Glow plug light & electrical problems

Post by **Hdickins** » 04 Feb 2007, 15:05

My van is misbehaving. While I'm driving along, the glow-plug light will come on intermittently. Also, while the glow-plug light is on, the rest of the electrics (lights, wipers, fan etc.) will sometimes flicker off.

I imagine that some other part of the system is draining through the glow-plug circuit; but how can I isolate the problem? I've tried removing fuses and looking for visual clues of a wiring fault; but of course - with an intermittent problem - it won't go wrong when I want it to!

If anyone has any advice (or even encouragement) it'd be gratefully received - before I tear all of my hair out!

The van is a 1990 1.6 turbo-diesel.

Thanks!

Howard

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 04 Feb 2007, 18:05

Bad earth, probably on dash.possibly on multi plug or back at fuse box earth spider.

Post by **Hdickins** » 04 Feb 2007, 21:12

Thanks. I'll see what I can find.

(I'll have to see if I can find out what a "fuse-box earth-spider" is though... It sounds scary!)

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 04 Feb 2007, 23:38

Above fuse box is a load of brown wires, there are earths, they are connected via crimps to a connector that screws to the body, not dissimilar to a spider!

Post by **Hdickins** » 06 Feb 2007, 22:00

Yup. Found them. Like little copper crowns!

I've managed to give them a bit of a clean - but the problem still persists.
It could be that I just need to clean them better (I used a wire brush - after taking off the connectors obviously.)