The Glow Plug light on the dash doesn't illuminate and an OBD scan throws up a glow plug fault, I've checked the fuses, including the big one at the side of the engine fuse box and they're OK.

Anyone know where should I look/test next?

You won't get a illuminating glow plug light until the outside temperature is below 5c.
Modern diesels start easier due to the engines ECU monitoring the correct amount of fuel at high pressure and the glow plugs heat up quicker at around 1000c which results in a quicker start. The ECU activates the glow plugs every 2 minutes during the warm up process to reduce emissions this causes the glow plugs to wear out quite quickly after a few years of service.
If your glow plugs aren't working check the glow plug relay module. If that is working then your fault will be due to failed glow plugs.
I changed mine last winter as it took me 3 minutes of cranking over to get the engine to start. The glow plugs are a pain to replace as you need to remove the egr valve and manifold to gain access to the plugs.

Thanks for the reply.

I should have said that the indicator light doesn't even illuminate during the initial self-test with the rest of the dash lights when you first start the engine.

I've swapped the relay with one of the others in the engine fuse box, with no change, so assume that is OK.

Does anyone know if the output of the relay goes directly to the glow plugs and the d.c. resistance of a glow plug.

If I know that I could measure the resistance between the relay output connector to ground to determine if and how many plugs had failed before I start taking things apart.

A Good working Glow plug should give you a resistance of 1 oms some people may say 1.5 oms is good anything higher is bad. Problem you will find is that it is very difficult to test all the plugs due to the manifold covering them.
I would also check to see if your glow plug wiring harness is feeding 12 volt to the glow plugs as if the Ecu doesn't detect a 12v feed you wont get the glow plug lamp test due to a open circuit.

If your doing a current draw test a working glow plug should draw around 7.5 amps when warm.

Thanks again.

I am getting 12V to one side of the relay contacts, so guess I'm going to have to get my hands dirty and get to the plugs themselves.

You need to check if your getting 12v to the plugs also as it could be a brake in the glow plug wiring loom.
When you dismantle make sure you get replacement manifold gaskets as these perish and its always best to replace whilst your do the job.

I've measured the resistance between the output of the relay and earth at 1.2 ohms which would seem to imply that 3 of them have gone open circuit but the loom is OK.
Although with a bit of resistance in one of the connectors, it could be anyone's guess at how many have actually failed.

Unfortunately I don't have an Ammeter capable of measuring much more than 5 A.

I think it's time to see how good French third party guarantees are

Thanks for your help.

Re the light not coming on when you do ignition on, I don't think it lights up anyway

We changed my plugs awhile back and tbh last winter think we only saw the light a few times and its off very quick. Nothing like a normal glow system that always lights on start up, not really a fan of the push button for this reason tbh, would rather a key

Dan Freelander 57 plate XS Blue Auto

Offshore1987 wrote:

Re the light not coming on when you do ignition on, I don't think it lights up anyway

Not mine, sometimes the engine light comes on for the test and sometimes it does not. Seems to make its own mind up

The funny thing I have noticed is that when I start mine up with the hawkeye plugged in the glow plugs really do come on and do their thing, but the light doesn't show up on the dash, the light only seems to show up when the temp is below 4 oc on mine and then its only on for around 1/2 seconds before it goes back out.

When we replaced the plugs all 4 were not working and it still started all be it rough

The way the starting is on a freelander 2 is kinda poor in my opinion, the old 300tdi defender I had was much better at starting and knowing what was going on  Freelander 57 plate XS Blue Auto

Thanks, it just odd that the Glow Plug lamp is the only one of the four in the information panel not illuminated during the self-test.

We haven't had a temperature >4 deg yet, so will have to see what happens when we do.

Subjectively, the glow plug light appears to indicate that engine start is being delayed pending plug warm up, rather than simply that the plugs are energised. So I only ever see it when the temperature is close to freezing or below, it doesn't come on during normal starts.

Just wonder where I can the relay for the glow plug.
And it should be nice to know what every relay is for also.

Quote:

Just wonder where I can the relay for the glow plug.
And it should be nice to know what every relay is for also.

taztastic wrote:

https://www.freel2.com/gallery/albums/user...TS_LHD.pdf

Page 44, looks like R208

I know it's the Summer (or so I'm told), but when the ignition first comes on, should the Diesel Glow Plug waning light come on for a few moments before extinguishing? ..so you know the circuit is working?

At the moment I'm not seeing anything! Any advice please?

Thanks

David

Freelander2
2.2 Diesel.
57 plate.

Rookie error! Check what others have said before! So am I right in saying that I shouldn't expect any indicator light during system test UNLESS the outside temp is 5 degrees or less?