipped).

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: homerj1 on May 04, 2008, 02:21:31 pm

Thanks Vincent!

Title: Help with AAZ glowplug problem
Post by: burn_your_money on May 05, 2008, 06:41:07 pm

the problem has been solved. Many thanks to all that assisted.

The fuses are available from c-tire, they are like $2.50 each. Apparently the custom wiring that indicates when the glowplugs actually have power shorted out and blew the fuse, nothing serious.