Cold Starting Problem
I have never had a problem starting, usually give 10 seconds or so and it fires up straight away.
The last couple of days it has taken 5 or 6 attempts before it fires up.
Now, my glowplug light has never worked since I bought it, but I have assumed that the heater is working, as it has fired up no problem.
Once the engine has fired up, I have no problems starting for the rest of the day. Just first thing on a morning.
Do you think I need new glow plugs, or could it be the heater?
How do I check if the heater is working?
Thanks.
Hi when you finally get it going is it smoky and rough running?? the glow plug timer relay is fitted to the inside of the nearside front wing a black rectangular box sitting at an angle.lift the cover off there is a fuse inside if intact check that there is a click when the ignition switch is turned on no click. no work.also put a new bulb in the panel light if needed if not needed it proves that the fault is in the relay..............if your temp outside is below minus 6 cycle the preheat twice before attempting to start the engine
Hello Bolloti,
Generally if one or two glowplugs have failed on a 5-cylinder you wont really notice, except for the fact that it is hard to start & the engine runs 'lumpy' for a few seconds after start-up.
It is easy to verify if the heaterplug control unit has failed or if it is in fact the glowplugs.
To test this out, you will need any type of a DC voltmeter and a small amount of technical ability.
When the ignition is turned on, you should check to see if there is 12Volts DC showing at the glowplugs.
You do this putting one lead of the voltmeter on an earth point (engine) and touching the other lead on the nut that holds the electrical cable onto the glowplug itself. (be sure the voltmerter is set to read DC Volts. You can check this across the battery terminals beside you)
Went the ignition is switched on there should be 12DC potential between the earth (engine) and the wire on the top of the glowplug.
Don't wait too long (1 minute) after the ignition if turned on to measure as the glowplug control unit is timed to cut the power after approximately a minute if the vehicle is not started, to prevent the battery accidently being run flat.
So preferably get someone to assist you by turning on the ignition when you are in position to check if there is a voltage.
Chances are that you will detect 12VDC. If this so, then replace all five of the glowplugs that are faulty, otherwise you might be back in the same position next month!
If you have any further questions on what I have described, please post and ask
Regards
Auslander
I have looked on Europarts, and the glow plug relay is £69.35, but they are out of stock.
I am awaiting the dealer to come back with a price, however if it is anything like the cost of the glow plugs (£17.33 each, as opposed to £7.40 on Europarts), I don't think I'll bother.
Can anyone point me in the righ direction of another on-line supplier?
Thanks
Hi the same glow plug relay fits the W123 /W124 diesel car ..any local breakers....same with the glowplugs........ w123 /w124 and some ofthe vans.......
Managed to get a brand new one from Mercman in Southampton for £50.00 so quite pleased.
I did try GSF, but they do not stock them.
Should be delivered sometime today.
I found a link for an ebay shop the 5-glowplugs cost about £27
Try this link:
I have been using www.eurocarparts.com and have found them very competitive on price, but thanks for the link.
You are Welcome.
Right,
I have changed the relay, and this seems to be working as it should.
However the engine was still not starting even after giving it two or three warm ups before firing up.
I then thought I would change all of the glow plugs.
Working from the bulhead forward the first 3 went in no bother,
However the last two must have been put in cross threaded, as they will not come out.
They have come almost out, but must be on the last thread or thearabouts, but just spin in the same position.
It is difficult to get any purchase to pull them at the same time as unscrewing.
I suspect that these plugs are very old and have not been changed for a while, as the previous owner must have had the same problem.
Any suggestions as to how to remove these glow plugs?
I have removed all of the pipework, so access is pretty good.
Hopeing someone can give a quick reply as I need the Wagen on Sunday to put the dogs into kennels
Hi, can you get a piece of wood behind the glowplug to lever against the block while you turn with a spanner. You're other problem might be if the threads in the block are damaged ( had this with a petrol spark plug) you might need to get a helicoil kit to rethread - not hard, just fiddley as you need to stop the swarf from dropping in the cylinder - lots of rocol cutting paste and a little at a time.
good luck, not what you need at christmas
Chris
Thanks,
I have had a erply over the the PointedThree Forum.
Apparently quite a common problem.
I'm off to soak it in WD 40 which hopefully will dissolve some of the carbon build up.
It is quite a tight space to get anything in behind the plug, too many bloody pipes and tubes :(
If you have any plusgas it's better than wd40
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Thanks for the replies.
Yes it is smokey and rough running for a few seconds after it has started.
I have checked the relay and there is no click when the key is turned.
I assume the fuse inside is the solid metal link, rather than a removable type fuse?
I will change all of the glow plugs, as I do not know how old the existing ones are.