Issue With Glow Plugs

[ibwaheemi]

i have recently bought a galaxy mk2 1.9 tdi

 

 

the glow plug light only comes on for one second and the car fails to start.

 

i had noticed that someone had installed a button under the steering wheel that heats the glow plugs  but i have to hold this button for about 20 seconds for the car to start first turn.

 

i have replaced the relay 103 but that has not helped,

 

 

does anyone have any ideas

 

 

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if the engine is warm i do not need to press the glow plug button except if i stall the car it does not restart straight away

Edited August 5, 2013 by ibwaheemi

[seatkid]

This sounds suspiciously familiar. There was a previous thread that had the same "my glowplugs have a button installed....". Its not the same car is it?

 

1. Its summertime and glowplugs arent really necessary on this engine, it might take a couple of cranks and occasionally a little smoke/roughness may occur for ~5 secs after a completely cold start . In summer the glowplug light will only light for < 1 second - thats normal!

 

2. Warm engines should always start first turn - even after a stall

 

What I'm trying to say is the car is likely to have some serious problems that the previous owner (and/or the previous to him owner) have tried to cover with the "button" bodge.

 

Could be it has a timing issue which would probably due a worn bottom timing pulley key and/or a slipping camshaft timing pulley.

 

Another thing to check is the state of the unit injector camshaft - check for wear/scoring which can happen if the wrong spec oil has been used.

 

A scan with VAGCOM/VCDS is also a good starting point to identify any sensor/electrical issues.

 

IIRC a faulty temperature sensor can give starting difficulty and again IIRC check if you disconnect it if it starts better.

 

Let me see if I can find that thread......

 

This one is similar but its a 1999 Mk1 Tdi http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php/topic/25532-spill-pipes/?hl=%20glowplug%20%20button

Edited August 5, 2013 by seatkid

[Scorpiorefugee]

I agree with SeatKid. I've had MKI, MKII and now (Unfortunately!) a MKIII Titanium and none of these engines need glowplugs in anything but the winter months. I've had the problem with the MKI Temperature sensor which effectively disables the glowplugs and it still started after 3-5 seconds cranking at 5 below so methinks there is something else. It maybe that the engine has been run for some time without some long runs so one of SK's famous Italian tuneups may be worth a try but mine were always used for regular 200 - 400 mile round trips and always started at first touch.

 

The problem with the warm start is an undiagnosed common problem with the MKI and mine developed it somewhere around the 200K miles mark. It's annoying but doesn't seem to be more than that.

[chrispb123456]

What does the door LED do when you try to start when the cars not starting.

You have changed the glow plug relay (103) but relay 109 power supply relay is more prone to failure