Last winter the glow plug lights lit up but all through the summer they did not. now it's getting colder I would have expected them to light up but still no "Piggy Tail" lighting up..
Is this normal until the weather gets more severe or do I have a problem? Offset your Carbon emissions by boycotting Baked Beans and all Green Vegitables.

I think it has to get pritty cold first, but I need to get mine checked as I never had the glow plug light come on last year, but it still started ok (maybe the lamps gone!).

Richard FL2 07 TD4 GS Auto
Ex 02 TD4 Auto

Not yet cold enough for the glow plugs to have to work. First indication that glow plugs are pre-heating will be a delay in starting, length of delay will increase as temperature drops and could be as long as 30 seconds when it's really cold.

Glow plug light should illuminate as part of the self test function when you first turn on the power and then go out. Easy way to check is press the start button without pressing brake/clutch pedal and that will power up car without starting and give you all the lights as the self test cycles through.

Was at Craigendarroch near Ballater on 2nd March 2010 with 1 day old FL2, pressed starter button and a delay of some 10 seconds before starter opperated.
Display read "awaiting heater plug completion" when engine started it then read -16 yes minus 16
They worked, quite a few starting problems at hotel that morning. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

This is useful info for a FL newbie like me

OK car went in for service and the problem of the glow Plugs not lighting up on ignition test was brought to the Main Dealers attention.
My answer was thus.....as told to me by the service engineer....."Freelanders Gow Plugs do not illuminate."
"No faults were found by the computer diagnostics and the Glow Plugs were operating fine."



Do dah do dah......."why had they used to light up now dont" I asked.
Engineer said that there was probably a fault that has now corrected itself !!!!

Anyone with technical knowledge able to help here please before I go back to the dealers. Offset your Carbon emissions by boycotting Baked Beans and all Green Vegitables.

Last edited by EXPENCELANDER on 22nd Dec 2011 10:56 pm. Edited 1 time in total

According to the Owners Manual (Page 44 MY11) - Warning Lamps it states:

DIESEL GLOW PLUGS (AMBER)
Illuminates when the ignition is
switched on to indicate that the
glow plugs are active. Wait until the
lamp extinguishes before starting the engine.

The Dealer has been told this when I took the car in for service.

My own thought is twofold, 1. Has the bulb failed and if so why has it not shown on the diagnostics! 2. If the bulb has not failed how come it does not illuminate!.

One would expect a Main Dealer to have the answers to this simple problem, if at all it is a problem. Offset your Carbon emissions by boycotting Baked Beans and all Green Vegitables.

It might just be down to the mild temperatures this winter - if the glow plugs don't kick in but the car still starts ok then surely it isn't cold enough yet - give it a few weeks and that situation might change though  Cheers,
Raz
FL1 TD4 GS Auto 2001 Silver
FL2 TD4 Auto 2007 Black
FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2012 Fuji White

rchrdleigh wrote:

According to the Owners Manual (Page 44 MY11) - Warning Lamps it states:

DIESEL GLOW PLUGS (AMBER)
Illuminates when the ignition is
switched on to indicate that the
glow plugs are active. Wait until the
lamp extinguishes before starting the engine.

press stop start without your foot on a pedal = ignition only At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Mine, I just hit the start button, on a warm day it turns over straight away, on a cooler day I get a slight delay before it cranks, on the really cold days I will get the message "Cranking Will Commence After Glow Period" and it starts.

MAYBE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE FROM THE EARLIER MODELS OF 2007 TO THE LATEST ONES.
Mine is 2007 and the glow plugs lit up during the summer so waiting until it is cold enough is not on..

As for using the non Brake system, it gives an indication that al is well without starting the engine., plus it activates the glow plugs. Offset your Carbon emissions by boycotting Baked Beans and all Green Vegitables.

MY 07 ONE DID THE SAME

"One would expect a Main Dealer to have the answers to this simple problem, if at all it is a problem."

Not a chance I'm afraid, do not take what a dealer says as gospel. Some appear to have less knowledge than those on the forum !

When its in the minus temp my glow plug light comes on and it doesn't start till its ready !