Glow Plug Light Only On For A Second

[blipsdad]

My Galaxy fails to start in this cold weather. It's a 1.9tdi

It's a W reg, and always been a bit reluctant to start, but I put this down to it's age.

I have noticed that the glow plug light only illuminates for about 1 second no matter what the temperature is.

Any idea what could be causing this??

I have replaced the glow plugs already.

[kevinp72]

Mine is the same, except in sub-zero conditions, where it does stay on for a couple of seconds.

Always starts though.

[chrispb123456]

My Galaxy fails to start in this cold weather. It's a 1.9tdi

It's a W reg, and always been a bit reluctant to start, but I put this down to it's age.

I have noticed that the glow plug light only illuminates for about 1 second no matter what the temperature is.

Any idea what could be causing this??

I have replaced the glow plugs already.

Hi and welcome to the forum

Firstly is this a Mk1 or Mk2 and which engine code and is it just the initial start when its cold or is it still troublesome when left for a few hours.

Glow plug light staying on for a second or so is normal you can then attempt to start the engine, just because the lights gone out doesn't mean there not on as they stay on after the engine has started to assist exhaust emissions.

[csikijanos]

My 1.9 TDi Alhambra is similar. Light on for a moment [part of self-check on start-up] and cranking for compression to get her running. Suspect relay in glowplug circuit. But how to reach the relay is a problem. Four screws release part of trim; another screw and clips at the sides release the fuse block and relay frame, but it fails to drop far enough to reveal the relays.

Have you got that far, and could you get to the relays ?

Another posting [on Sharan forum I think] said one owner had fitted another relay and fuse under the bonnet to improve matters. Sounds like a good idea; may yet try that.

 

Cheers, John. :)

[sotal]

Mine usually goes off after about 1 second, but in this cold weather it has increased to about 3 seconds.

 

Have you checked the glow plugs and run vcds to see if any faults come up?

 

I tend to leave it about 10 seconds, if you just wait you can hear a relay click off quite a lot later when they stop heating, so just make a mental note to start it later.

 

Having said that if I forget and just turn the key straight to start it still starts straight up even in cold weather, just doesn't sound as nice to start with!

[blipsdad]

Thanks for the replies.

 

It's a W Reg mk1 Galaxy, not sure what the engine code is.

 

The main problem is the initial start. Once it's started it will start again without a problem unless it has been left in the cold all day.

 

I've started parking it in the garage, and that has helped a great deal. At least it will start even though it is cranking for a good 20 seconds.

 

After looking at the systems circuit diagrams, I've realised there is not a lot to the glow plug system.

 

I've replaced the glow plugs, so that only leaves the relay, temp semsor or the PCM.

 

I've tried to get to the relay, but its a bit of a mare.

 

I'll try leaving ignition on for ten seconds and see if that helps

[nicebutdim]

Bet it's your temp sensor. It's the one nearest the cylinder head where the coolant pipe exits the engine. Mine went a while ago, the coil light went out straight away and started to become a pig to start, so I plugged in Vagcom and the coolant was being shown at 125 degrees, even though the engine was cold. Really easy to change too.

[zorgman]

before blaming relay do a check see if voltage is getting to plugs a simple bulb will do job, being an auto electrician when mine went i got a relaywith built in timer off a scrap xantia there a butch relay and run for 15 secs every start up, it doesnt affect the plugs still using same set i fitted 3 yrs ago, if you want to have glow plug light on longer it can be changed with vag-com

[blipsdad]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Local garage run diagnostic, and found nothing wrong. Apparently only three volts getting to the glow plugs.

Apparently there was a broken wire somewhere in the engine harness. They offered to rewire the engine at a cost of 90 pounds per hour with a minimum of 4 hours work.

I then took it to an auto electrician who agrees with diagnosis, and then preceeded to wire glow plugs up to a button on steering column, bypassing the original wiring loom. I can now start the car without a problem, and keep glow plugs on as long as I want.

[Jayton]

Just don't forget to turn them off, they'll burn up easily if left on for long periods too often :lol: