2006 enterprise glow plug relay

[Brightdeco]

Hello everyone, 
Apologies of this is a worn out subject!

I’ve just bought a 2006 berlingo enterprise 1.9
When starting I notice there isn’t a glow plug light. 

Could any of you clear up wether it’s factual that the light only comes on below a certain temp? From what I’ve read this is contradicting. 

The van seems to start fine apart from two cold mornings in the two weeks I’ve had the van where it was a little longer than you’d perhaps like. 

I have 3 months warranty with the van, wondering if I should pop back and ask them to replace the relay or not?? 
Or is it easy to do myself, I’ve seen the part for approx £30. 

Thanks for any help 

Ben

[Sol]

Try with cold morning temperatures, putting a filament 12V test lamp connected between earth, and the glow plug rail. It should light up when the plugs are active as you turn on the ignition.

The HDi doesn't need glow plugs to start but the 1.9D does, as it is an indirect injection. Not a bad idea to get it checked before the cold temps really set in. If you have a 3 month warranty, I'd take it back to be tested. The relay could be at fault but then so could other things. (fuse, relay, wiring, glow plugs, engine coolant temp sensor etc)

Rather than throw money at it yourself I'd get the mechanic to do some testing first unless you are handy with a meter and a bit of wiring to make up a test lamp?

[Romahomepete]

The 1.9D is an indirect diesel and so needs the glowplugs for the first start of the day but the actually fire up at evvery start. There is a pigtail warning light on the dash. The relay is hidden behind the nearside front headlamp. If it starts without difficulty first thing in the morning then everything will must be working but perhaps the awrning light bulb may have blown.

Peter

[jj9]

The plugs on the 1.9d come on for starting regardless of temperature.

(The HDi's only energise the plugs for starting if the temperature is below 7°C approx. but they do come on for a timed post heat period after starting )

As for the glow plug dash light, this should come on with the ignition, they often go off after a few seconds but they are only an indicator, as mentioned could be that the bulb has blown.


A few tests for you. . . 

Turn on the ignition (don't start engine) and listen to the relay, you should hear it click in as the ignition is turned on and then click out after about 15 seconds, this is the pre heat period.  You will get this period every time the ignition is turned on, so on a cold morning you can "Double heat" before starting by simply giving the plugs two pre heats.

When the engine is started the plugs remain on for a 3 minute post heat period to help aid warm up and to reduce diesel knock & emissions.
The 15 second pre heat & 3 minute post heat period is altered when the engine (coolant) is hot, I think the pre heat is reduced and the post heat doesn't operate if you start the engine when the coolant is over 70°C or thereabouts. 

If you have poor starting /running from cold test the relay output at the plugs for pre & post heat,  as mentioned this is best done with a test bulb. (a test meter can show a voltage with no power behind it, a bulb won't work if there's no power)

If the relay is working ok and you have power at the plugs you may have a glow plug off, this will show as a lumpy idle at cold start up with white smoke from the exhaust, the lumpy idle & smoke will stop after about 15 seconds of running once the cylinder with the defective plug heats up a little.

Test each glow plug, there are lost of videos on how to test the glow plugs on youtube, you will have to access the plugs which are tucked away under the inlet manifold.


.

[Brightdeco]

The plugs on the 1.9d come on for starting regardless of temperature.

(The HDi's only energise the plugs for starting if the temperature is below 7°C approx. but they do come on for a timed post heat period after starting )

As for the glow plug dash light, this should come on with the ignition, they often go off after a few seconds but they are only an indicator, as mentioned could be that the bulb has blown.


A few tests for you. . . 

Turn on the ignition (don't start engine) and listen to the relay, you should hear it click in as the ignition is turned on and then click out after about 15 seconds, this is the pre heat period.  You will get this period every time the ignition is turned on, so on a cold morning you can "Double heat" before starting by simply giving the plugs two pre heats.

When the engine is started the plugs remain on for a 3 minute post heat period to help aid warm up and to reduce diesel knock & emissions.
The 15 second pre heat & 3 minute post heat period is altered when the engine (coolant) is hot, I think the pre heat is reduced and the post heat doesn't operate if you start the engine when the coolant is over 70°C or thereabouts. 

If you have poor starting /running from cold test the relay output at the plugs for pre & post heat,  as mentioned this is best done with a test bulb. (a test meter can show a voltage with no power behind it, a bulb won't work if there's no power)

If the relay is working ok and you have power at the plugs you may have a glow plug off, this will show as a lumpy idle at cold start up with white smoke from the exhaust, the lumpy idle & smoke will stop after about 15 seconds of running once the cylinder with the defective plug heats up a little.

Test each glow plug, there are lost of videos on how to test the glow plugs on youtube, you will have to access the plugs which are tucked away under the inlet manifold.


.