Technical where's me glowplug?

[leGe]

Ok, here's the latest, found out that the 12V signal to the solenoid only occures when the engine is cranking, this makes sense, as it is a mechanical pump and there will only be pressure when cranking. The contacts were worn on the relay, which was preventing current getting to the plug, to overcome this, I rivetted a small piece of brass contact I took out of a torch over the contact on the plug side, this seems to do the job, although when contact is made it is only reading about 8V at the plug (??). The other problem was a loose connection in the relay, there is a about 6 wires going in underneath the box covered by a plastic cap. one of slide-on cennectors had come undone, maybe from me taking the battery in and out so much.

 

[raydaunter]

hi i have been reading this forum with great intrest, i have just bought today 4 glowplugs for my duccato, i have come home to fit them and i cannot find them?? i have a feeling i should have looked before i bought!
i have the same problem with my van glow plug warninig light staying on for a long time and then a clicking and flashing of the light.
can i take from reading this thread that this is perfectly normal and requires no parts? is the excessive black smoke anything to worry about? and advice appreciated thanks ray

 

[corkman]

Ok, here's the latest, found out that the 12V signal to the solenoid only occures when the engine is cranking, this makes sense, as it is a mechanical pump and there will only be pressure when cranking. The contacts were worn on the relay, which was preventing current getting to the plug, to overcome this, I rivetted a small piece of brass contact I took out of a torch over the contact on the plug side, this seems to do the job, although when contact is made it is only reading about 8V at the plug (??). The other problem was a loose connection in the relay, there is a about 6 wires going in underneath the box covered by a plastic cap. one of slide-on cennectors had come undone, maybe from me taking the battery in and out so much.

If its reading 8v at the plug and 12v at the battery you have a high resistance in the circuit, so you're relay of those wires are damaged or underspec'd. When I say high resistance bear in mind that the resistance of the plug will be very low somewhere between 0.5 and 2.5 ohms I'd say (20a to 5a), So the resistance in the relay/wiring will only need to be 0.25ohms - 1.6 ohms to drop that 4 volts.

 

[corkman]

hi i have been reading this forum with great intrest, i have just bought today 4 glowplugs for my duccato, i have come home to fit them and i cannot find them?? i have a feeling i should have looked before i bought!
i have the same problem with my van glow plug warninig light staying on for a long time and then a clicking and flashing of the light.
can i take from reading this thread that this is perfectly normal and requires no parts? is the excessive black smoke anything to worry about? and advice appreciated thanks ray

Hi Ray, Whay year, engine, mileage and what temperature do you get the glow plug light. Are you getting black smoke on starting, coldrunning, hot running, under heavy load, under accelleration?

 

[raydaunter]

thanks for the reply corkman. my duccato is a 94 old shape, 2,5 TD with approx 76,00 mile and a FSH. my glow light comes on and stays on when freezing temps, thats when it starts flashing and clicking. when the temp is above freezing the glow flashes for approx 2 seconds then goes out,then the van starts first time, but seem to be getting black smoke whenever i start the van first time in the morning, and for a while it is very lumpy running but then it runs fine, i have not noticed if it smokes excesivley when driving or not is this enough information for you to advise me on thanks ray