Freelander 1 Glow plug light no self check illumination

Sorry. I know this has no doubt been asked before but I’ve searched and can’t find an answer.
Daughter’s TD4 has no glow plug light showing at the self check position. All other lights show, but not the glow plug. It’s a poor starter from cold so suspect there’s an issue.
If it does Illuminate at initial switch on , does this suggest a relay or fuse problem?
I’ve not got a chance to see it until Saturday but would like some advice before I get a poke about at it.
Thanks

Hi,

The glow plug only show on the dashboard based on the coolant temperature, not the outside temperature.
Leave the car alone for at least 1 day, then with a basic diagnostic tool, check that you have a coherent coolant temperature with the outside temperature.

There is a 100A fuse in the engine fuse box.
For the relay, just under the glow plugs :
Freelander 1 - glow plug relay | LandyZone - Land Rover Forum

For coldstart issue, it can be the battery, a fuel leak, and perhaps the glowplug.

Maybe the glow plugs are working even if the warning light isnt. Does she wait a few seconds after switching on the ignition before trying to start it

Col

Hi, don't think the forum has completely cracked the answer to your question!

The light is driven by the engine management and does not indicate time that plugs are on, purely suggests the time to wait until you crank.
Nothing in circuits to suggest that the plugs are tested and the light proves that they are good.

Having said that, had a vehicle once that never showed the light and all plugs were open circuit !!

Powering for 10 seconds then turn off and power for another 10 seconds before cranking does help if plugs do work and light doesn't.
Simple continuity test of plugs will reveal whether they are good or not, or a current test on the feed wires.

The problem with the glowplugs, it's that reaching the plugs take almost the same time as changing plugs.
So you need to have new glowplugs just in case they need be changed.

Colthebrummie said:

Maybe the glow plugs are working even if the warning light isnt. Does she wait a few seconds after switching on the ignition before trying to start it

Col

Click to expand...

Yes. She’s familiar with diesels and I’ve done it myself.

Alteredtech said:

Hi,

The glow plug only show on the dashboard based on the coolant temperature, not the outside temperature.
Leave the car alone for at least 1 day, then with a basic diagnostic tool, check that you have a coherent coolant temperature with the outside temperature.

There is a 100A fuse in the engine fuse box.
For the relay, just under the glow plugs :
Freelander 1 - glow plug relay | LandyZone - Land Rover Forum

For coldstart issue, it can be the battery, a fuel leak, and perhaps the glowplug.

Click to expand...

Reading the manual shows that in the event of a faulty coolant sensor the system will fall back onto using the ambient air temperature.

Solexine67 said:

Reading the manual shows that in the event of a faulty coolant sensor the system will fall back onto using the ambient air temperature.

Click to expand...

Glowplug are only operating when the coolant temperature is below a certain value, so it's worth cheking the coolant temperature ...
For exemple if the coolant temperature is at plus 15 degrees, you will never see the plug light.
When the glowplug are operating, the battery voltage will drop until they stop ...

Solexine67 said:

Reading the manual shows that in the event of a faulty coolant sensor the system will fall back onto using the ambient air temperature.

Click to expand...

Is it a Freelander 2 TD4? There is no ambient temperature sensor on a Freelander 1 TD4.

I was trying to remember ever seeing a glowplug light on my old freelander, then I remembered it was a petrol.

Col

Nodge68 said:

Is it a Freelander 2 TD4? There is no ambient temperature sensor on a Freelander 1 TD4.

Click to expand...

No. It’s Freelander 1 facelift.
I saw this post and assumed it was all TD4 engines?
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-1-smoke-on-start-up-td4-05-plate.315783/page-2

Solexine67 said:

No. It’s Freelander 1 facelift.

Click to expand...

If it's a FL1 TD4, then if the coolant temperature sensor has failed, the EDC will use the intake air temperature sensor as a substituted value, which in this case would be accurate enough.

However you can prove the coolant temperature sensor is working simply by looking at the temperature gauge after the engine has been running, as it'll show a higher temperature on the gauge.

To answer the question there is no self check light for the glow plugs.

On the freelander 1 If there is a problem with the plugs, there is no fault or light indicator.

The light is only there to ask you to wait before starting, nothing else.

Alteredtech said:

To answer the question there is no self check light for the glow plugs.

Click to expand...

That's the same on most diesels, including my FL2. The glow plug light only comes on when the coolant is at 0°C or below. I think I've seen it 3 or 4 times in 2 years of ownership.

Nodge68 said:

That's the same on most diesels, including my FL2. The glow plug light only comes on when the coolant is at 0°C or below. I think I've seen it 3 or 4 times in 2 years of ownership.

Click to expand...

Zero? But the graph you posted shows 5 or 6 degrees?

Solexine67 said:

Zero? But the graph you posted shows 5 or 6 degrees?

Click to expand...

That graph is for the Freelander 1 TD4. I've got a Freelander 2 TD4, which is a completely different vehicle, with a more modern engine from PSA instead of the late 90s FL1 BMW unit.