Technical Glow light not coming on engine wont start

[maireadbeag]

Hello everyone , 2-days ago driving my motorhome a Fiat ducato 1993 1.9 diesel Knaus model the clutch cable snapped! so I pulled into the side of the road but not totally I wish I never taken it out of gear! I restarted the vehicle and slowly not
Nudged her in off the road in first gear? I roughly done this three or 4 times,
The next day got my friend to give me a tow back to the house(not too far thankfully)
I got home noticed motorhome won't start and glow plug light didn't come the light always used to come on even in warm weather, vehicle has been cranking but not starting I got 4 glow plugs but I'm not sure if it's even the problem it could be a relay box fuse or something a like .
Any ideas why glow light is not coming on and the vehicle is cranking but not starting. could it be a fuel filter,
I have some pictures I just going to add it just shows before glow plugs ..
P.s. I fix the clutch cable myself, also just folks are wondering had to remove oil filler cap so I could take off the plastic cover for the cylinder head. ?

 

[maireadbeag]

I'm not sure if this is possible but if I connected the battery plus side to the glow plugs will I find out if they could be faulty relay box,
I mightdo this first just to see if so,
Plan on changing the four glow plugs tomorrow, I do wonder of those suckers are hard to get out hmmm

 

[Anthony489]

Hi

Your vehicle was OK
You worked on it
Now it is not OK

I think it is likely that you have disturbed some electrical wiring, and now have a bad connection, a missing connection, a blown fuse or something similar. I suggest you have a close look for one of those things.

It is very unlikely to be the glow plugs. It would be extremely unlikely for all 4 to fail at the same time. You don't need them for starting unless it's very cold. Extracting them from the engine can be a difficult job. If you want to test them, get a cheap digital meter and measure each one's resistance (from their top connector to the engine metal). Expect them all to be one or two ohms.

 

[Communicator]

I agree with Anthony489's suggestion above that something may have been disturbed and that this possibility should be investigated.

However I cannot agree with his statement that the glowplugs are not required for starting.

The 1.9 is an indirect injection engine and these usually require glowplugs for at least the first start of the day.

Another possible cause could be the failure of the last of the four glowplugs, with previous failures going unnoticed.

As far as I can see from the photo, the glowplugs are connected in parallel by a heavy strip conductor or braid, with a cable connected at the LHS (vehicle) end. This cable should go to a glowplug controller, which also could have failed.

Before replacing glowplugs check that at least one is OK by using a 12V test lamp between battery positive and the glowplugs. Take care.

Individual glowplugs can only be tested once the common connection has been removed.

If a connection can be made, the controller can be checked with a meter between the glowplugs and earth. Assistance required to turn the key.

 

[Anthony489]

Hi

Wasn't aware of the 1.9's dependence on glow plugs, so stand corrected.

Another thing to check is the immobiliser / fuel pump. Search this forum for threads on 1.9 starting issues.

 

[varesecrazy]

I'm not sure if this is possible but if I connected the battery plus side to the glow plugs will I find out if they could be faulty relay box,
I mightdo this first just to see if so,
Plan on changing the four glow plugs tomorrow, I do wonder of those suckers are hard to get out hmmm

Hi

If you use a short cable from battery pole you can test the plugs you took out today

Be CAREFUL glowing is HOT.. @ 600'c


If they glow your problem is unlikely to be the plugs themselves..

But Ive changed MANY old FIAT glowplugs... most still glow when tested..
So poor connections are a possibility

Charlie

 

[kaustav]

I am also facing a similar problem in my Fiat Petra 1.9d elx, The car was sitting long and I jump started it and the car started with a lot of black smoke and suddenly a warning light came ON (battery light/Engine Check light, I don't remember exactly) and hence I switched off the car.


And unfortunately while again starting there was No Glow plug light and No Engine light, and hence I am unable to start the car.

I checked all fuses ( under the steering) and even changed the glow plug timer, but it's of no use, the problem still persist.

So today I found another fuse box under the battery tray ( I have attached it's picture) .Can anyone tell me is there any glow plug relay or fuse inside it which need to be checked? Please help me I am from India.

 

[cris1117]

Not saying this is your problem but a good story.

I was driving my car when the clutch cable snapped so replaced it, went to crank the engine and smoke poured out of the bonnet and the clutch cable broke again.

The engine earth strap had failed and the clutch cable was doing the job until it burst into flames it fortunately went out quick just the plastic covering caused all the smoke.

So maybe worth putting a jump lead from the engine to a good earth on the body to make sure.

 

[Ocwobio]

If this vehicle has an inertia fuel cut off, try to find and reset it. I only had this once, can't remember what set it off, but it was something off the wall, they are there for impcact or collision protection, neither of which had occurred, but resetting it made all good and I could start it again. IIC, it was on a 99 Renault Grand Espace 2.2D.

 

[varesecrazy]

kaustav

Have you checked the earth cable ?

 

[varesecrazy]

maireadbeag

Any progress with your issue ?

 

[kaustav]

Yes I have checked the earth cable besides the battery tray, and also is this the fuel cutoff switch under the glovebox? It's so stiff, I am unable to press anything. I have no Fiat mechanic here, have to do everything myself [emoji853]

kaustav

Have you checked the earth cable ?

 

[Crossingkeeper]

I am also facing a similar problem in my Fiat Petra 1.9d elx,

Hi, from your initial post you are enquiring about a Fiat car. This section of the forum is specifically for the Fiat Ducato van so the folk on here may not know the specifics about your car; for example the fuel cut-off switch is likely to be completely different to the vans.

There may well be another section of the Fiat Forum where you may also be able to get advice though your particular model doesn't appear in the listings.

 

[kaustav]

Thanks, I just posted because my car also had the same 1.9 engine, My car is similar to Palio 1.9D

 

[Ocwobio]

It doesn't look like it. It will be in the under bonnet area, and will have fuel pipes into/out of it, and a rubber covered button looks like an olde worlde starter solenoid, if you recall them. Impacts set off the spring loaded actuator within the operate a chop off valve, but can be reset by pushing in the button. I have had one operate without impact, while working near it, and was a less than obvious thing to happen- I just pressed it out of curiosity while trying to find the non start cause, and got lucky.