glow plug relay/controller?????????

smudgerbongo · Post by **smudgerbongo** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:55 pm

hello,can anyone advise.i have been having starting problems on my bongo and guessed it to be a glow plug problem.knowing more about knitting(and thats nil) than i do about mechanics i got an electrician to look at it.he confirmed my suspicions(hooray) and advised me to get 4 new glow plugs and a glow plug controller.i asked him if this said controller was the same as a relay and he started spurting techie stuff which made my head spin so much that i had to sit down and have a vodka.
can anyone advise me,is the glow plug relay the actual controller that he is talking about or something completely different?he is saying that the controller is £105 to buy and the glow plugs(i presume mazda ones) are £41 each.he says that once i have got the plugs he may be able to fit a different controller to suit the plugs which may work out cheaper.cheers in advance....

smudgerbongo · Post by **smudgerbongo** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:58 pm

forgot to add that he told me to look on the owners club site for the plugs.i realise now that i can get a set of them for about £60

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:00 pm

Did he test the glow plugs one at a time? were they all duff?
I would, if any of them are duff get a set off ebay/bongo shop/or wherever £40 each is over the top. Try that first then perhaps move on to the relay which is to the offside and behind the battery on the side of the metalwork

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:38 pm

I'd suggest you don't mess about with "Made in the World" plugs and get a set of NGK Y701J. worth it in the long run - the plugs get a hard time in the Bongo engine.
Try a decent Motor Factor for them.

smudgerbongo · Post by **smudgerbongo** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:01 pm

thanks for the advice.is a glow plug relay the same as a glow plug controller?i am unsure what to buy and if they are different things.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:08 pm

Yep, same thing.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:56 pm

dandywarhol wrote:Yep, same thing.

I maybe wrong but im shure I read on here that the plugs are 'switched' through ECU. Throttle, revs and engine temp, anyone remember or can find the thread?
Easiest thing to check is the relay, multi meter on connections to it then 12v across supply connections at relay (it will click as relay makes). If a 'mechanic' cant do that for you go to a mechanic

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:19 am

Yep, the relay is controlled by a combination of coolant temp and load GP but I think if the fault was in the ECU a warning would come up via the hold/glowplug light sequence.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:25 am

Im shure you are right Dandy as I have no knowledge of Bongo electricory.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:27 am

Yeah but you do put together a great bit of fuel supply kit

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:31 am

dandywarhol wrote:Yeah but you do put together a great bit of fuel supply kit

Yep eventually.