Glowplugs?

Post by **Balaclava** » 01 Jul 2007, 09:07

I've looked at the Wiki but nothing there. I'm presuming T25 deisel engines have glowplugs like all other deisels, right?

I can't start my engine. The battery is fine and it tries to catch, almost but not quite. Put yet another new alternator belt on this morning. I've gone through about six in the past four months!

Do I need to relace the glowplugs? There looks like four of them.
1.6 turbo, deisel, water cooled. B reg van, engine a bit younger.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 01 Jul 2007, 14:07

Have a search on the forum, it`s been talked through a few times. It`s a fiddly job, but not impossible, as many have done it.

Post by **peasant** » 01 Jul 2007, 14:30

Six alternator belts in four months is far from normal.
I'd hazard a guess and say your alternator is borked and not running freely. If that's the case it might have in turn fried your battery that while still showing a charge just doesn't deliver sufficient current to get the glow plugs working properly.

I'd start by looking at the alt/battery before fiddling with the plugs.

E D I T:
Is your starter still turning properly? If that's the case my above theory with the low ooomph battery is null and void

Post by **Chunkmama** » 02 Jul 2007, 13:17

I had the same problem a while back I didn't think it was my glowplugs as the van had recently been serviced but turns out one was dodgy, it was replaced and all was fine again. Used to take an age of turning over to get the van to start and yes it felt like it wanted to but wouldn't 'catch' and would eventually whilst filling the street with plumes of smoke.

Post by **Balaclava** » 02 Jul 2007, 13:22

Yes, you described what happened exactly.
It wouldn't start this morning so I fiddled around with a few wires and it it started fine.
I wonder if it is still ok? I think I'll go out right now and give it a go.

Post by **Balaclava** » 02 Jul 2007, 13:30

Yup, started fine!

So what next is gonna go wrong?

Post by **ringo** » 02 Jul 2007, 13:54

Balaclava wrote:Yup, started fine!

So what next is gonna go wrong?

What did you do to fix it ? Was it the glow plugs ? Sorry, i read the post but im not sure who described what correctly...

Ringo

Post by **Balaclava** » 04 Jul 2007, 16:33

Well I pulled out a few wires and pushed them back in again basically!!! It worked for a while but now it's playing up again. Sometimes it will start straight away and other times it just keeps chugging away trying to catch then for no particular reason it will just go.
Maybe I will have to change the glowplugs after all.

Post by **Other-Power** » 06 Jul 2007, 09:24

Had a similar problem with my van when i first got it.

One morning it desided it wasnt going to start and that was that. So i ordered up 4 new glow plugs £30 with P+P. Next day got them and changed them over to find that only one of the plugs was still working, so my van had been turning over on just 2.

After changing the plugs it was great, the enigne turned over first time everytime, then slowly got worse. I desided to chech the wiring runing up to the plugs and found that the extra load of all four plugs working combine with 27 year old wiring ment very very hot wire and a very white fuse.

I changed all the wiring and doubled up on thickness put a new fuse in and now the engine starts better then ever.

Might help.

Jon

Post by **Balaclava** » 06 Jul 2007, 14:47

Hi Jon, I finally managed to get it going this morning and took it straight down to Jacks Garage in Notting Hill. They know their stuff!

Young Aussie mechanic changed the relay box. The old one was rusty and worn. It seems to be ok now! He was taken aback somewhat at the dirty state of my old engine and asked me when I had last had it serviced. I had to own up that it had never been serviced since I bought it almost two years ago!
We'll see how it goes over the next few days. Fingers crossed.

Post by **Chunkmama** » 16 Jul 2007, 13:21

Never serviced - shame on you! Have you had your oil changed atleast?

Post by **BiC** » 17 Jul 2007, 09:46

My van almost always had to have the starter handle pulled all the way out to get it started - 1600cc 1989 T25 - lots of smoke. Got worse then failed to start.

£100 full service by a local mobile mechanic, followed by 4 new hot plugs (£8 each; 3 were defective) and its been great ever since. Starts first click and never need the choke/handle anymore.

Get it serviced every 12 montsh mate. Well worth the welly.