Cold starting

[Jason1970]

Does my 94 Surf have glow plugs. There is no light to indicate any on the dash. I leave the ignition on for about 30 seconds before starting.

Is this correct. Any help appreciated.

Jason.

[Bonk]

There should be a dash light and when that goes out, normally a matter of seconds or less, you can start it up. The light is on the bottom of the clocks and to the far left under the temperature guage and is shaped like a light bulb filament, two little round coils.

EDIT: I'm assuming it's a diesel because if it isn't, it won't.

[NiftyNev]

Does my 94 Surf have glow plugs.

If you put diesel in it, then yes.

Nev.

[Jason1970]

There should be a dash light and when that goes out, normally a matter of seconds or less, you can start it up. The light is on the bottom of the clocks and to the far left under the temperature guage and is shaped like a light bulb filament, two little round coils.

EDIT: I'm assuming it's a diesel because if it isn't, it won't.

Cheers. I guess my bulb has blown then as there isn't one like that.

[Jason1970]

The heater plug light comes on for a split second then goes off. Surely they can hear up in such a short space of time.
Do I need to leave the ingnition lights turned on for a bit before starting? If I try starting straight up it turns over loads before firing. This can't be normal.

[Bonk]

The light does only come on for a very short time, that's normal.

Why it's taking ages to fire up though is a mystery.

Someone with more knowledge than I have will be along shortly to help you out though, I'm sure.

[Tig]

I recently scrapped one of my LN130 2.4TD's - she needed 'Easy-Start' to start from cold & this had been going on for 3 years, as with your issue the glow light would blink on then off (audible click).

I replaced all the glows (simple enough job) but to little effect.....I believe the problem may have lay with the glow timer unit, something I had not looked fully into but I was led to believe came at too great an expense....alas, ####ing oil & on her 3rd (dying) alternator she was on her last legs anyway.

I do miss you Clara, you were my first Surf...rest in peace girl

[Bonk]

I recently scrapped one of my LN130 2.4TD's - she needed 'Easy-Start' to start from cold & this had been going on for 3 years, as with your issue the glow light would blink on then off (audible click).

I replaced all the glows (simple enough job) but to little effect.....I believe the problem may have lay with the glow timer unit, something I had not looked fully into but I was led to believe came at too great an expense....alas, ####ing oil & on her 3rd (dying) alternator she was on her last legs anyway.

I do miss you Clara, you were my first Surf...rest in peace girl

Fill the man with hope why don't you.

[yorta2]

If you can't hear a bit of a clunk after the light goes out, then it is possible that you have relay problem. The glow plug relay is a black box with about 4 wires going into it, and it is located behind the Diagnostics grey box, and in front of the windscreen wiper motor on the on-side of the engine bay. It has a reasonably thick wire going into it which feeds straight from the battery via the fuse box (perhaps that wire is white). That relay gets a signal from the ECU to turn on, but I found that mine used to get stuck sometimes and I couldn't hear the 'clunk'. Take it off (one 10mm bolt) get it apart, have a look at it for obvious damage, give it a spray with WD40, put it back together and hope for the best. It worked for me, although I still have to do it occasionally - beats buying another one.