Diesel engine cuts out and glow plug comes on please help

what is the VIN
what is true engine name, gas or diesel and size.
what country. (tells me fueling systems)
did you check all fuses, i bet you dont know how to really test glow plugs only the see a light glow is not going to work.
so are glow plugs really working, proper voltage at them and right current flow (a meter works here, amps , using amp clamp)
filters clean.
scan it?

Have you checked the level of transmission fluid in your car ............

Have a load test done on the batter to check for failing cells. For diesels to start any thing less than a fully charged battery good battery is a waste of time as the engine needs fast RPM to heat the air to ignite the fuel and slow rpm's just doesn't cut it.

they use diffr, diesels world wide
which one you got?
and try some commas please.
glow plugs too short, plugs are what?
my wild guess, the diesel is hard to start>? and what is the outdoor temperature, and is the fuel fresh? not 3 years old? or water contaminated?

start any engine post with
country (car was sold,which might not be now)
engine displacement. ?????????
and symptoms.
then ask a question.

Diesel engines don't have spark plugs. They use compression and heat to fire the diesel. Most diesel engines have glow plugs which are designed to preheat the combustion chamber to help burn the diesel fuel when you start it up. Hope this helps.

In addition to the 4 primary glow plugs, the cooling system also has 3 Coolant Glow Plugs to help provide extra heat to the cooling system in order to warm-up the vehicle's interior more quickly, and enhance overall engine warm-up time. (Example - Some Mercedes diesel engines use electrical heaters in the cabin because their engine is so thermally efficient.)
Likewise, this auxiliary source of heat from the 3 Coolant Glow Plugs is necessary because of the VW 1.9 TDI engines outstanding efficiency, which wastes very little heat.

The 3 Auxiliary Coolant Glow Plugs are located at the end of the aluminum cylinder head (in a protruding flange) directly below the vacuum (brake booster) pump, which also connects to a coolant hose.



The 3 Auxiliary Coolant Glow Plugs use two (underhood) relays which are monitored and controlled by the ECU. During a cold start, the vehicle's interior temperature selector switch helps the ECU choose one of three modes depending on the amount of heat required to warm-up the coolant.

For example, Coolant Glow Plug #1 can be selected to operate all by itself, or #2 and #3 can operate together as a two-some, or lastly, all three glow plugs can form a triple source of heat for maximum enhancement of engine warm-up time.

After the engine is completely warmed up and the thermostat is open, the Coolant Glow Plugs normally shut-off and remain off unless the (thermally efficent) engine cools down sufficiently to have the computer signal them to come back on to keep the engine and cabin air warm. Extensive idling times at stop lights or in the driveway are scenarios where these glow plugs are most likely to recycle on and off.

In conclusion, the period of Preglow and Afterglow is determined by the engine's coolant temperature (during a cold or hot start), which helps the ECU select a predetermined time-cycle for the combustion chamber and / or Auxiliary Coolant Glow Plugs to follow.

Finally, one myth that needs to be immediately debunked, is the belief that the TDI's advanced Glow Plug System is linked to the opening of the driver's side door, which is false! It is also noteworthy to mention that some earlier VW diesel glow plug systems were operated in this manner, but not so with the advanced VW Jetta 1.9 TDI engine.



Please do rate my response. Thanks!

Hi my name is Tom and I am here to help you.

If you think of glow plugs as the spark plugs of a diesel engine, the task of replacing them makes more sense. Have you ever changed spark plugs? If so do the same for your diesel car.

Do one cylinder at a time until you have changed all of the plugs. Check your dash to see if they are working. I had a 1980 Chevy with a diesel engine and the change was done in about an hour.

If I can be of any help, please feel free to call or email me. Also, please take the time to rank me as far as helpfulness. This is the only was I can improve my "helping" skills.

TomE

A glow plug is a small heating element in the cylinder. It heats the diesel so that starting can be made easy. Is your car standing in the open frozen parking If yes, then it would require a lot of battery power to first heat all the cylinders and then turn the engine to start. What we do in such conditions is to light up some fire under the car and heat the fuel system enough for the diesel to warm up a little and thus save the battery for glow plugs. Generally, all vehicles have an indicator light which comes on when the glow plugs are ready for starting. The diesel will ignite on compression, but it has to reach the cylinder and thus has to be flowing. In cold it freezes and hence the need for glow plugs and the heat. If it is parked in heated parking then the need for glow plugs decreases.

Ok well the glow plugs on a diesel have nothing to do with the engine firing. All the glow plugs do is heat up the combusion chamber on cold starts. Diesel engines fire using high compression. An oxygen sensor won't cause the vehicle to not start and your diesel doesn't have one of those anyways. It could be a fuel related issue. (pump, line, pressure etc.) Have you it scanned for engine DTC's? But based on your knowledge of your diesel vehicle i'm going to suggest you take it to a shop.

Good Day
The glow plug relays are located on the right front shock tower. Remove the cover and you will see two relays If I remember I think they are round, but not sure.

Please let me know how you make out and if there is anything else that I might be able to help you with.

Cheers