Ford Mondeo Glow Plug Coil Light

EmmaLou67

Recently bought a 2013 Ford Mondeo Zetec diesel.


We have had diesel cars before so are aware that the coil light needs to go off before starting the engine.


I think we are in the habit of waiting for a few seconds before starting the engine but have just realised that neither of us have ever seen the coil light. The handbook does refer to a coil light.


I was wondering whether this is due to the temperature not being cold enough or does it mean that the light is not connected.


I have done a dashboard test and didn't see a coil light.


Any ideas or should I just contact the garage?


Although I think we have probably left enough time before starting the engine, what are the implications of not waiting for the coil light to go off?


Thanks

Red_Cat

It is most possibly not cold enough for the glow plug cold start feature to function and hence no lamp is illuminated. Common rail fuel systems can create sprays at high pressure, which gives better atomisation. This helps reduce emissions, but also assists combustion at lower temperatures.

I would have thought that the starter motor would not crank the engine if the glow plug was on, if that is what happened before. Modern glow plugs heat up rapidly (within 10 seconds), so if you cranked the engine whilst they were still on, the biggest issue would be the current required and hence the drain on the battery until the glow plugs go off.

If you are unsure about the lamp working at all, you can get it checked out at the dealer or a garage.

daveyjp

Don't know if Fords do it, but some diesels actually pre heat the glow plugs when you unlock the doors.

arcon5

Surely the light would have come on in test mode though

forgotmyname

daveyjp wrote: »

Don't know if Fords do it, but some diesels actually pre heat the glow plugs when you unlock the doors.

That sounds daft. So if your loading and unloading the car and keep opening and closing the doors the battery will be draining fairly rapidly.

40 - 60 amps drawn by the glowplugs typically.

Buellguy

We've had a Citroen C3 diesel for the last 4 and a half years (on a 59 plate) and it has never had the glow plug light come on (don't even think it has one). looking at this


http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=99044


panic if it comes on

27col

Maybe I'm just showing my ignorance. But what the hell does it matter what the light is doing just so long as the engine starts.

yangptangkipperbang

27col wrote: »

Maybe I'm just showing my ignorance. But what the hell does it matter what the light is doing just so long as the engine starts.

I had a diesel Mondeo - used to start it as soon as I was ready, never bothered waiting for the light to go out - always started at first attempt.

daveyjp

forgotmyname wrote: »

That sounds daft. So if your loading and unloading the car and keep opening and closing the doors the battery will be draining fairly rapidly.

40 - 60 amps drawn by the glowplugs typically.

Inventing an extreme example doesn't really demonstrate something is daft. Systems are much more sophisticated than they used to be and the ECU monitors whether glow plugs are needed. With constant heating the ECU will detect the temperature and not provide power to the glow plugs if it isn't needed.

Johnmcl7

27col wrote: »

Maybe I'm just showing my ignorance. But what the hell does it matter what the light is doing just so long as the engine starts.

Possibly not the case with newer diesels but with some older ones, attempting to start the car before the glow plug light went out would mean the car wouldn't start and it could sap the battery. Years ago when I did pizza delivery in diesel Fiesta vans, the glow plug light would stay on for a good 15-20 seconds before it went out and if you tried to start it before the light went out it could flatten the battery.

The diesels I've had since then had the light come on and go out very quickly so it's not been an issue.

John

Richard53

I have a Mondeo diesel (2006) and the glow plug light comes on every time for about 10 seconds, whatever the weather. Sometimes I wait for it to go out, sometimes I start it straight away. It doesn't seem to make much difference, to be honest.

If the car starts well, even on a cold morning, then the glow plugs are fine and it's probably a fault with the warning light.