glow plugs again?

1. penguinman L-plater Joined: Dec 2011 milton keynes Posts: 38 1.6D sax0 03

   #1 6th October 2013, 23:49

   Hi all!
   
   had recent trouble with starting my car in the sumer, eventually it boiled down to the glow plugs. HAd to take it to the garage as the drive belt needed chainging. the mechanic said that one was bt dodgy so he replaced it. It was fine for a weeks, now as its started getting slightly colder its started to play up again. I did get these glow plugs from halfords, could this be the reason? just buying some good quality ones? the car is over 10 years old also?
   
   any help would be fab! cheers!
2. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #2 7th October 2013, 01:07

   Air leaks in the fuel system? It's cold enough to need the glow plugs much yet surely?
3. penguinman L-plater Joined: Dec 2011 milton keynes Posts: 38 1.6D sax0 03

   #3 7th October 2013, 02:44

   Fuel system is all good, that got seen to when i was hunting for this problem last time. It just takes a few seconds to come to life, but the guys at the garage did say as it was old, just leave it a little while longer for them to warm up?!
4. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

   #4 7th October 2013, 12:05

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Gandi699 Air leaks in the fuel system? It's cold enough to need the glow plugs much yet surely?

   
   TUD's use glow plugs all the time, indirect injection diesels rarely will start in northern europe without.
5. AyyH Newbie Joined: May 2013 Posts: 1

   #5 7th October 2013, 12:39

   just let it warm up abit man
6. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #6 7th October 2013, 13:54

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by welshpug TUD's use glow plugs all the time, indirect injection diesels rarely will start in northern europe without.

   Learn something new every day there then, I take it direct injection units fare a bit better?
7. welshpug Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jul 2010 South Wales Posts: 3078 ZX 16v, 205 GTI, 309 Goodwood, 405 MI16.

   #7 7th October 2013, 17:00

   much much better, the old transit DI banana engine didn't have glow plugs at all.
8. axsaxoman Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380

   #8 7th October 2013, 18:29

   you can tell very easy if you have a plug NOT working --use an ammeter clamp around the main feed wire --should be drawing 80amps if all are working --if its 60 --then one is not working.
   the next step is to remove them all and attach to a battery and they should glow from the end up towards the nut evenly and quickly --if they do not then they are not gone but not good ,so will needlonger or 2 goes to get enough heat
   the control unit works on current draw ,so the time the light will be lit will depend on how they suck current
9. MartinObviously Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2012 Perth Posts: 3665 Peugeot 106 1.1 Turbo Peugeot 106 1.5D Turbo Peuge

   #9 7th October 2013, 19:42

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Gandi699 Learn something new every day there then, I take it direct injection units fare a bit better?

   DI diesels inject directly above the piston, so when the diesel ignites there is much less heat loss. IDI engines loose a shit ton of heat to the cylinder head. Of course, diesels need heat to sustain themselves.
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by axsaxoman you can tell very easy if you have a plug NOT working --use an ammeter clamp around the main feed wire --should be drawing 80amps if all are working --if its 60 --then one is not working. the next step is to remove them all and attach to a battery and they should glow from the end up towards the nut evenly and quickly --if they do not then they are not gone but not good ,so will needlonger or 2 goes to get enough heat the control unit works on current draw ,so the time the light will be lit will depend on how they suck current

   That current test won't work if a dead plug is shorting to ground though
   
   Depending on the year of your saxo, the time the light is on may be dependent on the temperature of the coolant. So it's not a sure way of telling you have a plug out.
   
   The glow plug relay itself is on a timer, try waiting another 5 seconds after the light goes out before starting. Remember, when the light goes out, the plugs have reached the minimum temperature required to attempt a start. That doesn't mean a successful start!
   
   
   Another thing I'd be checking is your battery. After a drive leave it to "settle" for 30 mins or so then test the voltage with a multimeter. anything under 12.4v and that battery is probably in need of replacement.
   
   When the engine is running, check for air bubbles in the clear bit of fuel line at the passenger front corner of the cylinder head.
   
   
   These TUD's can be rough to start in colder weather, especially below 0. I don't think we're at that stage yet though are we?