c220cdi estate 2003 glow plug light?

[mad4amanda]

Hi all my glow plug light comes on and goes off when starting as normal , no start dramas or smoke on start up,however approx 2 min after starting the light comes on again and lasts for up to a minute?
no issues when its on but any ideas what is wrong?
cheers
steve

 

[mersum1es]

Usually means that glow plug or relay gone (weird that light takes so long to come back)... Check asap (if plug, it will stuck).

 

[panason1c]

One, or more, of your glowplugs has failed, usually best to replace them all at the same time.... sometimes, the blown glowplug can cause a 'fusible' link inside the relay to also blow, this will be evident if the blown glowplug(s) is replaced and the light still comes on, if this is the case the relay can be opened up and the blown link repaired by soldering a fuse across it (as i did with mine)....this will save you £100 for a new relay.

 

[mad4amanda]

Ok but if the glow plugs have failed wouldnt you expect some smoke on starting? Thats what Ive seen before when they have gone?
Great news about repairing the relay what fuse rating and style did you use?
many thanks
steve

 

[Agwarn]

I was under the impression that its normal for the glow plugs to come on when the engine is cold, i think the reason is to help the emissions while cold. My C220 cdi is exactly the same and runs perfectly.

 

[panason1c]

Ok but if the glow plugs have failed wouldnt you expect some smoke on starting? Thats what Ive seen before when they have gone?
Great news about repairing the relay what fuse rating and style did you use?
many thanks
steve

CDI engines dont rely on, or need glowplugs for starting and therefore dont produce the clouds of smoke you would get fron a non-cdi indirect injection engine with a faulty glowplug(s).

I used a 20a fuse for the relay repair (it was the only one i had to hand at the time and has been fine since)

 

[mad4amanda]

Ah excellent thanks for the help

 

[jeffjeffjeff]

CDI engines dont rely on, or need glowplugs for starting and therefore dont produce the clouds of smoke you would get fron a non-cdi indirect injection engine with a faulty glowplug(s).

I used a 20a fuse for the relay repair (it was the only one i had to hand at the time and has been fine since)

love reading your posts..but a questions.

if a C220cdi does not really need Glow Plugs, and the Glow Plug relay fails, why would a W203 ( my car ) not take about 20 turns over to start.


before the inde came out and replaced the Glow Plugs she was starting after about 5 turns of the ignition. he couldn't see an issue with the fueses after doing ' checks ' with a meter...

he said it must be the circuit that is faulty inside the Glow Plug relay?

do i trust his judgement, is this ' normal' / usual ?

 

[panason1c]

Hi,
Sounds to me more of an air in the fuel' problem, the fuel lines, and seals, get brittle with time and heat from the engine and any disturbance of them whilst carrying out other work (such as glow plug replacement) can cause air to enter the fuel system and result in excessive cranking to start as the air is purged out.

If you slide back the black outer tubing of the fuel lines you might see air bubbles in the transparent fuel pipe during cold start cranking..

If the glowplug light is working normally.. ie.. it goes off and stays off after starting, then there is nothing wrong in that department.

 

[wrightta]

love reading your posts..but a questions.

if a C220cdi does not really need Glow Plugs, and the Glow Plug relay fails, why would a W203 ( my car ) not take about 20 turns over to start.


before the inde came out and replaced the Glow Plugs she was starting after about 5 turns of the ignition. he couldn't see an issue with the fueses after doing ' checks ' with a meter...

he said it must be the circuit that is faulty inside the Glow Plug relay?

do i trust his judgement, is this ' normal' / usual ?

Hi did you get to the bottom of this issue? I have same problem. Glow plugs not working. Think the relay is faulty. Took it apart no fuseable links have blown. Must be a problem with the circuit board I think.