Hi guys, long time since I've needed you help.
Problem I've got is that the glow plug heating light goes out within 1 sec of turning on ignition. My van is an X reg 1.9 non turbo. I can hear relays clicking in and then out and 1 relay clicking out after about 10 secs of turning off ignition. I can get the van to start by spraying "Start you Bast***D" spry but don't want to do this too often. Any suggestions will be great. Cheers. Rob.

If you are having problems I would have thought the glowplug timer could be at fault and needs replacing.

The light on mine (2005 2.0JTD with 94,000 on the clock) only stays on for a second or two and always starts first time. I have just been on holiday for two weeks and on Wednesday morning with some trepidation I managed to open a very frozen van and after turning the ignition on the glowplug light went out after only a second or two but the van started immediately, much to my amazement.

Thanks for the quick reply. Would the timer be built into the relay. (the one with two big white wires coming out of it)?

No, the timing is done in the ECU and is calculated on ambient air temperature, water temperature and a few other factors. It can be anywhere from a second to seven seconds (possibly more) depending on local conditions.

Bit more info. I've changed the relay that is plugged into a holder on it's own with a red clip. No change. I've got hold of a new Bosch equivilant part and now can't even get the glow plug light to come on. Both relays in a twin housing are working ok. Tested with a 12volt battery. Any further help will be great. Cheers.:bang:

Have you identified the glow plug relay? IIRC it's a biggish black box in the engine compartment, on the drivers side wheel arch and has a green bottom. There are two fat wires connected via large-ish brass bolts on the bottom.

You can short the two fat wires (use a screwdriver - watch for the big spark!) for 10 seconds and then try starting. If this lets the van start then the glow plugs themselves are ok and you should change the glow plug relay.

If the van still doesn't start then you should change the glow plugs.

BTW, testing the relays using a battery is no proper indication that they are working. You will hear the clicking but the contacts could still be ****ty and not allowing voltage to pass.



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Thanks mate, will try in the morning and report back!!!

Couldn't get van started by shorting the wires so will look to change the plugs.

Bit more info. Van will "jump-start" and run ok all day as long as I don't leave it too long before trying to start it again, so don't think it's fuel problems. Got 12 vdc across two bolts with ignition on and when running but not at glow plugs. Any ideas?

12V across the two bolts (ignition on) when running is correct but you really should be measuring from the battery negative terminal to each bolt in turn.

One bolt will be permanently 12V and the other will only go to 12V when the 'heat' light is on.

If it DOES go to 12V with the heat lamp on then the glow plugs are defo dud. And the fact that you can restart the van before it gets cold is another indication......






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Hi guys, sorry it's been a while since I started this thread.In the end I had to take my van to an auto electrician. The glow plug relay had burnt out so had to be replaced but he tested the plugs and one was shorting out.FYI the way he tested the new relay to check all was ok was by disconecting the input wire to the common rail of the 4 glowplugs and connecting to it a lamp lead which in turn went to the negative side of the battery. This showed that the relay was working ok. He then put an amp meter between the rail and the negative side. The amps pulled jumped of the scale indicating the one or more was going to earth. Plugs apparantly should only pull about 20 amps.
So, if you experiance the same problems as I did, follow the method described above and you could save yourself £60.00 + for a new relay and only need to change plugs or vice-verser.
Thanks for all tyhe help given. Excellent!!!!:slayer: