Glow plugs (underpowered battery??)

[Kincaid]

Hi all

I've been getting what I've learnt from this forum to be classic poor glow plug signs - lumpy start up, bit of smoke and then perfect for the rest of the day. I took the plugs out over the weekend -I tested them and all glowed red. They were very coked up so I cleaned them and refitted. It's definitely better now but still a little smoke on start up (but no lumpiness).

I've checked the relays etc, and all seems correct. I've noticed that I do have a 75 ah starter battery. I'm wondering if its possibly underpowered to run all four plugs simultaneously.

So any ideas? Should I plump for a fresh set of plugs or perhaps be thinking of going for a more powerful starter battery?

Thanks.

[westonwarrior]

try leaving the ignition on for a few extra seconds the start

I used to wait until the roof light went out not the glow plug light and it makes a big difference

[bigdaddycain]

I ignore the glowplug light completely and wait to hear the glowplug relay click off...

[bigdaddycain]

Slightly off topic but perhaps relevent... My work car was eating it's way through headlight bulbs (two a week sometimes) I got it checked out, battery fine, alternator fine, etc etc... all circuits perfect. The auto electrician suggested switching off the auto headlights feature on the car in case that had something to do with the problem.... It turned out to be down to an intermittently lazy battery after all, battery changed, no bulbs have blown since (two months ago).

[The Great Pretender]

Or you could try making sure the engine earth is nice n clean............

I have used a smaller than standard battery in the past with no problems.........

[mikexgough]

Workshop manual quotes 4 starter battery Ah sizes...48,52,55 & the maximum is rated at 64 Ah which has a load current of 250 amps..
I have a Yuasa 030 - equivalent to 068.... mine starts "on the button"... and that's a 70Ah....got it from the local Motor Factor who matched it for me to the Japanese battery that was in my Bongo on import.

[munroman]

Or you could try making sure the engine earth is nice n clean............

I have used a smaller than standard battery in the past with no problems.........

And also the battery terminals and connections are clean, as well as the Earth connection from the battery to the bodywork.

[gmaczbongo]

Plugs get slow to heat and also dont get up to full temp.
Get a new set.

[binky]

In addition to all the other tips, if you have a meter, test the battery voltage after it has been left overnight. If it's 12.5 volts or less, it may be time to replace it.

[Kincaid]

All - thanks very much for the really helpful responses. I've ran through the various tests you've recommended this AM -
-->battery is a 680, reads 12.9 volts this AM (thanks Mike and Binky)
-->I've waited 'till the relay clicks off (thanks WestonWarrior)

I'm going to give the battery earth a checkover (thanks Munroman)
...if still a little smoky on start-up I'll source some NGK plugs and change them.

Thanks again,

[321Away]

Its not about whether they glow,its about how fast they do it, if they dont glow full in 5 seconds then then bin and replace.

As stated above, dont attempt to start according to glow plug light, wait 15 or so seconds til the relay clicks out, (also a useful tip if you have an almost flat battery!)

Julian

[hembramacho]

I had same kind of symptoms when I got my bongo - tried most things and still didn't cure it completely.
But now, everytime I start it (as suggested previously) I ignore the glowplug light and wait to hear the glowplug relay click off. If I start it as soon as I hear the click, it starts fine, everytime. If I turn the key slightly before or slightly after the click, not always a clean start. Don't know exactly why that is, but that's what works for me. I'm now in the habit of doing this each time.

Cheers

Andrew

[mikeonb4c]

Its not about whether they glow,its about how fast they do it, if they dont glow full in 5 seconds then then bin and replace.

As stated above, dont attempt to start according to glow plug light, wait 15 or so seconds til the relay clicks out, (also a useful tip if you have an almost flat battery!)

Julian

...and I still think there are 1001 reasons for preferring a hefty starter battery. Principal amongst those is that (it seems to me) they have the best chance of maintaining a good amperage to the glowplugs while the starter motor is draining amps, and perhaps after other devices may have stolen some AmpHrs out of it while camping and/or if the day is very cold etc. And I'm not entirely sure (perhaps Julian can comment) that there might not be a vicious circle between amperage drop to glowplugs during starting leading to their deterioration (your observation about coking up etc.)

There's nothing like a bit of inbuilt redundancy as insurance against a rainy day

PS - I can see a glowing debate coming out of this one

[Kincaid]

I noticed when testing them that they all had differing times to 'glowing'. I'd read in the service manual that there is a resistance of about 5 ohms through a healthy glow plug - I tested mine whilst they were out and some were as low as 2 ohms. I know once failed they have no circuit through them -does anyone know if the resistance value changes as they wear out?.

[gmaczbongo]

Fit a new set, problem solved.
As you say, they wear out.