Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ?

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Sat 23 Feb 2013 15:11
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Englishbullterrier

Recently aquired vehicle. Lovely condition, inside and out. However, 123k miles.

Totally fully up to date service history with cambelt etc done at 89k.

However, needs to be cranked 2 or 3 times (with starter engaged longer than usual) to start car in this cold weather. Never failed to start yet however.

Seems to be firing on 2 only on these first attempts, so I suspect glow plugs.

I've changed glows on Astra 1.7Cdti and also my old (non-common rail) diesel Escort, but never on a Focus.

Can anyone tell me if it's a fairly straight forward job ?

Many thanks........................ebt

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Sat 23 Feb 2013 15:20
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Collos25

Do turn the starter straight away or do you wait 30 secs for the glow plugs to warm up before starting.

They are easy to change providing they are not ceased take them out leave them connected and see if they glow red

Edited by Collos25 on 23/02/2013 at 15:22

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Sat 23 Feb 2013 16:58
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Englishbullterrier

No, I never crank straight away.

I ALWAYS, wait until glow light has gone out and then for 5 seconds more, as most cars keep them on even after light is turned off.

Sometimes I will even cycle them off and back on again (with ignition key) to ensure they're nice and hot.

I normally test them straight across a battery.

Thanks...........ebt

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Tue 12 Mar 2013 10:14
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Englishbullterrier

b*****, just been and had a look. No feed to glowplugs.

No fuse 3 or 24 AND both relays 166 and 167 missing in engine compartment fuse box.

Think it's been raided at some point !

Off to scrappie today, in the freezing cold.

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Sat 23 Feb 2013 18:37
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Avant

Moved to Technical.

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Tue 12 Mar 2013 16:44
Focus 1.8Tdci Zetec - Slow starting - glow plugs suspected ? - Englishbullterrier

Might have b***** known Haynes would be wrong. Those relays and fuses are for auxilliary water heaters !

It's relay 9 in the engine fuse/relay box, but I have no idea what fuse feeds it.

Anyhoo, I have 12v at pin 3 of the relay, so fuse was OK. I metered pin 5 (output) to the glowplug rail, no continuity !

Took the air pipe from the intercooler to the turbo off, and a crank breather tube and found a lead with a ring terminal on the end, floating in the breeze. This had continuity back to the relay.

A bit more digging and I found a bracket with a 4mm stud and red wire (part of the dip stick bracket) had snapped off and was also blowing in the wind. This had continuity to the glowplug rail.

God knows who took the nut off and left it swinging !

Conneced the 2 up with a new nut, secured in place and I now have a feed to the glows and it starts pretty damned easy. Test will be tomorrow morning !

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