Flashing glow plug light

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missfixit70
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Flashing glow plug light

Post by missfixit70 » Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:07 pm

Turned the bongo around earlier & the glow plug light was flashing :shock: Thought it rang a bell as to being something to do with scavenger fan, couldn't remember what, so came inside to check the forum/factsheets, then had a silly thought, I'd disconnected the interior light feed from the leisure battery last night ( to see if it was causing a drain on my LB), so I tried plugging it back in - hey presto - problem solved :? Don't understand why & not going to try, don't really care, just glad it wasn't anything more complicated :D just thought I'd stick it on here in case it comes in useful to someone :D
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
csermanni

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by csermanni » Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:30 pm

Had the flashing glow-plug light on Thursday ...

We're on holiday in Northern Spain / Pyrenees ...
... the light started flashing and the engine power dropped ...
... wouldn't pull up hills, gear changes were very strange, gutless, could rarely go above 50mph, even downhill, there was no accelleration, seemed like a "limp home" mode ...

The conditions were very hot and we'd been driving ~5hrs, so I think it was temp related, but not the cooling system, which appeared fine ...
... because of the gear shifts, I thought it was gearbox related ...

Fortunately the problem disappeared after an overnight in a campsite, but I was mighty worried about how to get us home without ruining the holiday ...

Taking it easy on the throttle now, just in case ...

Apart from that, the Bongo has been superb ...
..., cruising effortlessly, air conditioned, carrying all the gear, high vantage point to see the country ...

... just hope we make it home . ..
vic swan

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by vic swan » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:20 pm

I did the usual leisure hattery conversion and one day the glowplug warning light was flashing. The relay to the leisure battery had failed and the battery had drained. Charged battery and everything was OK. It seems this warning light has a number of functions. :o
slingersurf

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by slingersurf » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:33 pm

Guy's it must be something in the air, collected my new toy yesterday (new shape tin top W reg), fitted a new stereo; simple job works fine. done a rew short runs and the glow plug light is flashing at me. checked all the fuses all ok. left her over night had a few ciders. went out today on short runs this morning all fine. this afternoon the light's flashing again, seems to have a loss of power as well. she's not over heating. any ideas, is it safe to use. will be going back to dealer if i can't sort it quickly.
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missfixit70
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Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by missfixit70 » Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:57 pm

The handbook says it is the scavenging fan warning light, so I'd work on that principal unless you can be sure it's something else, I'd do a search, vague memories of reading about the the sensor causing problems & not cutting the fan in?
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
telemalc

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by telemalc » Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:23 pm

hi,
i had a flashing glow plug light and it was a bad connection on fuse 1, pushed it in and out a few times and cured. later when i fitted a leisure battery i removed fuse 1 to power it from the LB, before i connected the LB the glow plug light flashed when the engine was running, connected the LB everything was ok.
it seems that you have to have a voltage to the fuse one circuit to stop the glow plug light flashing , although i dont know why
hope that helps
malc
BongoJim

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by BongoJim » Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:57 pm

csermanni wrote:Had the flashing glow-plug light on Thursday ...

We're on holiday in Northern Spain / Pyrenees ...
... the light started flashing and the engine power dropped ...
... wouldn't pull up hills, gear changes were very strange, gutless, could rarely go above 50mph, even downhill, there was no accelleration, seemed like a "limp home" mode ...

The conditions were very hot and we'd been driving ~5hrs, so I think it was temp related, but not the cooling system, which appeared fine ...
... because of the gear shifts, I thought it was gearbox related ...

Fortunately the problem disappeared after an overnight in a campsite, but I was mighty worried about how to get us home without ruining the holiday ...

Taking it easy on the throttle now, just in case ...

Apart from that, the Bongo has been superb ...
..., cruising effortlessly, air conditioned, carrying all the gear, high vantage point to see the country ...

... just hope we make it home . ..
Mine is doing the same !!

Did you make it home ?

If so did you ever find out what it was?

I am off to wheelquick friday morning to let them have a look, I hope it's simple as I have only had the van for a few weeks and haven't done more than 500 kms and supposed to be going camping Friday night for the first night out.
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mikeonb4c
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Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by mikeonb4c » Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:38 pm

Sounds like we could all do with any feedback you guys can give on the cause/cure for this one as it ought to be something non life threatening, but needs running to ground nonetheless :roll:
bigdaddycain
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Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by bigdaddycain » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:09 am

csermanni wrote:Had the flashing glow-plug light on Thursday ...

We're on holiday in Northern Spain / Pyrenees ...
... the light started flashing and the engine power dropped ...
... wouldn't pull up hills, gear changes were very strange, gutless, could rarely go above 50mph, even downhill, there was no accelleration, seemed like a "limp home" mode ...

The conditions were very hot and we'd been driving ~5hrs, so I think it was temp related, but not the cooling system, which appeared fine ...
... because of the gear shifts, I thought it was gearbox related ...

Fortunately the problem disappeared after an overnight in a campsite, but I was mighty worried about how to get us home without ruining the holiday ...

Taking it easy on the throttle now, just in case ...

Apart from that, the Bongo has been superb ...
..., cruising effortlessly, air conditioned, carrying all the gear, high vantage point to see the country ...

... just hope we make it home . ..
I'm thinking intercooler...All the pointers are there, pyrenees, thinner air,fully loaded, more strain, more heat generated,air conditioning on, another load on the engine, up hill down dale... If the intercooler is failing to cool the air enough to get it compressable, then the turbo's effectiveness will be compromised.

Take a look at the scoop near the bottom of the bumper, is it blocked, or even partially blocked? Have you any kind of accessory plate fitted to the bumper that could impede the airflow to the intake? Is the actual intercooler dirty?

I'm guessing here, but perhaps the glowplug light acts as the Limp home mode light also? If the bongo isn't capable of retarding it's own ignition automatically (no e.c.u. so it probably can't) Then perhaps the generic solution is limp home mode till the charge air is cool enough to be manageable?
ビッグダディケイン RIP Big Bank Hank (Imp the Dimp) 1957-2014
BongoJim

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by BongoJim » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:49 am

I'll have a look tonight. :wink:
csermanni

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by csermanni » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:10 pm

Hi,

We did get back ...

We stopped at a convenient campsite and the problem had gone by the morning and never reappeared ...
I lost a bit of confidence in it at that stage and took things easy with it from then on ...
After a few days, with it not happening again, we crossed a few high passes and it was back to its normal self ...

Never "missed a beat" apart from that incident ...

Charles
BongoJim

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by BongoJim » Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:26 am

Right here's the latest and it's a big post.

Friday

I got back in the van to take it to wheequick and the warning light had stopped flashing. (engine cold so as expected, this makes me believe that it's temp related rather than air intercooler blockage).

We changed the ECT sensor at wheelquick ( one in the block ) more as preventative than believing it was the the problem.We ran th van for ages trying to get it to fail and of course it wouldn't.


Saturday

I took it camping on Saturday morning, weather V.Hot and drove it over to the yorkshire dales hilly and single track 80 miles + with full kit for both of us, ababy and dog after about 50 miles the warning light came on again. it would bairly pull skin of custard. So we pulledover I messed around with the sensoron top of the van with the ignition on and the scavenger fan kicked in, ignition off and it ran for a good 5 -> 10 mins and the warning light stopped flashing and van back to normal.

I've a none standard cover over the top of the engine as sound profing put on by the previous owner so when at the campsite I took this off. Believing that this may be blocking airflow to the top sensor next to the handbrake.

Engine temp does not move passed 11 o'clock

Sunday

Packed up all the kit. Drove another 50 miles through some very hill country single track lanes (really stressing the van in hot weather, with air con on full) no warning light (feeling smug :lol: )

Spent a couple of hours in yorkshire maybe did another 25 miles. then set off to come home 120 miles after an hour on the A1M (70 -75 mphish) heading to the M62 80miles to go flashing glow plug again :cry:

I stopped at the services did the disconnect on the sensor thing and cooled the van down. but 25 miles from home it came on again.

Monday

I've rang the mazda garage to see if they have a engine bay temp sensor in stock and waiting for the call back. had the call it's not a good part number.

The way I see it is it's either a faulty sensor, a pants connection or a dodge earth somewhere.

I've had a look at the loom across the top of the handbrake bit and traced it towards the dash and can see no damage.

where are the earth's for this circuit located on the car ?
does anybody have the circuits and are located in the northwich area ?
Anybody had the same issue ? and if so what fixed it ?
BongoJim

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by BongoJim » Mon Jul 28, 2008 10:12 am

and I broke a pole in my khyam motordome --- :cry:

oh flip!
BongoJim

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by BongoJim » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:27 pm

BongoJim wrote: The way I see it is it's either a faulty sensor, a pants connection or a dodge earth somewhere.

I've had a look at the loom across the top of the handbrake bit and traced it towards the dash and can see no damage.

where are the earth's for this circuit located on the car ?
does anybody have the circuits and are located in the northwich area ?
Anybody had the same issue ? and if so what fixed it ?
anybody local ?
slingersurf

Re: Flashing glow plug light

Post by slingersurf » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:00 pm

I have the same problem as stated above; but as i have a newer drive by wire w reg tin top the guys at star garage pluged it into the diagnostic hand held. it came up with 3 faults (EGR, Vacume relay & 1 other) the chaps say it has 2 EGR valves fitted to the new shape & mine have been changed already. this leads to the vac relay( not available of the shelf). as i am paranoid about overheating i have kept an eye on temp gauge; does not move above 11 o'clock. by fiddling with all the connectors in the drivers side engine bay except the temp probe by the hand brake ( with ignition off) it stops the flashing; for a day or so. i also believe the engine management system resets itself when the ignition is turned on & off. it is a safe mode warning light that reduces power from the engine, more frustrating than dissaster. i will keep you all posted on the out come when the relay is replaced( under warranty).
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