Glow plug light.

[MattyClegg]

OK this might make me sound dumb, just bare with me.

I've never owned a diesel car until now, I've upgraded from my shocking 2002 1.6 lx petrol to a 2006 1.6 exclusive diesel.

I remember some years ago ago, a mate of mine had a mk4 golf diesel, and he wouldn't turn the engine on until the glow plug light went off. Looking at my picasso I don't have one. Now my nest door neighbour has a Peugeot 207 diesel with a very similar (if not the same) engine. She tells me to waithe until all the lights go off on the dash before starting, and if she stalls, she turns the ignition off, back on, waits again, then starts the car.

 

My dad says that citroen and Peugeot diesels tend to have no glow plug light because they heat up that quick that they don't need it. He tells me to start the engine the same way I started my petrol ones in the past. Also he owned a 2001 2ltr diesel for 8 years, always started it in this way and never had a problem, even in very cold conditions.

 

Can anyone clear this up for me on why they don't have the glow plug light and which way I should start the engine ie do I wait or just start like a petrol engine

[stimulator]

Ok the answer to this is quite simple.

 

There is a light it's in the top row of lights on the dash. Howevr you will very rarly see it come on.

 

the light is triggered by the engine coolant being at a certain temp. And is part of the preheat postheat system on the car. When the ignition is switched ON, the preheat system is triggered by the BSI, the cars brain. This will turn on the glow plugs and if cold enough the light. Just because the light is not on doesn't mean the glows aren't on. When you start the car the post heat takes over and the glows stay on till certain parameters are met, coolsnt temp, revs below a certain limit.

 

if the car starts and runs correctly then you don't have a problem. If it stutters when cold then there could be a problem ith the preheat post heat glows system.

 

 

on the 2.0Hdi you could force the glow light to illuminate by switching the ign on then off then straight back on again and the light would come on, try it on your car.

 

The light is only to ensure that the glows ave been on long enough to support combustion in a very cold engine . Thinknof itvas being a bit likeva choke on a petrol car..