Mondeo Glow Plug Light Flashing

scaredofdebt

I've an '04 plate Mondeo diesel, the 2.0 TDCi

Today on the way home the glow plug light started flashing, the obvious assumption being that the glow plugs are on their way out.

However, the internet reveals there could be more serious issues.

The car has been a little harder to start for the past few days, instead of it starting first time after a half a second or so of turning the key I've had to turn the key for a couple of seconds.

The car is running fine even when the light was flashing, I did 50 miles on the motorway and averaged over 60 MPG, there's no smoke or anything unusual.

I suppose the acid test will be tomorrow when it's cold and I try to start it!

Any advice, if it's going to be expensive then the car will probably not be economically viable.

Three_Beans

Hi,
I dont have personal experience of your car but a couple of things to check:

1) glowplug faults will be picked up during ignition and just after startup, they are not used once the car is running and at a minimum temp. If the light is flashing during that phase then sounds like a straight forward knackerd glowplug - 14 quid each for your car and probably worth replacing all 4

2) if the light is flashing during normal driving when the car is warm then it might be that the glowplug light is used to show other faults - i had this on an alfa. Best consult the manaul if thats the case.

Interestingly, in this country during most months of the year most modern diesels can start without glow plugs - gets harder as weather gets colder which seems to be what you are seeing.

Hopefully uou can get a quick/cheap fix

spratley

I had a Mk3 diesel Mondeo - by mistake I would sometimes start the engine without waiting for the glow plug light to go out. It would then flash, until I switched off & started it correctly. But if the light just started flashing whilst driving, this usually indicates injector faults. If it was me, I would probably wait till the fuel tank was low, then add a gallon or two of Shell V-Power diesel (or similar) and give it a good drive, with plenty of revs (or Italian tune-up)! Also check when fuel filter was last changed, or change it anyway - not a big job. But don't go changing glowplugs unless you know what you are doing - they are quite easy to snap off! Then it will cost major bucks...

Indout96

Not sure about on Mondeo but on a VW Passat this was the warning light for the Turbo Actuator going (£300 all in)

daveyjp

Glow plug flashing in Ford diesels can mean a bunged up EGR, been there done that. Easy fix, so don't think expensive at this stage. A code reader will reveal if it is the EGR.

chunkychocky

When my brake light switch fails on my 2001 VW Polo it causes the glow plug light to come on. It has failed 3 times, and this is the only thing that has caused the glow plug light to come on while the engine is on. I discovered the hard way that they use the lights on the dash board for several different things.

scaredofdebt

Thanks everyone, fuel filter, EGR and injectors are all possible issues from what I've found on the net, plus a few other ideas!

The car was perfectly fine yesterday, did around 100 miles in 3 shorter stints.

Today however, after about 100 miles the light started flashing, I was going up a fairly steep hill at the time and lost power, I had to pull over.

Car started fine and I drove the 50 miles or so home without any issues. It's running fine, no smoke and averaged around 60 MPG (I was being very careful!)

I've rung the garage and it's booked in for diagnostics, mechanic said most likely the fuel filter or EGR (it's not been serviced for a long time so hopefully it is the fuel filter) but he did mention the injectors that I know is an expensive job.

Will know on Tuesday, wish me luck!

I'm wondering if it's something to do with the EMS, as switching it off and on again fixed it, as it usually does with most computers!

On_My_Lonesome

I had exactly the same problem on exactly same car the problem you will prbably find is that diagnostics show no fault as it seems to clear itself and only show when the light is flahing.

We started by changing the camshaft and crankshaft sensors which seemed to help for a while until it was serviced. At that point my stupid ex took the cheap route and used an after market fuel filter and the problem came back and much worse to point it would flash coil light then cut out on motorway. We ended up changing fuel filter again and having all the injectors reconditioned which cured it all.

I think camshaft and crankshaft sensors cost about £50 for the 2 and if you know anyone that has an idea about cars they not too bad to change.
Make sure you use a ford fuel filter if that does get changed, the diesel guy I used to recon the injectors says mondeos are notorious for problems when after market filters used.

Hope you get it sorted.

scaredofdebt

Cheers, will bear that in mind, I expect fuel filters are pretty cheap to buy and install?

The car has done 184k miles so I'm just hoping it will get me through to the New Year now before I get rid of it, it's not worth the cost of 4 new injectors as I gather they're about £150 each with the recoding, is that about right?

My only other thought was it might be related to the cruise control somehow as the cruise was on both times the light flashed and today the light came on as soon as I put the cruise on when going up the hill, probably coincidence.

scaredofdebt

One other thing, I just had a new aftermarket exhaust fitted to get the car through the MOT, any possible connection?

forgotmyname

Flashing glowplug light does not mean the glowplugs are faulty.
Run away from anyone that does say that.

Its a fuelling or turbo issue.. Join talkford.com.

You need to get the fault codes read. Luckily any OBDII code reader will work on your car.
Then you will know what the fault is.

2004 can be euro3 or euro4 emissions. euro 4 have more electronics, The electronic turbo actuator causes issues,.

But without the fault codes it could be anything. Turbo, Injectors, Fuel pump, Cam sensor, Flywheel sensor etc...etc...