Alhambra: "glow Plug" Warning Light Issue

[Alhambra]

Hi there, I realsie this is a Ford Galaxy website, but i cannot find a Alhambra website.

We own an August 02 registered Seat Alhambra, 1.9 *Red* TD-i , "i" is silver. 6-speed, 41k miles.

 

Only 2 weeks ago we had a very cold spell here in Ireland, below zero. As my wife was driving the car the "ENGINE WORKSHOP" light & "glow-plug" light, Amber in colour, shape of a coil, flashed ON/OFF/ON/OFF/etc.... while she was driving.

 

Since then, March 16th, the "glow-plug" light flashes ON for 1/2 a second & OFF for 1/2 a second. It may come on after a mile or 2 or else it could be 5 or 6 miles into a trip. Occasionaly it never comes on whilst driving.

 

This morning I found a topic on this site about Glow plugs & it inspired me to find the "sandwich" that is the fuses & relay box..... what a stupid design !!!!

 

I found that the 2 tall relays, 361 & 149, seemed very *floppy* so I tie wrapped them to the base. I also removed, one at a time, all the relays & fuses & checked all continuites of fuses & relay coils that I could........ apart from the afore mentioned "mod" I could not find anything wrong.

 

http://www.serviceengineer.utvinternet.com/images/relays-1.jpg

 

http://www.serviceengineer.utvinternet.com/images/relays-2.jpg

 

I also removed the glow plug wiring loom & checked the resitance of the 4 glow plugs ... each measured 1 ohmn +/- 0.1 ohmn.

 

The relay 109 seems to be the Glow plug relay.

The green fuse, center of 2nd picture, is 30Amps.

 

I drove 60 miles today to visit my mother, for the day that was in it. After 10 miles or so, when the engine temp reached 75 to 80 deg the amber light flashed for 3 or 4 more miles & then stopped...... whne i got home i discovered I had forgotten to re-connect the "glow-plug" wiring loom to the glow plugs. I re-connected the wiring loom & went for a spin, after 1 mile the ENGINE WORKSHOP light came on with the flashing amber light..... then 1/2 mile they both disappeared.

 

An aside issue: The climate control panel, LCD, flashes all its characters for approx 5 seconds when power is applied, which I'm sure it shouldn't do. After the 5 sec's it then seems to work ok, the dispaly is ok, the fan can be adjusted, so can the heat ..... is there a connection between both issues?

 

Questions:

 

* Should the glow plugs be replaced?

 

* Is there a connection between the engine temp of 75 to 80 deg C & the amebr light coming on.... maybe this is a red-herring as the glow plug wiring was not connected.

 

* what is the noise that *hum's for approx 2 minutes after switching off the engine?

 

Any suggestions or feedback appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Pat.

 

PS. since tiewrapping the relays down the car can now go approx 10 miles before the glow plug warning light comes on ..... is there any well know wiring issues with this circuit?

[Masked Marauder]

Your flashing glow plug light is most likely a failure on the brake light switch.

[mumof4]

The hum you hear is a fan cooling the turbo down.(think i got that right as it has only just been covered) :blink:

 

 

CC,,no idea as mine does the same. B)

 

The rest?i cant help as im just a female!! :o

 

welcome to the forum :D

[Alhambra]

Your flashing glow plug light is most likely a failure on the brake light switch.

Huh, brake light switch...... jaysus thats gas...... I assume its a basic normally open switch .... any tips with regards to testing it or what to lok out for.

[Masked Marauder]

Nope it is normally a double switch that has a set of contacts that are normally open and a set that are normally closed. When you press the brake they change to closed and open.

 

Do you have cruise control? If so does it work correctly? Do your brake lights work?

 

It may not be the switch, but that is the first thing to check.

[Guest galaxykid]

* what is the noise that *hum's for approx 2 minutes after switching off the engine?

 

Depends on where the noise is comeing from? under the bonnet? possibly the after run pump? under the rear of the vehicle the aux heater winding down?

[johnb80]

The hum you hear is a fan cooling the turbo down.(think i got that right as it has only just been covered) <_<

More revision needed my dear. ;)

[g4hlf]

Your flashing glow plug light is most likely a failure on the brake light switch.

I'd agree with this.

 

My Galaxy bleep at me and the glowplug indicator came on together with the workshop text. Shortly after I noticed the brake bulb warning light did not always go out when you applied the brakes and noticed the brake light did not always work.

 

After having the brakelight switch replaced all was back to normal.

 

Regards,

 

Paul

[Alhambra]

Many thanks for your replies.

 

The *winding down* sound is always to the front of the cat, even if you just turn the key to the ON position & then off after a few seconds, ther whurring sound will last for approx 2 min's.

 

I will take a look at the bulbs & switch at the weekend.

 

Yes we have Cruise control & it seems to be ok.... what is the interconnection between the brake & cruise control apart from once you press the pedal it "cancels".

 

Maybe next time the light flashes we should try to use the crusie control.... it may not work ???

[Guest Gurugal]

Many thanks for your replies.

 

The *winding down* sound is always to the front of the cat, even if you just turn the key to the ON position & then off after a few seconds, ther whurring sound will last for approx 2 min's.

 

I will take a look at the bulbs & switch at the weekend.

 

Yes we have Cruise control & it seems to be ok.... what is the interconnection between the brake & cruise control apart from once you press the pedal it "cancels".

 

Maybe next time the light flashes  we should try to use the crusie control.... it may not work ???

 

 

The whirring sound is the Auxilliary Water Pump - It is mounted on the bulkhead behind the battery box/Fuel Filter area it prevents hot spots in the cylinder head. It's a common feature on modern cars and is perfectly normal.

 

I beleive that the brake light switch is in the same module in the ECU that controls a number of functions - including the cruise control - If you get a dodgy Brake light switch or even a broken brake light bulb you can have all sorts of strange symptoms. It is quick and cheap to check the bulbs first, then the Brake light switch. If it isn't any of those then you may have a problem!!

[Masked Marauder]

Alhambra, I don't suppose your in or around the Nothants area?

[Alhambra]

Alhambra, I don't suppose your in or around the Nothants area?

Nope, we from Ireland.

 

Tonight i confirmed that indeed the brake lights are not working.

 

I cannot find the fuse for the brake lights..... indeed its not listed in the Alhambra book in the fuse section.... every other circuit has a fuse listed barring the brake circuit.

 

Any ideas what fuse it is?

 

BTW: I also confirmed that the cruise control does not work either.

[Guest galaxykid]

Why are you looking for a fuse when the possible cause of the problem has been suggested? the item in question links both the failed items :ph34r: check the operation of the brake light switch :lol:

[Tony]

I have exactly the same problem with my 2001 TDi Galaxy and it is the brake light switch, the contacts burn badly and causes intrmitant operation of all brake lights, I cleaned contacts of switch to get me going and now have a new switch from Ford about

[Alhambra]

Why are you looking for a fuse when the possible cause of the problem has been suggested? the item in question links both the failed items :ph34r: check the operation of the brake light switch :lol:

reasons:

 

1. a fuse is easier to check than a switch.

 

2. I can't find out which fuse is the brake lights fuse..... i hate not knowing things.

 

3. the fuse is feeds the switch & the bulbs.... start at the start & work forward.

[Alhambra]

Many thanks to all the people on this site for helping me with this issue.

You were able to tell me that the flashing "glow plug" was actually an indication that:

 

* the brake switch was defective

* the fuse was blown

* a blown brake bulb

* the Cruise Control would not work... cannot "Set" or "Resume"

 

____________________________________________

I took the brake switch off my wife's Alhambra this evening & tested it. There are 2 sets of contacts in one unit. One NC, One NO, ... both were showing open circuit.

 

I also check the fuse, F15, & it was ok..... I have to say the seating of fuses & relays in this MPV is very dubivous..... & people complain about AR electrics [LOL] .... my own car is a 2.0L TS 156.

 

I sprayed Contact Cleaner into the unit, after spending 5 mins taking the bastard off...... it has to twist 90 degs before it can be "popped" off.

 

Now the brakes lights are working & the Cruise control too & that pesky "glow plug" lamp doesn't flash at me anymore.

 

Many thanks folks :lol:

[Alhambra]

I've driven over a 100 miles since "repairing" the brake switch, all is ok with the car now..... apart from a "low Washer Bottle fluid" alarm.... easily fixed.

 

Maybe its my imagination BUT:

 

1. the MPV seems more lively than before

 

2. increased MPG, its now easy to get 45 mpg on a decent trip where as before it was a struggle to get above 42 mpg.

 

is there a connection between the brake switch & engine performace/economy?

[sinbad]

i have a seat alhambra 1.9 tdi 2002 .which just cut out when driving,then the glowwlight started flashing on the dash. so i thought the fuel filter might need changing. When i changed the fuel filter i noticed it was empty of diesel. So i replaced the fuel filter and filled it with diesel to prime it, then the car started straight away, but cut out after the diesel and been used from the filter. The problem seems to be there is no power going to the pump in the fuel tank

Ive checked the pump with a 12v supply and it works. i'm going to check the relay but don't know which one is for the fuel pump. then i'm going to check it with a meter can anyone tell me what ohms i should be getting from the relay?.

[chrispb123456]

Check relay 109 (third layer of fuse box) this is the one that usually causes starting problems and flashing glow plug indicator, incidentally what's the drivers door LED doing when you try to start .