Symptoms of Faulty Glow Plugs and Timer
Common signs include unusual sounds coming from the vehicle, difficulty starting the vehicle, and the glow plug indicator light coming on.
Glow plugs and glow plug timers are engine management components found on vehicles equipped with diesel engines. Instead of using spark plugs to ignite, diesel engines rely on cylinder pressure and temperature to ignite the fuel mixture. Because temperatures can be significantly lower during cold starts and in cold weather, glow plugs are used to heat the engine's cylinders to the appropriate temperature to ensure proper combustion. They are so called because when current is applied to them, they glow bright orange.
The glow plug timer is the component that controls the glow plugs by setting the amount of time they stay on, making sure they stay on long enough for the cylinders to warm up properly, but not so long that the glow plugs get damaged or accelerated. wear.
Because glow plugs and their timer play an important role in starting a car, failure of any of these components can cause problems with vehicle handling. Usually, a faulty or faulty glow plug will cause several symptoms that can alert the driver to a potential problem.
1. Heavy launch
One of the first symptoms that is usually associated with a faulty timer or glow plugs is hard starting. Faulty glow plugs will not be able to provide the extra heat needed to start the engine properly, and a faulty timer can cause them to fire at incorrect intervals. Both problems can cause engine starting problems, which can be especially noticeable during cold starts and in cold weather. The engine may take more starts than usual before starting, it may take several attempts before it starts, or it may not start at all.
2. The glow plug indicator lights up
Another symptom of a potential problem with diesel glow plugs or their timer is a glowing glow plug light. Some diesel vehicles will be equipped with an indicator in the instrument cluster that will illuminate or flash if the computer detects a problem with the glow plug system. The indicator is usually a line in the form of a spiral or coil, resembling a wire thread, amber in color.
3. Check Engine light comes on.
A lit Check Engine light is another sign of a possible problem with the glow plugs or the timer. If the computer detects a problem with the circuit or signal of any of the glow plugs or the timer, it will turn on the check engine light to notify the driver of the problem. The light usually comes on after the car has already started having trouble starting. The Check Engine light can also be activated by a variety of other issues, so it is highly recommended that you scan your computer for trouble codes.
Although replacing the glow plug timer is not usually considered a scheduled service, glow plugs usually have a recommended service interval to avoid potential problems. If your vehicle exhibits any of the above symptoms, or you suspect that your glow plugs or timer may be having problems, have a professional technician, such as one from AvtoTachki, have your vehicle inspected to determine if any are needed. or components. replace.
