Glow Plug problem

[DaveG]

I know it's bit of a funny question, but would I be right when i say that very single diesel engined car should have a glow plug/pre-heat symbol on the dash ?.

I ask because although it starts up perfectly fine, I cannot see any visible illumination of glow plug activity on the driver display, looking in the central fuse box (behind the glove compartment), I cannot see a signal reference to the glow plug on the diagram, sadly the manual is'nt much use.

Not having a full spec of the car does'nt help, it's a Fusion 2 1.4 tdci with luxury pack 1 (whatever that is ?.)

so 2 questions;

1) surely one of the fuses in the central fuse box relates to the glow plug ?. or could it be the bulb behind the driver display ?.

2), where is the best place (preferably free and online) that i can see a spec sheet for the car ?.

[paul-eb]

I know it's bit of a funny question, but would I be right when i say that very single diesel engined car should have a glow plug/pre-heat symbol on the dash ?.

I ask because although it starts up perfectly fine, I cannot see any visible illumination of glow plug activity on the driver display, looking in the central fuse box (behind the glove compartment), I cannot see a signal reference to the glow plug on the diagram, sadly the manual is'nt much use.

Not having a full spec of the car does'nt help, it's a Fusion 2 1.4 tdci with luxury pack 1 (whatever that is ?.)

so 2 questions;

1) surely one of the fuses in the central fuse box relates to the glow plug ?. or could it be the bulb behind the driver display ?.

2), where is the best place (preferably free and online) that i can see a spec sheet for the car ?.

Hi DaveG,

You may well not have a problem Dave,

I own a Fusion 1.4tdci 57 plate, had no problems like you starting either. I was a little worried also as I never seemed to see the Glow plug light illuminate on the dash, as shown in the handbook, then low and behold the other morning after the car had been subjected to the latest very cold weather -6 to -8c, there it was glowing, a coil shape just for a few seconds. It must only cut in when the weather is very cold, and my car being outside.

May I suggest, if your car is garaged, then maybe it never gets cold enough to need the glow plugs. From what has happened to mine, they must exist. Perhaps someone else may shed some light on it Dave.

[DaveG]

Hi DaveG,

You may well not have a problem Dave,

I own a Fusion 1.4tdci 57 plate, had no problems like you starting either. I was a little worried also as I never seemed to see the Glow plug light illuminate on the dash, as shown in the handbook, then low and behold the other morning after the car had been subjected to the latest very cold weather -6 to -8c, there it was glowing, a coil shape just for a few seconds. It must only cut in when the weather is very cold, and my car being outside.

May I suggest, if your car is garaged, then maybe it never gets cold enough to need the glow plugs. From what has happened to mine, they must exist. Perhaps someone else may shed some light on it Dave.

Phew, thanks Paul that's a relief, was getting a bit worried, would make sense though, in a funny but unexplainable kinda way

Weird about the fuse diagram though (no sign of the glow plug fuse at all).

[jay1981]

Glowplug light on 1.4TDCI only comes on when it is really cold, around freezing or lower, and only comes on for a few seconds so easy to miss. As for the fuse its probably in another fusebox somewhere.

If the car starts alright then no need to worry!

[DaveG]

Glowplug light on 1.4TDCI only comes on when it is really cold, around freezing or lower, and only comes on for a few seconds so easy to miss. As for the fuse its probably in another fusebox somewhere.

If the car starts alright then no need to worry!

Can i please clarify something: at start up (turning the key in the ignition), when all the lights come on in the dash, is the glow plug light supposed to come on or not, or does it only come on when it needs to (when very cold), the manual even states "IF" the light comes one wait until it goes out before starting.

Since I've had the car it's only been zero at the coldest.

The next question where behind the battery is the engine fuse box, all i can see is the small square relay box.

[DaveG]

Can i please clarify something: at start up (turning the key in the ignition), when all the lights come on in the dash, is the glow plug light supposed to come on or not, or does it only come on when it needs to (when very cold), the manual even states "IF" the light comes one wait until it goes out before starting.

Since I've had the car it's only been zero at the coldest.

The next question where behind the battery is the engine fuse box, all i can see is the small square relay box.

The question; has been answered, thankfully we had a very cold nice last night and the car was frozen this morning and low and behold, the glow plug light lit for a fraction of a second. So for all you Ford mech's and drivers out there; when the temp's at around zero or warmer you probably won't see the glow plug light even during the light check phase, you should however see it if the temp is below freezing.

Thanks to Jay, you were spot on.

[artscot79]

The question; has been answered, thankfully we had a very cold nice last night and the car was frozen this morning and low and behold, the glow plug light lit for a fraction of a second. So for all you Ford mech's and drivers out there; when the temp's at around zero or warmer you probably won't see the glow plug light even during the light check phase, you should however see it if the temp is below freezing.

Thanks to Jay, you were spot on.

have to admit in any other diesel car the light usually illuminate swith the ignition on for 2 seconds and when really cold a bit longer but that said if there are no starting issues then its obviously just the design of the car

[DaveG]

have to admit in any other diesel car the light usually illuminate swith the ignition on for 2 seconds and when really cold a bit longer but that said if there are no starting issues then its obviously just the design of the car

I agree it's unusual, my Honda Civic's pre-heat/glow plug indicator comes on all the time, regardless of temperature.

My fusion's only appears when it's freezing and obviously stays on for longer when it's very cold. Must be some sort of intelligent pre-heat ?.

[artscot79]

I agree it's unusual, my Honda Civic's pre-heat/glow plug indicator comes on all the time, regardless of temperature.

My fusion's only appears when it's freezing and obviously stays on for longer when it's very cold. Must be some sort of intelligent pre-heat ?.

crtainly sounds like it as you said no starting issues so they clearly work just another foird only quirk

[petesrepairs]

I seem to be having this very same issue and I too got the same answers as above. So I wasnt concerned, until today. The temperature here in london has dropped and it snowed last night. So I thought I would go give the car a turn over and see if the glowplug light came on. So I turned it to position 2 all lights except the glowplug light came on. Now I assume the car is cold enough as I have about 5 inches of snow sat on the car. I did try starting the car and it turned over for about a a second and then cut out. I turned the ignition off, on to position 2 again, waited about 5 seconds and then tried to start it again, and this time it turned over and started. so, any new ideas?

[Stoney871]

The engine not firing first time was probably more to do with the fuel temperarure than the glow plug.

Diesel does get a bit thicker in the cold.

[petesrepairs]

The engine not firing first time was probably more to do with the fuel temperarure than the glow plug.

Diesel does get a bit thicker in the cold.

Aha, fair enough. Still, however, curious as to why then my ignition coil light still doesnt light up even in the cold (snowing conditions). I did do a dashboard test and on the bulb test it shows the ignition coil lamp as working, but even in freezing conditions (i admit I havent had a thermometer out to test the cold, but snow on the car all night would suggest its minus conditions) it still doesnt appear. Should I just change the plugs and check the connections anyway? or is there another thing to suggest. Also my OBD2 scanner didnt pick up any faults.

[Barbara 51]

Hi, can someone help me ! I have a Ford Fusion 1.4 tdci style 57 plate and it drives beautifully but when I start it first thing it’s loud and juddering around. I was told to turn ignition half way and wait about 30 seconds for glow plugs to warm up which I do, then I start engine but it takes a few mins of jumping around till I drive off then it’s ok. Can anyone say why this happens please. Thank you

[fullwavebridge]

Not my primary subject, however i would suggest fuel filter or a fuel injector issue for starters.

I do not think this is a glow plug issue imo, Has the car been serviced etc Barbara ?

TBH without seeing it, it could be a number of things causing it.

[mark K]

Just bought a 2007 1.4 TDCI. No glow plug symbol at all. When cold (has been -4C) car has to crank for 4-5 seconds or so before starting. Any thoughts before I book it in please?

[TomsFocus]

10 minutes ago, mark K said:

Just bought a 2007 1.4 TDCI. No glow plug symbol at all. When cold (has been -4C) car has to crank for 4-5 seconds or so before starting. Any thoughts before I book it in please?

The symbol isn't directly connected to the plugs in modern engines (not since the 1990s!).  Have you tried leaving the ignition on for around 5 seconds before turning the key to start?  The plugs should still heat even if the light doesn't work.

[mark K]

11 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The symbol isn't directly connected to the plugs in modern engines (not since the 1990s!).  Have you tried leaving the ignition on for around 5 seconds before turning the key to start?  The plugs should still heat even if the light doesn't work.

Will try in the morning, thanks

 

[fullwavebridge]

glow plugs activate for 1.5 seconds regardless of temp i found when doing a lot of investigations with my glowplugs replacement.

Some people told me they don't come on unless it's -10 r some silly low level.

My car takes longer to start the colder it gets.

I tested main relay and voltage is present on all glowplugs, prior to changing the glow plugs it would take upto 15 seconds to fire up - but i did have a bad injector seal at the time too, oh and a shot egr and maf sensor....😁