Glow Plug Warning Car Dashboard Light
Glow Plug (Diesel): This light shows that the engine’s glow plugs are warming up and that the engine should not be started until this light goes out.
Diesel engines need preheating before starting, particularly when starting from cold, and the glow plug serves as a starting assistance. The Glow Plug Indicator will glow for a few seconds after the ignition switch is switched on, then turn off. The engine may be started after the indication has gone out. The duration of lighting varies based on the ambient temperature, the temperature of the water, and the state of the batteries. If the engine makes a false start, turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/OFF position for 10 seconds, then turn the ignition switch to the ON position for the preheating to occur again, and start the engine once the Glow Plug Indicator goes off. If the Glow Plug Indicator continues to illuminate after a few seconds or flashes on and off after the engine has warmed up, or comes on while driving, turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
What Exactly Are Glow Plugs?
A glow plug is a part of your car that aids in the starting of your diesel-powered engine. They’re especially important in colder climates, since cold weather may prohibit diesel engines from starting at all. To start correctly, diesel engines depend on the heat generated by compression in the chamber. When a diesel engine is without an external source of heat and is also exposed to very cold temperatures, the engine will not start. Diesel glow plugs are the answer to this problem!
It’s critical to understand not just how glow plugs operate and how to change them, but also how to keep your vehicle running in the winter. Because roadside breakdowns may be very hazardous, it’s critical to have the expertise required to resolve these problems no matter where you are.
Glow Plugs: How Do They Work?
In order to function, an engine needs not only air and fuel, but also an ignition point. Glow plugs work by heating the tiny coil of wire within the plug, also known as the element, with the help of a 1.5v battery located in the glow plug ignitor. In certain modern cars, this battery is occasionally seen installed on-board.
The kind of gasoline used in the vehicle, as well as the material of the element, will influence how hot it remains after the engine has started. The element, which is made up of many distinct metals alloyed together, will come into touch with methanol-containing fuel, and the interaction between the two will cause a catalytic reaction. The platinum is heated in this process, which also ignites the methanol.
Is the light on your Glow Plug Indicator flashing?
If your Glow Plug Indicator is flashing, it means that your vehicle’s ECU (engine management unit) has detected a fault that could be related to the glow plugs, the glow plug light, the glow plug control module, or even sensors that aren’t necessarily directly related to the glow plug igniter itself. When the ECU identifies a potential problem, it records diagnostic data that qualified mechanics using code readers may extract and analyze.
When the Glow Plug Indicator sign appears on your car, it is probable that your vehicle will enter “safe mode” to avoid engine damage. When your car is in safe mode, you will notice a significant decrease in performance. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may be safe to drive the car for very limited distances until you can fully diagnose and fix it.
Dealing with your glow plug indicator sign flickering may be very frustrating, as can dealing with your glow plug indicator not lighting up at all. Both are warning indications of a problem inside your car that may cause severe damage, therefore it is critical that you get the vehicle properly examined as soon as possible, avoid highway driving at all times, and never presume that the symbol is shown by mistake.
6 Symptoms of a Bad Glow Plug
1 . Difficulty Starting the Vehicle
You can’t start a diesel engine with faulty glow plugs. A defective glow plug will not produce enough heat to preheat the cylinder and ignite the gasoline.
If it cannot generate heat quickly enough, it may take many tries to start the car. The car will not start at all if the glow plugs are almost dead and the ambient temperature is below freezing.
2.Poor engine power
after a difficult start, bad glow plugs will make it difficult for your car to run properly, due to improper combustion which reduces power and efficiency.
3. Slow Acceleration
While you can start a diesel engine with a faulty glow plug, the vehicle will not perform optimally. When you floor the accelerator without producing much speed, you will notice the first indication of decreased performance.
Poor acceleration may also be caused by other engine issues. However, if you observe any of these additional faulty glow plug symptoms in addition to poor acceleration, the cause is most likely one or more of your glow plugs.
4. Misfiring
Backfiring exhaust may create a slew of problems in your car. It happens when the gasoline fails to ignite properly inside the cylinder. Because the glow plug is so important in igniting fuel, you may presume that a misfire in a diesel engine is caused by your glow plugs.
5. Dark or White Exhaust Smoke
Several causes may contribute to dark gray or black exhaust smoke. If the issue is with the combustion process, you may have a problem with the glow plugs.
Dark smoke while accelerating is more frequent in diesel engines, but if this symptom happens with others on our list, a broken glow plug may be to blame.
6.Check Engine Light
Faulty glow plugs may cause the check engine light to illuminate, and when scanned with an OBD2 scanner, you will get a glow-plug-related error code such as P0380, which translates to “Glow Plug/Heater Circuit ‘A’ Malfunction.”
P0381, P0382, P0383, P0384, P0670, P0671, P0672, P0673, P0674, P0675, P0676, P0677, P0678, P0679, P0680, P0681, P0682, P0683, and P0684 are additional glow plug-related diagnostic problem codes.
When should your glow plug control module be replaced?
Replacing your glow plugs or glow plug control module is a simple job that should be done every 60,000 miles (95,000 km). This will assist to guarantee that you don’t discover they’ve gone bad on a very chilly day.
HOW TO TEST THE GLOW PLUG?
READ HERE: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-test-diesel-glow-plugs-by-ed-ruelas
Thank you -Erwin