Technical Flashing glow-plug warning light

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Technical Flashing glow-plug warning light

OilBurner

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I have a 1998 Marea TD100 and it usually works pretty well. However, starting yesterday, the glow-plug warning light has taken to flashing. It comes on as normal when I put the key in the ignition, then goes off a few seconds later and I start the engine immediately. That still works fine.

The problem is that after I have started the engine the glow-plug warning light now flashes on and off for 30 seconds. This is new behaviour. Then it goes out for the rest of the journey, just like it did before.

I have looked in the handbook but it makes no mention of this behaviour. Does anybody know what this means?
 
it means one or more of the glow plugs has had it. It doesent affect fiats as bad as VAG or other engines, but better sort it now before winter comes in. You could change them all but they are difficult to get at, so better to test them individually instead.. ask if you want more info or do a search on the forum..
 
Hi,

Thanks for your response. Sorry for late reply to you as we have been away on holiday :)

I guessed that this may be the problem, because I can hear a slighly rougher and more grumbling start-up than before.

How can I test to see which has failed? Is it a simple matter of connecting a multi-meter and checking the resistance across the terminals (with plug disconnected, obviously); or is it more complex than that?
 
resistance check is OK, but better to do a current check. disconnect plug wire / rail and put meter on high current range (10 or 20 Amps). put black lead to plug connection and red lead to battery positive. the current reading should rise immediatly and then settle to 10 amps or thereabouts as plug heats up. any less than 8 or 9 amps and the plug is suspect.. little or no current and the plug is duff..

Owen.
 
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