L-series starting problem - glow plug & engine management fuses blow

HI all

I've had a long browse through the old posts relating to L-series starting problems but couldn't find anything similar to this problem.

Our 1998 L-series 2.0 diesel Freelander stalled as Mrs Blip pulled away from traffic lights after a long journey. It wouldn't restart - it would turn over and over and we checked all the fueling problems and couldn't spot anything wrong.

Further investigation spotted that the glow plug lamp wasn't illuminating - the 70amp fuse hadn't just blown but melted.
The engine management light fuse in the cabin fuse box had also blown. After replacing this, all was well and the car started first time and ran fine for a week.

I've now been able to recreate the problem, by pulling away roughly. The first time I tried it, the glow plug light illuminated briefly just as the engine almost stalled but then recovered. I tried it a second time - no glow plug light (fuse blown) and the vehicle stalled and wouldn't start (engine management fuse blown)

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Blippie

Seeing as I have a table full of cct diags at moment had a quick look, would that be link 3 in the engine bay, and either fuse 6 or 10 in passenger fuse box.
I desperatly need a 199 drawing and going off the 2001 TD4 drawings, so may struggle, but maybe check out the glow plug relay for a start

Thanks, I'm trying to remember if I changed the glowplugs with cheapo or genuine parts some years ago, and would a dodgy glow plug contribute to this. I'll grab my multimeter and have a play at the weekend.

Cheers

Blippie

It's possibly a short. If you have to pull away roughly the engine is moving around more than normal and it could be making an exposed or chafed wire make contact with a live or earth! Bit vague but it may pay to carefully trace the looms and check for chafing and damage!


DD

I dont think it will be the glow plugs as there should not have been any power to them if the engine was running. Glow plug relay/ wiring fault could blow the 2 fuses you mentioned.