300tdi won't start - turns over but no glow lights

My old 300tdi is usually a very reliable starter but when I went to fire her up the other day she turns over fine but won't fire.

I noticed that the dashboard indicator for the glow plugs isn't lighting up, either. (It usually does.)

There's fuel getting as far as the injector pump and I've checked there's 12V at the connector where the white wire connects to it.

No fuses blown that I can find. Any ideas?

It's an automatic, BTW.

Glow plug relay?

Was wondering whether it could be a relay involved.

I need to dig-out my Haynes manual and check where it is - unfortunately the wiff has been tidying up...

Stick a direct feed to the plugs to test if its just them causing the non start

I'll try that tomorrow or over the weekend. Just a 12V feed direct from the battery to the first glow plug?

Yes bout 5seconds or so will do. Just be carful not to touch an earth with the wire

Glow plug relay is in the engine compartment, drivers side, next to main fuse box.

Hi,

If you have a multi meter and you can get someone to turn on the ignition for you. Run the + from the top of a glow plug feed wire and the - to the engine block. You should see some volts going through when the ignition is turned on. This is a feed from the relay to the glow plugs. It will go on for a few seconds depending on the temperature.

However having no dash lights feels like the circuit is broken, I'd check the fuses and connections 1st.

Just going back to this thread after a couple of weeks, I put the battery on charge overnight and when I put it back and tried to start her not only did the glow plugs lamp light up but she started first turn of the key.

Maybe the battery didn't have enough current left to drive the plugs?

Battery test by Rac then? ( obviously I'm biased lol) or go to HALFORDS and they can test aswell but better to test after stood a few hours off the car as get a mor accurate cca reading

Ah, the mythical Halfords and even more mythical RAC

Not really an option where we live. Google Kinlochbervie and you'll see what I mean.

A new battery probably wouldn't be a bad idea, anyway. I'll get one ordered. I can always use the old one to power our electric fence.