.........anyone know when the glowplugs should be replaced, just as routine maintenance ?

There isn't a defined period when the glow plugs must be replaced.
Their life is direct dependant on the temperature conditions where the car is being used.
The glow plugs are used only when the external temperature is dropping below 5 degrees Celsius.
So, in extremis, a car that is being used in climates where the temperatures are above 5 degrees doesn't require the glow plugs to be changed ever, because they are never used.
So, the lower the climate, the more glow plugs are used and the greater the chance that they'll fail.
Therefore, excepting the conditions when a glow plug failure is obviously - invariable poor starting when cold, rough running in extreme cold, etc - they must be checked periodically.
Checking could be done by you using a commercially available DMM (digital multimeter) or by the dealer using the multimeter function of the IDS system, measuring the resistance of the glow plugs.
During the on-vehicle resistance test, all electrical connectors of the glow plugs must be removed and for each glow plug, the first multimeter probe must be connected to the glow plug's electrical connector and the second probe must be connected directly to the engine block or a good earth point.
Values:
- Infinite resistance: Glow-plug filament damaged (glow plug defective).
- Resistance less than 1.0 Ohms: Glow-plug filament not damaged (glow plug OK).

Where do you get your information from

The "coil" light comes on in my D3 and SWMBO FL2 regardless of external temperature. ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Technical Training
Freelander 2 TD4 EMS (Engine Management System)
Lesson 2 - Component Description
Glow Plug System.


Don't worry. Everything I've said on the forum is well documented and/or thourougly experienced in one of my friend's auto workshop.
See here: https://www.freel2.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11383/glows.pdf

And the "coil" light is also used for MIL purposes. On start-up, the coil lamp indicates, on some cars with certain software versions, that besides pre-ignition glow phase also the "System checking" phase is in progress.

Last edited by alex_pescaru on 4th Apr 2010 6:41 pm. Edited 7 times in total

Ive never seen mine in 2plus years ! But its been cold than minus 5  2008 Td4 Freelander2 GS - santorini black.
Hse alloys, privacy tints, LR side steps, LR seat covers, LR boot mat.

.........thanks alex_pescaru, very informative

alex_pescaru wrote:

Technical Training
Freelander 2 TD4 EMS (Engine Management System)
Lesson 2 - Component Description
Glow Plug System.


Don't worry. Everything I've said on the forum is well documented and/or thourougly experienced in one of my friend's auto workshop.
See here: https://www.freel2.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11383/glows.pdf

And the "coil" light is also used for MIL purposes. On start-up, the coil lamp indicates, on some cars with certain software versions, that besides pre-ignition glow phase also the "System checking" phase is in progress.

Many thanks for sharing your knowledge Alex
Its great when somebody bothers to write down the technical stuff that is correct and not just hearsay

I have noted that our Freelys glowplug warning coil light, always illuminates when there is a delay during cold starting. Have never seen this illuminate under "normal" starting, but then I have never looked for it I guess. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

You are too kind with me. I am just trying to help if possible.

redlabel wrote:

Do you have the tech guide for changing the plugs as well Alex? You have to dismantle the exhaust manifold?

Thanks very much for that Alex. My car always displays the glowplug light in colder temperatures, followed by a couple of second delay prior to cranking. Is there an average life of glow plugs, or has anyone had any failures on their FL2's???  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

alex_pescaru wrote:

You are too kind with me. I am just trying to help if possible.

redlabel wrote:

Do you have the tech guide for changing the plugs as well Alex? You have to dismantle the exhaust manifold?

The manual says yes. Only working on it can be said if it is possible otherwise.
Here's below a link to the workshop procedure.
https://www.freel2.com/gallery/albums/user...access.zip

Thanks mate. Will look into that.
Want to measure them first, but not sure if that is possible without removing the manifold? FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

Thanks to the info provided by Alex I've just been trying to investigate whether the glow plugs on our car have expired or not, and failed pretty miserably (following a non start in cold weather episode a couple of weeks back).

I had hoped that I would at least be able to check continuity to the glow plugs without having to dismantle much more than the engine cover, but that is not the case (see picture 1. It is just about possible to see the right most glow plug and that's the lot (see picture 2).

So I thought that I'd try and get clever and check further back in the wiring, the obvious place being the glow plug fuse (number 4). I disconnected one of the wires on the fuse clamps (see picture 3). With the key out and the car unlocked, one side (top end) still had 12v on it, so I checked continuity from the other (lower end, the green and red cable) and I find no continuity. So does this mean that there is a downstream relay between the fuse and the glow plugs, or that all 4 glow plugs are dead? It's strange that there is a 12v supply to the glow plugs even with the ignition off. There is also a relay (number 4) in the fuse box which also shows as feeding the glow plugs, so I tried removing that, and I still had a 12v feed to the glow plug fuse. I'm guessing that there is some kind of downstream control box which has a deactivated relay in it, but I have no ideas where.

Does anyone have a wiring diagram that might shed some light on how I can get electrical access to the glow plugs without having to remove the entire inlet manifold, so that I can find out if they are or are not dead?

thanks,
Andy

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

Page 24,25,28
Anyway, they are all in parallel and therefore you can't know if one of them is faulty or not, unless you test them individually.

Hi Alex,

Thanks for that.

I realize that I wouldn't be able to check them individually like this, I was hoping just to see if any were working or not (ever the pessimist!)

Looking at that diagram (p28) it seems like there is a connector where I might be able to test them individually - C11X? Would you know where to find this connector, if indeed it is a connector?

Thanks for your continuing assistance!

Andy

It is a connector, indeed.
Look below. C11X and its pair C11Y.
Each pin (4 pins) coresponds to one glow plug.
Be sure to check the C11Y, the one that leads to glow plugs...