Glow plugs

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Steve333

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21
Location
Dorset
Hi all,collecting my freelander 2 tomorrow and wondered when the glow plugs should be replaced years/miles?-thanks for any help,Steve.
 
Check them before winter or wait to see if you have trouble starting. My original Land Rover plugs lasted just two years but typically they should last much longer so I don’t think there is hard and fast rule. Here is a video I posted a while back.
 
Freelander 2 plugs don't seem to last, maybe 5 years if your lucky. On a positive, the DW12 engine in the FL2 starts absolutely fine without them, even at zero degrees C.
 
Hi all,collecting my freelander 2 tomorrow and wondered when the glow plugs should be replaced years/miles?-thanks for any help,Steve.

What reg is it, i suspect it will not have the extra earth lead which need s to bolt to the starter, look it up.
 
Hi,it’s a 13 plate-what difference does the extra earth lead make(or not) please?-thanks,Steve.

Early FL2s had an issue where the engine earth lead would corrode, and was also under sized for the job. This effectively caused a higher resistance electric path than was needed for proper cranking, and high alternator output demands.
Fitting an extra earth lead directly from the battery negative terminal to a starter mounting bolt, gives a solid and positive earth reference for the engine, and everything bolted to it. I believe LR fitted this extra cable on the production line, but don't know when that started.
 
Early FL2s had an issue where the engine earth lead would corrode, and was also under sized for the job. This effectively caused a higher resistance electric path than was needed for proper cranking, and high alternator output demands.
Fitting an extra earth lead directly from the battery negative terminal to a starter mounting bolt, gives a solid and positive earth reference for the engine, and everything bolted to it. I believe LR fitted this extra cable on the production line, but don't know when that started.
 
Hi,many thanks for clarifying-I will check when I collect the car this afternoon and if not I’ve found a genuine Land Rover negative battery cable on eBay so will buy and fit .
 
Do freelander 2’s have glow plug warning lights on dashboard when they need replacing does anyone know?

They do have a glow warning light, but that will only light when there needs to be a glow plug warm up period. I'm pretty sure the ECM also delays the start request, until the glow plugs have been given sufficient time to warm up. However this is delay is only when it's several degrees C below zero, so normal the engine cranks straight away on start button pressing, even if the glow lamp lights.
 
I think the later ones have a glow plug controller instead of a relay so it is feasible they can detect a failed glow plug but none of the diagrams I have show this. Look in the engine fuse box if it has a glow plug relay it won’t have a control module.
 
Thanks for the help guys-just got car home(lovely drive but only 25 miles),here’s a couple of photos showing battery/engine at-not sure if mod has been done on battery lead to alternator,can anyone confirm please?
 

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I've literally replaced mine today. 132k miles and 12 years old, but they might not be the originals of course. I've had it just over 3 years.
I had a diagnostic done as it has been running roughly for a few minutes after starting, especially after it had sat for for a few days.
The error code pointed to glow plug circuit.
Quite a mission to get to them....
 
I've literally replaced mine today. 132k miles and 12 years old, but they might not be the originals of course. I've had it just over 3 years.
I had a diagnostic done as it has been running roughly for a few minutes after starting, especially after it had sat for for a few days.
The error code pointed to glow plug circuit.
Quite a mission to get to them....
its fun isn`t it:p
 
its fun isn`t it:p

And annoyingly has not cured the initial rough running issue and is still giving P0380-00 error code.

Admitedly I didn't check the new plugs as I couldn't remember where I'd put my multimeter...

I've ordered the seperate glow plug wiring loom and will work myself up to going in again before the weather gets cooler...
 
Back to the point about the additional earth, I've had a look at my father in laws 2011 SD4 and it has an additional earth from the battery down to the starter which looks factory fitted.
 
And annoyingly has not cured the initial rough running issue and is still giving P0380-00 error code.

Unfortunately the code just comes up as glow plug control circuit, which isn't a lot of help, other than it's the controller, not the plugs themselves. I'd be checking the relay, which is the most likely cause of the issue.

Back to the point about the additional earth, I've had a look at my father in laws 2011 SD4 and it has an additional earth from the battery down to the starter which looks factory fitted.

I believe LR installed the additional engine earth after 2010, or there abouts.

I emulated it, by running my own cable from the bolt on the battery negative clamp, to the upper starter bolt, just like the later FL2s..
 
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