Glow plug change and location of relay FL2

Hello all , nice to meet you all , I've just got a FL2 2008 she , very happy , did a fault code test and came up circuit A on glow plug , not sure if it's plugs 118000 miles or relay throwing up the code , How easy is it to change them yourself , can anyone guide me with procedure please , also where is the relay for the plugs or are all 4 plugs run from the ECU on these ? I don't have a glow light on the dash either , u read it has to be a low temp outside for this to show but it was -2 and I still didn't see a light ?

Thanks all

Here's the Battery Junction Box (BJB) layout.
Glow plug relay is relay No4 (item 48)
The glow plug monitor fuse is fuse No1. Hope this helps.

From memory, if the glow plugs aren't working, the glow light won't show.

Thank you very much , ill take a look , thing is , it starts fine even at -2 the other morning it starts first time , but I have no glow light at all on dash , only a fault code P0380 glow plug/heater circuit A that's all

Check the fuse and the relay.
Then see if you get any resistance on the glow plug feed wire.
The glow plugs need the inlet manifold removing to access them. It actually sensible to remove the swirl flaps from the manifold too, as they can break off, getting ingested, make a mess of the engine.

Thanks again , I've just checked the 5amp fuse , seems ok , ill check the relay then as you said ill have to pull the manifold off , not sure about the swirl flaps will have to have a read up on them but when i get there ill measure resistance of each plug .... cheers for your help

clemo 56 said:

but when i get there ill measure resistance of each plug

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If you're going to be testing the plugs, you might as well replace them, as the time taken to access them makes a second visit a waste of time.
A decent set cost under £40, so it's easier to simply replace them, while the manifold is off.

I understand and was just thinking that as ive been reading on here a thread your in RE: swirl flaps ... Yes if I'm going to strip it down I may swell put in new plugs ,,, what ones would you recommend to buy. NGK ?? also one other question if I may , I see the comments on swirl flaps , as I have the manifold off should I remove them and if so what happens to the end where they come out that the leaver of the diafram attaches too , do you block it some how or just leave it open ?
Many thanks for your help

Well what I've done is put some silicone on that small rund thing (the leaver breaks off) and that gets pushed in with a clip.
Then, cut the vacuum hose and on the right side near the solenoid I just put a srew in to block the hose



Picture nicked from the swirl flaps post:

Just break the rod off, leave that and put something to air tight it.
Also have a priest sprinkle some holy water when you take the manifold off and perhaps do some praying so you don't have a broken flap already like I've found on mine.

Faulty glowplugs should not bring up an error code on a 2008 as they are after the point at which the control module senses it. Have a look at this video I did on my 2008 FL2. I got the garage to change mine as it sounded too involved for me. It took the garage about 2 ½ hrs cost £226 total.

Stv123 said:

Faulty glowplugs should not bring up an error code on a 2008 as they are after the point at which the control module senses it. Have a look at this video I did on my 2008 FL2. I got the garage to change mine as it sounded too involved for me. It took the garage about 2 ½ hrs cost £226 total.

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Thanks for the tip , So what do you think the fault code P0380 glow plug/heater circuit A is due to ? and i have no light on the dash not even when its cold outside ?

If the engine starts it’s not the battery. So F1 F4 R4 ECM or wiring

Stv123 said:

If the engine starts it’s not the battery. So F1 F4 R4 ECM or wiring

Click to expand...

Thanks , i didn't think it was the battery, it starts fine but i have this code and no glow light on the dash , even when -2 outside like the other day , ill check F1 F4 R4

Check the relay is working, as the ECM monitors the relay output to the plugs, also check the 5A monitor fuse (item 1 in the BJB illustration above) and the 60 amp glow plug fuse (item 6 BJB illustration above).
The ECM can also tell if the plugs are open circuit, as the monitor line can either go to battery voltage when power is applied to the plugs, or to ground through the plugs, when no power is applied to them.
If the ECM doesn't see the monitor line going to ground (near ground anyway) then it won't put the telltale light on the dash, and I'm not sure if it activates the plug relay in this situation, as potentially it could disable them and trigger the code.

Checked F1 F4 all ok fuse wise , need to find out how to check the relay on a meter ... ive no idea where the control module is or the ECM so will have to investigate more

clemo 56 said:

Checked F1 F4 all ok fuse wise , need to find out how to check the relay on a meter ... ive no idea where the control module is or the ECM so will have to investigate more

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Can you not use one of the other relays to check

Not sure if they are rated the same

clemo 56 said:

Checked F1 F4 all ok fuse wise , need to find out how to check the relay on a meter ... ive no idea where the control module is or the ECM so will have to investigate more

Click to expand...

The relay will have just 4 terminals. 2 terminals are for the coil. 2 terminals are the switched contacts.
Terminals marked 85 and 86 are for the coil.
Terminals marked 30 and 87 are the switched contacts.
Sometimes the pin out is moulded into the top cover.

It's a high current relay, so not a standard size or capacity.

The ECM is under the shuttle panel at the back of the engine bay, just left of the battery cover.
You need to remove the shuttle panel to access it, but there shouldn't be a need to access it, as all tests can be done at the BJB.

Just been down to a garage and asked about Glowplugs change ... looks like ill try it myself as they want £54 per hour and said they may snap in the head then it would be expensive so im not new to stripping down engines ill just have a go when i have time ... got a new relay coming s will try it

Doing the glow plug isn't that difficult, but the manifold does need to be removed, which requires the fuel filter and it's support assembly be removed first.

I've not come across a stuck FL2 glow plug, but care is needed, as they are very thin.