Glow Plug fault...Updated 24-05-10

[garethrobson]

I noticed this morning when driving to work, my ibiza FR TDI just seemed to drop all power for about half of a second... it did this twice on my journey which i thought to myself it must just be a hickup. When driving home tonight, everything seemed fine until i was just around the corner from home. It did the exact same thing again, then about 20 seconds later the GLOW PLUG light on the dash started flashing. When i looked this up it said ENGINE FAULT.

By this point i had already pulled on the drive, so i simply tried turning the engine off and back on and the light dissapeared.

I have a few questions...

1) are there any known faults with the glow plug systems.
2) Should it really be using the glow plugs at the END of a journey on a 20 degree night?
3)what should i do about it, just keep an eye on it, or phone the dealer in the morning.

 

[techie]

All it indicates is there is an engine fault, not always with the glow plugs. Best get it in and sorted.

 

[garethrobson]

ahh right.

Could this be related to the exhaust at all because my back box has been hanging off for a few weeks now and is getting replaced in a week. any chance it could be related?

 

[CupraDean]

lol your backbox is hanging off already!? what did you do to it!

 

[garethrobson]

Well... I am sat waiting for seat breakdown as we speak

I got just over a mile down the road on the way to work when the red battery light came on. I don't want to risk any further damage so I called the breakdown company.
I don't want to risk the dealership saying "well you should have stopped when the light came on"

The car "limped" about 4 times in that mile so something isn't right at all

 

[garethrobson]

ok an update on this one.

AA said they couldnt find any faults and the car was safe to drive to the dealers. I drove it there, and on the journey the glow plug light was flashing and the emissions light is now on perminantely. They gave me a lift to work and going to pick me back up when i finish work.

Doesnt look good IMO

 

[garethrobson]

lol your backbox is hanging off already!? what did you do to it!

bracket snapped on it must have been damaged in transit or sumthing

 

[nightflight]

Could be something daftly innocuous like a faulty sensor.
Fingers crossed for you.

 

[garethrobson]

Thanks! If they cant fix whatever it is today, i am demanding a car for the weekend. they say they have no courtesy cars, but they will hav to give me something its part of the sale of goods act not to leave the customer with a major inconvenience.

 

[nightflight]

You should've got the AA to sort you out with a courtesy car when they towed yours away.

I don't think they'll do it restrospectively but it's worth kicking up a fuss over.

 

[garethrobson]

they didnt tow mine away, he simply pluged in the diag port and said there arent any faults it must be safe to drive. Didnt even look under the bonnet =/
I asked him what i should do if the lights come back on he said just ignore them and go to the dealers.

 

[jc_boc]

Are you sure it's not the DPF that has blocked up mate?! Sounds like it to me and there has been an extensive thread about this and i believe there are a few others having the same issues.

 

[garethrobson]

the DPF light hasnt come on, so i dont think it is a problem with that. It is a possibility, but i would have thought the DPF light would come on in that case.

 

[jc_boc]

hmmmmm is also possibly true.

 

[Biker]

If it was a DPF fault you would have expected their to be an error code for it in the ECU when the AA guy checked it.

 

[garethrobson]

rang them up, its still getting worked on as we speak (from about 10 this morning). Supposed to be going there in 45 mins i have a feeling im not going to get the news i want to hear...

 

[farrar]

there are quite a few people with the 2L FR TDI's including me who have no problems at all .

This is what happens when you tempt fate

 

[nightflight]

 

[garethrobson]

This is what happens when you tempt fate

I am regretting saying that now!

well as i expected, the news wasnt good. apparently the throttle control unit isnt measuring things correctly. I have been given a courtesy car for the weekend and will have an update on monday. Because its a warrenty claim, they have to check all of the wiring and things to be 100% sure its the throttle control unit that needs replacing so it means a lengthy wait while they strip everything down and check them.

Supposed to be going away for a couple of days on thursday id rather not do it in a 1.1 Hyundai i20

 

[jc_boc]

HYUNDAI????!!!!! OMG!!! hahahahahahahahahahaha