coil light (spiral-looking light on the dash) issues...

Post by **T123** » 20 Apr 2008, 20:52

I think its called the coil light....its the spiral light that comes on when you start up from cold (waiting a few seconds before starting of course).
When i drive sometimes that light flashes in an erratic way....comes on and off. Any ideas?
Thx,
D

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 20 Apr 2008, 20:55

This is the lamp to indicate that the diesel heaters are operating.
It should go off when they reach temperature and then the engine should be cranked to start.
If it is flickering then I would suspect either a loose relay (maybe) or water in the relay or around the wiring.

Post by **ringo** » 20 Apr 2008, 20:59

If your talking about the glow plug light then that is weird!

Possibly the glow plugs are being turned on by the relay intermittently?

Check all your connections are on correctly first (and clean) around the glow plug bar and the relay (in the black plastic box in the engine bay)...

Ringo

Post by **T123** » 20 Apr 2008, 21:05

ringo wrote:If your talking about the glow plug light then that is weird!

Possibly the glow plugs are being turned on by the relay intermittently?

Check all your connections are on correctly first (and clean) around the glow plug bar and the relay (in the black plastic box in the engine bay)...

Ringo

Sounds like i have some cleaning to do. Is this a critical task to do? My van still works, but i figure i'll do it in a couple days.
Thx!

Post by **VWCamperfan** » 20 Apr 2008, 21:07

Should be fine not to put at top of list but your glow plugs may not appreciate being on for too long!

Post by **ringo** » 20 Apr 2008, 21:10

To be fair, it sounds like the glow plug relay has shot it.

I'd get one ordered and do the job complete when it comes.

If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

Post by **T123** » 20 Apr 2008, 21:45

Ok. Is it not enough to just clean around the glow plugs?
Thx guys!
Dave

Post by **andysimpson** » 20 Apr 2008, 21:50

ringo wrote:
If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Post by **T123** » 20 Apr 2008, 22:35

andysimpson wrote:
ringo wrote:
If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Eh.....thats not good. Then this should be on the top of my list!!!! What to do??? Can i just clean them?
D

Post by **andysimpson** » 20 Apr 2008, 22:51

T123 wrote:
andysimpson wrote:
ringo wrote:
If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Eh.....thats not good. Then this should be on the top of my list!!!! What to do??? Can i just clean them?
D

It won't be the glow plugs at fault, its either the relay or a wiring problem.

Post by **T123** » 20 Apr 2008, 23:23

andysimpson wrote:
T123 wrote:
andysimpson wrote:
If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Eh.....thats not good. Then this should be on the top of my list!!!! What to do??? Can i just clean them?
D

It won't be the glow plugs at fault, its either the relay or a wiring problem.

Where is this relay you speak of located? How do you suggest i proceed?
Cheers,
Dave

Post by **HarryMann** » 20 Apr 2008, 23:28

I think it's the one in the black junction box on the n/s engine-bay firewall , which also contains the 55A fusible link for the glo's

They are packed tight with wires and connectors and its not unknown for bad wiring to chaff and short out there, though think Andy suggestingt he relay itself could be the culprit...

Take a look and see if anything might be shorting on terminals in there..

Post by **andysimpson** » 21 Apr 2008, 00:22

HarryMann wrote:I think it's the one in the black junction box on the n/s engine-bay firewall , which also contains the 55A fusible link for the glo's

They are packed tight with wires and connectors and its not unknown for bad wiring to chaff and short out there, though think Andy suggestingt he relay itself could be the culprit...

Take a look and see if anything might be shorting on terminals in there..

The wires going to the relay are a disaster waiting to happen, to many wires in a place thats to small.

Post by **ringo** » 21 Apr 2008, 06:27

andysimpson wrote:
ringo wrote:
If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Interesting.

Whys that then?

Ringo

Post by **Syncro G** » 21 Apr 2008, 17:13

ringo wrote:
andysimpson wrote:
ringo wrote:
If the van starts then its not megga urgent - but it wont be doing the glow plugs much good...

Ringo

If the glow plugs are coming on when driving that is going to end in a dead engine.

Interesting.

Whys that then?

Ringo

Basicly the plugs will overheat in the already nice and hot combustion chamber, causing them to melt! Who knows where the bits will go and theres enough heat in the head of a fully warmed up diesel anyway, adding more is not what you want. That said I think some of the more fancy heaterplugs can regulate their temprature so they don't overheat - you'll want it working properly though obveously so why except less?

Ofocurse remember than because the warning lamp and the heaterplugs are both ran indipentantly from the relay, one's operation does not mean the other is nesiserally working. All the warning lamp tells you is the engine is not ready to start, the heaterplugs will run on breafly (I think at reduiced power) during cranking and very cold running. Try wireing a loud buzzer in parallel to the heaterplugs so you know when they are live, if it keeps going off at random you've got real problems. Then try removing the relay all together, if the lamp still blinks its the wireing to that, if not its probubly the relay. Remember that having a poke around in the box could disturb a short and make the simptoms go away, when it hasn't actully been fixed!