ignition switch fault?

firslty my vehicle is a B reg (1985) 90 with a 200tdi conversion

ok bear with me here this could take a sec to get right....
basicly my cold start light is staying on.
now i think it coul be the ignition switch. its the early 4 position switch (off - cold start - on - start)

when i turn the ignition to position 1 the cold start light comes on and the heater plugs come on. then when i turn it to position 2 the batery light and oil light comes on but the cold start stays on then postion three it turns over and starts but the light stays on.

now am i right in thinking the cold start is a manual timer ie you turn the ignition switch to postion 1 and leave it on for as long as you want to warm the plugs up then when you turn it to position 2 the cold start light should go out and the oil light etc comes on? before you then go over to position 3 to start the engine.


sorry if this doesn't read very well but all your help is appreciated.

cheers lister

Nope.
The ignition switch in a 1985 90 goes
0 Off-1 Electrics on - 2 Glow plugs only - 3 starter - Back to 1 for Running.
The glow plug/cold start light should only come on in position 2.
If it was converted with a glow plug/cold start relay I would say that is stuck on. Fin the relay and pull it out of the socket and see if the light goes out.
If it was converted and left as a solid wire to the glow plugs with no fuse (like mine) then that sounds like the ignition switch is shorting through the glow plugs all the time.

souns like a new ignition switch then. do the automaticly spring back to position 1. i think mine is going back to position 2.
yes it's wired up direct to the cold start relay no fuse or timer.

Yup the switch has to be held in pos2 and pushed to pos 3 to start and then it springs back to 1 for running.

cheers for that new switch on its way from paddocks.
is it an easy job to change or should i look out for anything falling out?

Norra clue, nevah done it.
Over to someone else for advice op2:

Not that easy to do mate as there are some screws in it that have no heads in them( to stop it being removed and hot wired i think) I ended drilling them out and fitting normal allen keys screws in. you have to be careful when drilling them out so as not to damage the threads in the colum. Its a peice of **** after you got the old one off. Make sure you mark the wores or just swap them next to eack other.
All from memory...if you want more detail mate then ill look up the manual for you!

cant you just swap the wires as it sounds like ignition I and II are just the wrong way round

Mate just remembered that you drill the heads of the screws out only...leave the rest of the screw in and then take the screw shaft out with a pair of plyers. Replace with allen heads..easy'ish!

or use security bolts, as it does help sometimes