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Glow Plug Light Flashing, Cutting Out And Trouble Starting


fruitloopy
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Hi All

I am starting to wonder if I have bought a lemon!

I bought a Focus 1.8 TDCi 2003 over a month ago and it has started developing problems.

Firstly it seems to be struggling to start in the mornings, having to turn over for several seconds before it finally catches. Even then its liable to stall when moving off.

A bit more worryingly is that there is no glow plug light before starting. I dont have too much experience with diesels but I do know you have to wait for the glow plug light to go out before starting. Well, there isnt one!

I know the light works though because while driving home last night the engine cut out completely and the light was flashing constantly. I pulled over to the side of the road, switched it off and back on again and it carried on with no problems.

A couple of days ago a friend plugged a diagnostic computer into the car but there were no fault codes.

Secondly, especially on a cold start it judders while driving, just like driving over a cattle grid. On advice I cleaned the MAF sensor with electrical cleaner and it seemed ok for a day but then it returned. I disconnected the MAF and drove to work and it was absolutely fine with no juddering. I have now ordered a new MAF.

Thirdly, on a cold start the temperature gauge doesnt seem to kick in until about 5 miles down the road when it slowly rises to the mid way point. I dont know if this is normal or indicative of something else?

Other than that the engine pulls fine, no nasty smoke from the exhaust and no other problems.

Any ideas on what I could do? If possible I would like to diagnose and fix the problems myself.

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Hi Simon,

Firstly it seems to be struggling to start in the mornings, having to
turn over for several seconds before it finally catches. Even then its
liable to stall when moving off.

Sounds like you are lacking something, either heat, pressure, air or fuel. When was the car last serviced?

A bit more worryingly is that there is no glow plug light before
starting. I dont have too much experience with diesels but I do know you
have to wait for the glow plug light to go out before starting. Well,
there isnt one!

If you have a trip computer, enter the diagnostics menu. Turn the key to position 0, press and hold the trip computer reset button, then whilst holding this, turn the key to position II. You should enter self diagnostics, let go of the reset button and then just click it until you get to the LED test, do you have an illuminated glow plug light? if not, then check carefully if some pleb has put some black tape over it to hide it, otherwise the LED may need replacing. If it does appear, then its not showing as the chamber is sufficiently warm to start the engine. Having just read on, I can see the light is there, so in that case, continue clicking until you reach the DTC section, what error codes are present?

I know the light works though because while driving home last night
the engine cut out completely and the light was flashing constantly. I
pulled over to the side of the road, switched it off and back on again
and it carried on with no problems.

Sounds like the glow plugs may need to be replaced, or the leads to them may be corroded and not providing a good connection.

A couple of days ago a friend plugged a diagnostic computer into the car but there were no fault codes.

I probably should have read the full thread before replying in line :P in which case, it sounds like you are struggling to get either heat, or air to the chamber.

Secondly, especially on a cold start it judders while driving, just like driving over a cattle grid. On advice I cleaned the MAF sensor with electrical cleaner and it seemed ok for a day but then it returned. I disconnected the MAF
and drove to work and it was absolutely fine with no juddering. I have now ordered a new MAF.

Sounds like the right move to make!

Thirdly, on a cold start the temperature gauge doesnt seem to kick in
until about 5 miles down the road when it slowly rises to the mid way
point. I dont know if this is normal or indicative of something else?

This would indicate either moisture on the instrument cluster, or a faulty cluster, which could explain the other odd behaviors. you have two options here.

1) remove the instrument cluster, and douse the rear of it with WD40, allow it to dry off naturally and then reinstall, try this and see the outcome.

2) if the above fails, you will need to replace the instrument cluster, you can either buy brand new (expensive) or you can remove one from a scrapped motor (accident damage) and replace it. Alternatively, you can send your cluster off for refurb and use this.

Hope this is of some help.

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Thats great help. Thank you James. I have a friend at work who has brought his diagnostic kit in today and he's poing to plug it in for a reading. I never knew there was diagnostics built in to the car trip computer though! I'll give it a try.

I am picking up a full set of glow plugs at lunch and again my friend will help me to check out connections, etc. I am hoping this will be the answer to the start and cutting out problem.

We'll see what happens.

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no worries, keep us in the loop and if we can help further, we will.

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