Glowplug light on after engine starts?

Benny the Ball · Post by **Benny the Ball** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:45 pm

Hi All,

When I turn the ignition, the glowplug indicor light comes on for a second or two, then goes off, at which point I start the van, but recently the glowplug indicator light comes on for another couple of seconds after I start the engine. Is this normal? Just Because it's cold?

Cheers,

Benny.

patnben · Post by **patnben** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:53 pm

Yup, the colder it gets outside, the longer the glowplug indicator stays on.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:33 pm

Don't think so - the glowplug light has no reflection on how long the plugs stay on, it's just a reminder to wait before you start the engine

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:59 pm

I agree with Dandy. Your coil "light" should come on for a few secs when you switch on, when it goes out you should try and start the engine. If it wont start there is no need to get the coil light to come on again because in fact your glowplugs are still glowing so just try again. The "coil" warning light is not in fact in the same circuit as the plugs. It's just a reminder to wait. It should stay on the same number of seconds whatever the temp.

rwill19050 · Post by **rwill19050** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:03 pm

I have the same thing happens sometimes.
Not a problem, it seems occasionally the ECR decides to 're-light' the glow plug light.
But, as has been stated, the light being off does not mean the glow plugs are off.
So, don't panic.

bongo dog do da van · Post by **bongo dog do da van** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:00 pm

I have this issue (wont call it a problem as so far it hasnt been) - I turn key wait for dash board light to go off, rotate key fully, the old do da van roars into life ... then the light flickers on again for a few seconds. Mine only does this if being started from cold... if I am beetling about town and am in and out of the van starting and stopping it only does it the once. Mine is going into Dorchester Motors (Japanese veh specialists) on Tuesday for its pre-winter check up, anti freeze, oil etc etc and to have a wing mirror sorted which pushes itself inwards in a strong wind so I have asked them to have a look at it then (yes I know I should do it myself but !!)

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:48 pm

Could the glow plug light (after starting)be a warning of a potential problem? I had this on a different car once, and it turned out that the glowplugs were shot

Regarding the mirror bongo dog do da van,I had the same problem,(the mirror wouldn't fold electrically either) The locking aspect is linked with the electrical closing.

Have you tried manually opening/closing the offending mirror, then clicking the switch to see if it re-sets itself?

bongo dog do da van · Post by **bongo dog do da van** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:21 pm

Thats what worried me Big Daddy - I will post what garage says re mirrors mine are not electric

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:31 am

It's not a massive job bongo ddv...nothing to worry about i reckon.

I only had one lazy plug,maybe if a plug actually burns out,THEN the glowplug light remains lit to indicate an apparent fault...

I think i paid around £30- £40 for supply and fitting of a new set of plugs.

It may be an idea to mention to your mechanic that bongo's have been known to have different sized glowplugs fitted,so removal of at least one of your old ones may be neccessary before he can order the correct type.

johnzbenson · Post by **johnzbenson** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:16 am

This subject is one of those that has been done to death in the forums in the last year or so. The lamp going out is only an indicator for you to start your Bongo after an adequate time yet the Glowplugs will remain energised until an adequate engine block temperature is achieved or the accelerator is depressed. there is a fact sheet on here on how to wire in a control so that your Glow plugs are not needlessly energised and therfore will last longer.

patnben · Post by **patnben** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 5:46 pm

Does nobody bother to read the original question any more ?.

My answer was true and valid. The glowplug indicator can be on
between 2 and 10 seconds depending on the temperature. If you
turn the ignition on; on a very cold morning; it may remain on for
up to 10 seconds, when the engine is hot it would only be on for
a couple of seconds or so.

Considering that I wrote the original fact sheet mentioned above
I do know something about how they operate, however, this was
not part of the original question; and I chose not to confuse the
issue.

As my contributions appear to be unintelligable and misleading, I
shall in future leave it to others more knowledgable than I to
provide more comprehensible answers.

clogger · Post by **clogger** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 5:55 pm

yep i believe you

but i think his question was
the glowplug indicator comes back on after he has started the engine

mine does`nt

patnben · Post by **patnben** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:21 pm

clogger wrote: but i think his question was the glowplug indicator comes back on after he has started the engine

mine does`nt

You are right of course clogger, and I don't know the answer. I simply
offered some information which may help to resolve the issue in terms
of "this is what should happen".

The glow plug indicator is a direct signal from the ECU, there is also a
control wire which monitors the glow plug voltage, and is an input signal
to the ECU. Perhaps the ECU logic does have the capability to know when
things are not as they should be, but it would need someone more
familier with the ECU logic to provide a difinitive answer.

While my Bongo acts normally, I know of one that does exactly as was
described; but it was intermittant and has not proved to cause any other
problems for the last 2 years or more.

As you can see, this is not a lot of help when you don't know the real
answer.

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:26 pm

Patnben, please keep contributing, everybody is allowed their opinions and input

clogger · Post by **clogger** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:40 pm

yep no worries

like you say it could be anything doing it
eliminate the obvious
i think it`s been one of thoise days on here today
posts/threads going missing

keep on contributing like you say if it is`nt what someone describes at least then that course of action can be ruled out and something else tried

Glowplug light on after engine starts?

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