non starter and no glow plug lights

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T

toms3

Active Member
Posts
375
Location
west yorkshire
well disaster struck today on the 1st day of my new job just when I needed it most, my 1987 landrover 90 wouldent start :eek::Cry:

when the key is held in the glowplug position the glowplug light doesn't come on. The car will start with the key in the starter position but dies as soon as I let it go back to normal running position.

iv checked the fuses and wiring to key barrel but all looks ok?

does anyone have any ideas what could be the problem so I can try fix it myself? its a 200 tdi disco conversion if that makes any difference.

any ideas very much appreciated!
 
Check all earths from battery to engine and chassis !! Glow plug relay may be failing !!use multimeter to check live feed at relay and glow plugs !!
 
So you turn it on and the engine turns over.....

No glow plug light.....

Several things to check.

  • 60amp maxi fuse in engine bay.
  • Disconnect the first electrical connection going to the glow plug nearest the bulk head.
  • Check the resistance between the glow plugs and engine like this. If zero remove all the links and check all the plugs..... You could have had a plug collapse as I've just had and it be a direct short.
  • Swap the glow plug relay for a known working one if you have one you can do that with.
  • Disconnect the glow plug relay and check the wiring to it: thick brown wire should go to the maxi fuse so check that that gives 12v all the time, check the white and red wire which is the starter wire and should go to 12v when you turn the ignition to start, white should be live with ignition and there should be two yellow and black wires of which one should be a thin wire going to the dash light and the other should have a ring on it and go to the nearest glow plug to the bulkhead. Oh and a ground....
There isn't really anything more complicated than that really on the glow plug circuit.
 
Last edited:
Unless your starting in mega cold conditions, the 200 TDI should start without glows.

Also, the engine does not use glows to run, just to start. The fact that it's cutting out suggests to me that the fuel solenoid may not be powered so as others have suggested, it may be earths, or you may an ignition switch problem. It would also be worth checking the main positive connection at the starter.
 
sp00k said:
Unless your starting in mega cold conditions, the 200 TDI should start without glows.

Also, the engine does not use glows to run, just to start. The fact that it's cutting out suggests to me that the fuel solenoid may not be powered so as others have suggested, it may be earths, or you may an ignition switch problem. It would also be worth checking the main positive connection at the starter.
Click to expand...

+1 for ignition switch
 
Many thanks for the help guys while trying to get it going last night it will also run with the key in the glowplug heat position and cuts out as soon as I let the key go so maybe this is a power issue to the fuel pump solonoid? Does anyone know how to check the ignition switch as iv not done thiss before.

Thanks again

Tom.
 
Easiest way to test would be to disconnect the wire at the fuel solenoid and check it with your volt meter. Get someone to turn the ignition key to ignition on, glows and start positions. Fuel solenoid should be powered at all positions except off.

If it's powered at any of the positions, then that indicates the wire is ok, so the problem is probably at the ignition switch, which may be melted wires or similar. If it's not powered at any position, then there may be a problem with the wire.
 
well iv just got in from looking at the ignition barrel and found the problem, when I wiggle the wires the battrery light flickers on the dash and when applying pressure to the wires it stays on and my landy will run. as soon as I let go it dies :mad:

thanks for your help to find this problem I wouldent have found it by myself.

now iv found this what would be the next stage - would you replace the barrel? is this a job I could do at home as a keen landy mechanicals learner :)

thanks again guys you have been a HUGE help!!!
 
toms3 said:
well iv just got in from looking at the ignition barrel and found the problem, when I wiggle the wires the battrery light flickers on the dash and when applying pressure to the wires it stays on and my landy will run. as soon as I let go it dies :mad:

thanks for your help to find this problem I wouldent have found it by myself.

now iv found this what would be the next stage - would you replace the barrel? is this a job I could do at home as a keen landy mechanicals learner :)

thanks again guys you have been a HUGE help!!!
Click to expand...

Check the solder connections first, they can be dodgy :rolleyes:

You can replace just the leccy bit ... tis cheaper too :D :cool:
 
just to update the thread in case anyone googles the same problem.....

it was the ignition switch on the key barrel, today I collected one it cost £27 for the full part and iv now got a spare key for my landy too :)

I had to remove the plastic covers to access it and remove the 2 bolts holding the barrel to the steering colum. the bolts where stuck so I drilled them out and it was just a case of swapping the spade connectors over onto the new one and bolting the new one back into place. my landy glow plugs are now working again and its now back in action.

thanks again for all the replies I would never have found the problem by myself.

all the best tom.
 
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