glow plug lights

[rubyvan]

Hi
took my van (1.6jx) for a run out and noticed a few problems The glow plug light comes on when the lighs are on with the temp guage not working at all or ifit does only when the lights are on. Also when stopped the little auxillary water pump keeps on and on and on, it only stops when I turn the lights on or if I physically pull out the connections to the pump!
I have checked the wiring to the water sensor and seems fine.
Could this be an earthing problem or a relay(number43??) issue???
cheers
steve

[noggintom]

Hi there,

No real experience of this particular set of problems but my guess would be an earth fault. There are too many seemingly unconnected things going wrong together (e.g. glow plug light and headlights). The glow plug light circuitry is separate from the plugs themselves if I recall correctly, therefore the light can come on even if the plugs are getting no power - just the relay is working and sending the correct signal to the light.

First port of call would be the two 'earth crowns' on the left bulkhead. The majority of the dash earths end up here. Take each earth connection off carefully and clean it up as well as the part of the crown it connects to. After 20 or so years these get dirty/wet/knackered and a good clean up is well worth it even if it does not solve the problem (it will probably fix others!).

Good luck!

Tom.