I am hoping someone can settle a minor disagreement. Recently a friend and I were setting off in his C220CDI. After turning on the ignition part way, he waited 5 seconds or so before turning the key fully and starting the car. I asked him why was he waiting. He said he was waiting for the glow/heater warning light to go out. I said that the heater plugs in diesel C220's only operated when the engine was cranked. He disagreed. Who is right?
compress ignite
Active Member
"Glow Plug" light
If the engine has one (Glow Plug light) you must wait until the timer turns off
the interior GPL.
'Attemptimg to START the engine prior... may lead to No Start.
If the engine has one (Glow Plug light) you must wait until the timer turns off
the interior GPL.
'Attemptimg to START the engine prior... may lead to No Start.
robert.saunders
MB Enthusiast
I never wait for my glowplug light to go out on my 2002 C220 - just twist key, let go and it starts itself.
Not sure if this is "the wrong thing" to do, but I have been doing this for 2 years and it's fine.
[Probably kiss of death now]
Rob
Not sure if this is "the wrong thing" to do, but I have been doing this for 2 years and it's fine.
[Probably kiss of death now]
Rob
Wezzel
Active Member
If I remember correctly the cdi engine does not need glowplugs to start. I believe they are used mostly to help with emissions.
Not sure where I heard it but I do know that mine starts, even on the coldest day, without me having to wait.
Not sure where I heard it but I do know that mine starts, even on the coldest day, without me having to wait.
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MB instructions are to wait for the light to go out.
There's a bit of an issue with some Fords (maybe affects other cars too) where you have to do something wierd like hold the key in the starting position for a few seconds otherwise the engine dies. Also there are other cars (some VAG models) where the glow plugs heat up when you open the door.
There's a bit of an issue with some Fords (maybe affects other cars too) where you have to do something wierd like hold the key in the starting position for a few seconds otherwise the engine dies. Also there are other cars (some VAG models) where the glow plugs heat up when you open the door.
robert.saunders
MB Enthusiast
I regularly drive a Ford Focus TDCi (or is it TCDi?) and on this you MUST wait for the light to go out, it just will not start unless you do, and heaven forbid you attempt before the light goes, it's a bum to attempt a re-start.
As for the C220, if MB are clever enough to have auto-start (ie twist key and let go) then surely it's clever enough to know, on a diesel, if it can start or not depending on whether it wants to "glow" or "no glow" !!!
Rob
As for the C220, if MB are clever enough to have auto-start (ie twist key and let go) then surely it's clever enough to know, on a diesel, if it can start or not depending on whether it wants to "glow" or "no glow" !!!
Rob
your friend is right..
simple diesel basics. glow plugs are used to preheat the engine for easy start. there isn't a spark plug to igniter the fuel. it burns by compression / heat...
btw. if you wanne test (only with good battery!) a diesel try to start it when cold without glowing. it takes a while but it will start and gives a nice black smoke. what you do with this test is to test the compression. if this isn't good the engine won't start... bear in mind there are some fast starters who doesn't need to glow... mercedes 608 is one of them but mercedes benz quickly changed it back to glow... (preheat)
btw. if you wanne test (only with good battery!) a diesel try to start it when cold without glowing. it takes a while but it will start and gives a nice black smoke. what you do with this test is to test the compression. if this isn't good the engine won't start... bear in mind there are some fast starters who doesn't need to glow... mercedes 608 is one of them but mercedes benz quickly changed it back to glow... (preheat)
robert.saunders
MB Enthusiast
Mine takes circa 1 second to start - no matter what the weather, no matter what the engine temperature!
Perhaps I'm lucky?
Perhaps I'm lucky?
Wezzel
Active Member
5 seconds seems a long time to wait for the light to go out in any case. Mine only stays on for about 1 second.
If I crank the engine immediately though with out waiting even 1 second it still starts first time.
perhaps I'm lucky too :bannana:
If I crank the engine immediately though with out waiting even 1 second it still starts first time.
perhaps I'm lucky too :bannana:
Dogger
New Member
robert.saunders said:
My Mondeo TDCi starts first time every time regardless of whether the glow plug light is on or not, hot or cold.
What day was the Focus built on Rob ??
robert.saunders
MB Enthusiast
Dogger said:My Mondeo TDCi starts first time every time regardless of whether the glow plug light is on or not, hot or cold.
What day was the Focus built on Rob ??
That's interesting 'cos the Focus is definitely a bummer to start, it's only a few years old (04 reg) - perhaps it was built on the Friday? Perhaps the C220 lovingly on a Monday?
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Perhaps they're different engines - I've seen several complaints about starting the 1.8 diesel in the *new* Galaxy, but I've never heard of it on the 2.0L Mondeo.robert.saunders said:
sym
MB Enthusiast
I usually wait for the light, but sometimes forget, and it starts straight away anyway !!
Surely, if it was damaging to the engine to turn the key before the light went off, then modern electronics would prevent it from firing in this case ... they don't seem to do so, therefore can't see it being an issue - despite what the manual says !
S.
Surely, if it was damaging to the engine to turn the key before the light went off, then modern electronics would prevent it from firing in this case ... they don't seem to do so, therefore can't see it being an issue - despite what the manual says !
S.
I checked with my MB technician friend who says - glow plug on C220 cdi's only operates when engine is cranked. Interestly on my wife's Shogun, there is no warning light at all. You just hear a relay click, then turn the key for an instant start. The friend drives a VW Sharan TDI and he turns the key immediately he gets in the car to start it.
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l5foye said:
Well, I can't say for sure that's wrong - but I'm dubious.
I looked at the online handbook and that says to wait until the light is off - the instruction is non-specific to engine, so would cover both 220 and the new 320. I wonder what happens when the light goes off - do the glowplugs stay hot for a while, or do they rapidly cool?
I have C270 - which as I understand it is pretty well the same as the 220 engine but with an extra cylinder. The light goes off almost instantly in summer, but is taking a couple of seconds now the weather is a little colder.
Having said that, sometimes I forget to wait (I sometimes only use the car once a week and usually drive a petrol) and it does always start OK.
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As far as I'm aware, glow plugs are not strictly necessary in normal spring/summer/autumn UK temperatures, they simply assist with a quick, smooth and clean start.
As ambient temperatures fall, greater assistance is required in order to achieve the same quick, smooth and clean start. Hence the reason the light lingers a little longer before extinguishing during colder winter weather than in warmer summer weather.
I doubt if damage would result from an immediate start, even in colder weather, it might just struggle a little and emissions may suffer a little initially.
My personal opinion is, if MB's official handbook tells me to do it, then I do it. I can't think of a reason not to either, as even in the coldest weather it takes barely a few seconds. Of course old habbits (from driving petrol-engined cars) die hard though!!
Dieselman will no doubt provide a valuable view on this though.
As ambient temperatures fall, greater assistance is required in order to achieve the same quick, smooth and clean start. Hence the reason the light lingers a little longer before extinguishing during colder winter weather than in warmer summer weather.
I doubt if damage would result from an immediate start, even in colder weather, it might just struggle a little and emissions may suffer a little initially.
My personal opinion is, if MB's official handbook tells me to do it, then I do it. I can't think of a reason not to either, as even in the coldest weather it takes barely a few seconds. Of course old habbits (from driving petrol-engined cars) die hard though!!
Dieselman will no doubt provide a valuable view on this though.
