series wired glow plugs and balast resister

Hi can some body help.

I have recently changed the balast resistor for a new one and replaced the glow plugs with new ones but since then my glow plug light in the dash has been very bright indicating a dead short well so the manual says. I have cleaned all terminals up changed the glow plugs back to the original ones but still i have a bright light. The landrover used to start perfect with the 10 seconds of heat to the plugs. It will still start but some thing is not quite right. could it be the new balast resistor not working correctly.

glow plug light works on the voltage drop across the ballast resistor.
there should be a small wire on each end going to the dash light, and a large wire on each end - ignition supply and feed to glow plugs.
on older type plugs, (series wired) if one plug goes open circuit then non will work inc light.
later type (parallell wired) this doesnt need the ballast resistor and if one plug goes open circuit then three will still work. dash light will be full bright all time as its connected supply to earth.

if your on the earlier type, you either have an open circuit ballast resistor (in which case no glow pugs will work) or you've wire the dash light incorrectly.

ps- how come your a member from 2007 with only 25 posts?

have you pulled the glow plugs to see if the ends get orange/red and not the sides?
As they give up the ghost the side will glow but not the tips, and you will get a false reading

Thor1950 said:

have you pulled the glow plugs to see if the ends get orange/red and not the sides?
As they give up the ghost the side will glow but not the tips, and you will get a false reading

Click to expand...

not on original series wired types as its a coil on the end.
either way it wont affect the op's bright light problem

I wired the balast resistor exactly the same as the old one came off. It is wired up correctly. The next thing i think i will try is putting the old balast resistor back on and see what happens.

basic test for ballast resistor check if you aint got a meter-
wipe your finger in an oily bit (theres plenty, if not the dipstick) then wipe it on the ballast coil. when heaters operated you should see a bit of smoke from it as it burns off.

alternatively, use an ohm meter on the ballast the ignition off.

I have got a multimeter but what values should I be looking for.