Where's The Glow Plug Light?

[InKontrol]

Evening all, I recently bought a used 2011 Focus (second generation facelift) from my local dealer, the glow plug light does illuminate at all. I can't see it and therefore I don't know when to start cranking the engine, surely if there's a fault with the glow plugs the light will stay on permanently?? It's a 1.6TDCi.

[IINexusII]

if youre starting from cold it should definately illuminate for at least 5 seconds. when warm it will blink so fast you might not even see it.

[alexp999]

I only ever see mine during the winter, even with the bigger 2L engine block.

The modern cars start prepping before you even start the engine, if you see no curly (glowplug) light you are safe to start, especially this time of year.

Even in the winter I only see the glow plug light for about 2 seconds.

[mjt]

On my (03-plate) 1.8TDCi the light has never stayed on for more than about a second even when the external temp registered -7C. You should find it'll start ok even without glowplugs except in the very coldest conditions. After mine refused to start at -7C I found all four glowplugs were cream crackered and it must have been like that for most of the five years I'd had it.

[johnH]

mine stay on for around 2-3secs no more from cold. a bit longer when its freezing outside.

I know with some other makes of cars, the glow plugs aren't used until the ambient temp reaches below 5 degrees C...might be the same.

do you notice a lot of smoke or struggling when starting?

[renz2013]

the only time mine comes on on my 2010 mk 2.5 zetec s is in the winter to even then it's only seconds like it should. I even asked the dealer when I bought it. it's always started first push of the button to hope this helps