Does the glow plug warning light on the dash light up when the car is started?

I started the FL2 this morning outside temperature 5 Deg and noticed that the glow plug warning light did not come on.

Even just turning on the ignition without starting the warning light does not come on even for a second or two.

Is this normal, and does the outside temperature have to be below 0 Deg for the glow plugs to work.

I would appreciate other member checking thier dash warning light when starting from cold, have i got a fault? Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

mine came on whilst the car paused this morning before ignition kicked in

it was reading -2c  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I don't think there is a conventional glow-plug warning light.

If the glow-plugs need to pre-heat - then the engine merely delays starting, until the glow-plugs have reached the correct temp.

As such, what you will notice is the engine start delay, meaning that nothing happens for a few seconds after you have pressed the start button, on a cold morning.

.........just checked the Manual - and yes there is a "glow plugs active" warning light !

Never seen it work on mine yet, I just have the engine start delay on cold mornings...........

Thanks guys, are you saying that the temperature has to be low for the delay to occur and hence the warning light to come on?

Fl2 starts ok, bit of smoke out the back but no delay in starting.

Can someone just try switching on the ignition without starting and see if the warning light comes on.

Thanks. Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

yes, the temp has to be lower than zero (in my experience) for the engine start delay to be necesary.

Today, over here is +5 or +6 degrees, and it just starts immediately. It sounds like yours is working completely normally.


Wait to see what happens below zero degrees.


PS - if you want to avoid the smoke - try looking at some of the YF 2-stroke oil posts........

Thanks All, perhaps I am looking for faults it must be reading all the posts on everybody elses problems.

Used to more simpler vehicles that didn,t have a "Brain".

Will wait for it to reach Minus 5 Deg before I shout "Fault"

Looking forward to my pre-heater working again, any news on the parts yet? Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

Lowest temp I've seen with my car is -6c, but in all the time I've had it I've never seen the glow plug warning light and never experienced a delay before the starter activates. The starter has always burst into life on first touch of the button. Strange ... Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

Avtur, that's pretty well my experience, thats why I was wondering if I had a fault.

Anyway will wait to hear from other forum members on their experience!

Thanks for your reply Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

Had my car 2 weeks and have seen the glow plug light several times before start up, both as a delayed start and putting the ignition on first. Lowest temp I've seen was-2degC

The light is there on my Nov07' car definitely.

Checked this morning 0 Degs outside temp, still no glow plug light. Engine started ok.

What outside temp does it have to be for the light to come on??

It seems earlier vehicles show the glow plug light whilst later ones maybe don't.

Any comments, would this be software related.

I suppose if the engine starts why worry!! Freelander 2 TD4 GS Auto with Winter Pack, Stornaway Grey, Ebony, Grey Mirror Caps. Removable towbar with 13 pin Electrics

PJW wrote:

I suppose if the engine starts why worry!!

That's the approach I've adopted.

Same logic holds good for other 'features' on the car, so as long as it keeps going, I keep quiet  Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

Has been a very cold night here in South Manchester.

Decided to check the temp and see if glow plug warning light wanted to work.

I turned the ingnition on, without starting, and did see the glow plug warning light, not for long a second, two at most. Temp was showing as -6c; then depressed clutch and (as usual) it started instantly.

Another reason for trying this was more to do with checking battery than the glow warning light, having experienced a couple of flat batteries recently I thought a -6c cold start would be more testing.

Pleased that it behaved itself  Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

Saw this for the first time yesterday. Just briefly flashed on before starting

-4C this weekend and the light came on - briefly but was there. 07 RRS Java Black

Ex - '56 FL2 SE TD4 manual, Narvik Black, Tinted Glass, Cool Blue LEDS Internal and puddle/wing mirror lights. Smoked side repeats. Genuine Imatation Walnut facia