glow plugs out?

[shaggy]

-5 here this morning and went out to start car and noticed the heater plug light on the dash only came on for about 1 second then went off!
i waited 5 or 6 seconds then turned the engine over and it fired straight up
i didn't feel any lumpiness or missing etc
i have recently had this problem on my diesel merc and had a plug out so had to change all 4

my questions are
1 - is the light staying on for only a second an indication that a plug is out?
2 - do i have to fit the plugs in 4s same as the merc?
3 - could it be a relay?

thanks in advance (and yes i did a search but couldn't find anything specific to my question )

[dave.j.robbo]

I think you'll find that the glow plug light on 2nd gens pretty much always goes out after a couple of seconds..

What I do, is wait until I hear the relay click off, after 6 seconds or so, and then start it up. Not had a problem starting when this method has been used..

As for your other question, I can't see why you NEED to change all 4 together, but MY theory is that if one's knacked, then change all 4...

[dave.j.robbo]

Oh yeah, and if it started fine in minus 5, with no lumpiness etc. then I'd say your plugs are in good working order!!

[DaveD]

My light only comes on for about 5 milliseconds and has always been like that.
Like the man says if she is firing up ok in -5 then you dont have a lot to worry about.

[shaggy]

cushty!!!
cheers chaps

[internetsurfer]

what does the glow plug symbol look like then - i'm guessing 2nd from the left in yellow ???????????

[MattF]

what does the glow plug symbol look like then - i'm guessing 2nd from the left in yellow ???????????

The orange coil on the bottom left of the panel.


Matt

[BUSHWHACKER]

Am I the only one that waits for the beeeeeep then?

[mud skipper]

Am I the only one that waits for the beeeeeep then?

no your not alone, i'm to tight to replace mine, other things to do to her first, just realised i have done 35000km's in her and only had the oil changed once and that was a freeby by a local landy garage,

think i mite give her a good seeing to this weekend providing i dont get called out by some twit whos left a window open in an alarmed premisise

[dave.j.robbo]

Am I the only one that waits for the beeeeeep then?

Almost.... I wait for the clunk of the relay, but sometimes miss it and get the beep...........

[BUSHWHACKER]

think i mite give her a good seeing to this weekend providing i dont get called out by some twit whos left a window open in an alarmed premisise

Umm, you're still talking about your truck, right??

[mud skipper]

Umm, you're still talking about your truck, right??

i was wondering if anyone would pick up on that comment....
well i cannt be talking about her indoors as she is working all weekend

[DaveD]

Am I the only one that waits for the beeeeeep then?

What beeeeeep?

[MattF]

What beeeeeep?

The one several seconds after the heater light goes out.


Matt

[MattF]

Am I the only one that waits for the beeeeeep then?

I always give her two for good measure (Puns at the ready).


Matt