Glow Plugs

Hi, we have a County 90, we are new to Land Rovers and i was wondering if as with all other diesel cars they have a light on the dash to tell you when the glow plugs are working well ours hasnt, it has the sign for a choke ( although i didnt think diesels had one of those but it just maybe me being a woman and all!!!) we are having trouble starting it, and although the glow plugs are working the garage seems to think it may be a relay but they arent specialists so dont know where it is!!!!! So please if anyone can help i would really appreciate it. Thanks

The glow plug light looks light a coiled wire.....like on old fashion filament blub

How have the glow plugs been tested?

What engine do you have? Tdi or TD? Easy check, is the top of the engine flat or curved/domed?

hello,
basically there isnt a glow plug light on the dash at all ??????? oh and its a 2.5 TDI F reg

jacky said:

basically there isnt a glow plug light on the dash at all ??????? oh and its a 2.5 TDI F reg

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Are you sure? Unless there has been a transplant then an F-reg Defender will have a TD engine in it.

Did the garage test for power to the glow plugs with the ignition on or did they just use a test lead to the glow plugs?

That will be a 2.5TD then.
200tdi started on H or it could be a 200tdi conversion
There is a glow plug light on the dash as he said "like on old fashion filament blub"

i really dont know how they tested them to be honest, but i do know they said they were working. There definately there isnt a glow plug light on the dash, was i right to presume that the diesels dont have a choke??? If so why would that light be on the dash? Sorry to be totally stupid only hubbys at work so im doing the asking !!!! *****Right im going to check about this glow plug light and i'll be back on here in a little while *****

Maybe it was originally a petrol engined motor which has had a diesel fitted? Would explain the choke light on the dash.

No diesels do not have a choke. Does the choke symbol light up when you turn the ignition on? Just wondering if this has been wired as your glow plug light by mistake.

When it does start is there a lot of exhaust smoke? Do you know what colour the smoke is if any?

Shifty1962 said:

Maybe it was originally a petrol engined motor which has had a diesel fitted? Would explain the choke light on the dash.

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Yeah, kinda where I was headed

yes choke light comes on when you start it like a choke, and yes smoke grey smoke

Oops ! just had a look at mine and it has what looks like a choke, that is your glow plug light.

To be honest, without being there I suspect that the glow plugs are working.

Check that the air filter is clean as that may help as the grey smoke is unburned diesel, but.........it sounds like classic tired TD starting to me; mostly likely due to lack of compression. Hate to be the bringer of doom, but it is not likely to get any better.

so im not as mad as i thought i was then !!!!! So its just an age thing then?

thank you by the way !!

jacky said:

So its just an age thing then?

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Best case, yes. Worst case, cracked piston and covert to 200Tdi time