Glow Plug Flashing Light

[BigStevie]

Hi folks, first time posting on here. I've been having what seems to be a common problem with the glow plug light flashing, loosing power, then stopping, waiting approx 5-10 seconds, restarting and driving off again. This seems to happen to mine very sporadically but over the past few weeks, it's happened a least once per week but today it's happened twice. I realise that the glow plug will need replacing, but I've been advised to change he fuel filter first, is this right? I am very busy at present so haven't had time to get the work done, am I doing any harm to anything by not having it fixed, am I likely to be driving back from a call out with 150-200 miles to get home and not get home?

My car is a 2003 model and is in very good condition, very few scuff marks, just one or two supermarket trolly marks on the front passenger door, there's 125500 miles on the clock and the odd bit of smoke when changing from 3rd to 4th, passes MOT every year without any bother. The car will do my job for a couple of years yet, as long as I get this small nightly problem sorted. Whats my best course, change fuel filter first and or glow plug or is there a deeper underlying fault?

Many thanks in advance

Stevie

[mintalkin]

it sounds like your car is going into limp home mode hence the loss of power, a flashing glowplug light does not mean that the glowplugs are at fault, its a general warning that something is wrong on the fuel supply side of things, you really need to get the faults codes read to point out what might be wrong as it could be anything from a sensor to an injector playing up.

[@jigsaw@]

Stevie,

I've just had the same problem on my 2.2TDCI took it in and the fault codes pointed at the EGR valve. Ford wanted £300.00 for a new one but I did a bit of digging on the old internet and Jaguars EGR is the same. I bought one off the well known auction site from a Jag garage in Hull at £120.00 is identical. Fitting it tomorrow so will let you know. Not sure if yours is same style or not so check it out first. Also you can take the EGR off and clean it with carb cleaner.

Lee

[BigStevie]

Hi folks,

Many thanks for the info, touching wood, it hasn't stooped on me since Monday morning, but we live in hope???? Let me know how you get on with the EGR valve

Stevie

[@jigsaw@]

Morning all,

Ive had the EGR valve fitted ( I hope this isn't tempting fate ) and the light hasn't come on :D but the rear brakes nearly set on fire instead yet another handbrake cable fitted all OK now, fingers crossed.

Lee

[BigStevie]

Never seems torain but it pours, I've mine booked in for diagnostic check on Tuesday morning. By pure chance I bumped into a chap that does the checks, never met him before, met him coming out of a filling station and he took the time to have a chat with me regarding my problem. He's charging me £25.00 and I wll get a full printout for the mechanic on Thursday to sort out. That's when I'll know whether it's going to be cheaper to fix or change to another Mondeo Estate. It would be hard to let the old girl go, she has served me well as office and workshop over the past 3 years, this is the first problem I've ever had with it. I live in hope it's a small fix, like fuel or air filter changes as I've been told it could be. I'll keep you up to date.

[BigStevie]

Hi folks, eventually got round to trying to get the limp home mode sorted. It's been a hectic time for me a ne minute, so have persevered with the problem. I got my mechanic who specialises in Fords, although he works from home he has a great set-up and has been looking after this car and my last Mondeo estate, however, after replacing, oil, air and fuel filters, oil change, etc. the problem still exists. The mechanic has a friend with a genuine Ford diagnostic machine, and it turns out that injectors Nos 2 & 4 are the problem. We have decided that buying a new set is not worth t, reconditioned is the ms practical way, as there is 126500 miles on the clock, and will be celebrate her 9th birthday in September, so really I'm hoping for another 2 years out of the old girl, as the bodywork is straight, very little wear and tear and no rust, other than needing injectors, she's a good runner and well looked after.

I have injector No4 code EJDROO402Z, some companies ive contacted say that this is either, not enough information, each injector has its own code, all 4 will have the same codes, one company just needs my registration number, one company has a set of injectors with the last 4 numbers being EJDROO504Z, and that they may be compatible with mine. Does anyone know whether this is true??

[mintalkin]

the 402 injectors are for the 115bhp mk3 motor and the 504 are for the 125bhp mk4, any decent company should be able to supply 402 injectors, each injector has its own 16 digit serial number that has to be programmed into the ecu. the EJDROO402Z is just the injector model number.

[BigStevie]

Hi Mintalkin, many thanks for our help. I'm a a simple picture framer, service engineer for picture framing equipment, so as long as my car starts, stops, carries my tools, etc., gets me to a call and home again, I'm happy. But this problem is beginning to get to me, I'm being told different things by everybody, there has been no two companies tell me the same thing. Would it be safe enough just to change the 2 faulty injectors, or do I run the risk of ruining the other 2? No one has a full set of 4, apart from one company who will refurbish mine, but hat leaves me off the road for a week or more, and I can't afford that amount of time without working. I an happily persevere with the problem as its very intermittant at the minute (touch wood) and wait until someone has a se of 4. Would you know of anyone other than those I have Googled and contacted??

Thanks for our reply. Stevie