Citroen saxo 1998 1.5D wont start ? pls advise

alykhalil

Dave_G wrote:

Yes thats right. Either let it touch the engine or run a cable directly from there to the battery earth, then turn on the ignition and see if it glows. If you have a multimeter you could just remove the electrical connection, then see if you get 12v between the cable and earth when the ignition is switched on.

right..i will touch the screw bit on the glow plug (that screws into the engine) to the engine rather than taking a wire and touching the screw bit on the glow plug and the earth of the battery coz i wudnt know which is the earth bit of the bettery.

Dave_G_5

The earth on the battery is negative, if you follow the wires from that terminal on the battery you should find they go straight to the car body as the whole body should be earth too, along with the engine etc.

I guess when you try to start it, it turns over fine, just doesn't catch?

alykhalil

Dave_G wrote:

The earth on the battery is negative, if you follow the wires from that terminal on the battery you should find they go straight to the car body as the whole body should be earth too, along with the engine etc.

I guess when you try to start it, it turns over fine, just doesn't catch?

thank you much will try that...cheers..will let you know...

Dave_G_5

Did they glow or did it start?

alykhalil

Dave_G wrote:

Did they glow or did it start?

no, not yet...was working last nite, came back went to bed, woke up, picking daughter from school now and once back..will check...cheers for asking..will give you a shout..thks again

alykhalil

Dave_G wrote:

Did they glow or did it start?

I have been tring since an hour and a 1/2 now..but no luck. THE GLOW PLUGS DONT GLOW. here is what i did :

the engine has 4 glow plugs going into it, all 4 connected by a W shape wire. each pointed side of the W shaped wire screws onto the head of the glow plug (after the plug has been screwed into the engine).

now, the right most pointed/corner bit of the W shaped wire holds the W shaped wire as well as 1 power wire to it. so this power cable provides power to other glow plugs also through the W shaped wire.

what i did was, i got the right most plug off (which has the power cable also attached to it) of the engine, unscrewed the plug from the engine, attached/screwed the power cable ONLY (not the W shaped wire) back on to the head of the plug...took ANY wire, wrapped 1 end of ANY round the screw threads of the glow plug (the power cable was still screwed on the head of the glow plug)...the other end of this ANY wire i connected to the negavite (-) connection of the battery and started the ignition...i mean did not start the engine...just the ignition. THE PLUG DID NOT GLOW..

the same plug i also tried it touching it to the engine and not use ANY wire...but it still dont glow....

Now, this power cable that connects to one of the glow plugs and passes power to other plugs by the W shaped wire, goes into the left hand rear side of drivers head lamp (when facing the engine)...it goes into a black blax i believe which when i opened it..has some computer chip like things, coils etc.

i dont understand where the fault could be..maybe you can help. thank you ever so much...

alykhalil

Dave_G wrote:

Did they glow or did it start?

any advise mate ? thank you

attritioner

alykhalil wrote:

Now, this power cable that connects to one of the glow plugs and passes power to other plugs by the W shaped wire, goes into the left hand rear side of drivers head lamp (when facing the engine)...it goes into a black blax i believe which when i opened it..has some computer chip like things, coils etc.

This is the relay that controls the heater plugs. This sounds to be your problem

attritioner wrote:

Remember seeing faulty relay before.

what you have to do is:

1. Put all the heater plugs back in to the car.
2. Attach the cable (W shaped) that links the heater plugs together
3. DO NOT attach the cable from the relay to the heater plugs i.e you should only have the W shaped wire connecting the heater plugs
4. Get some jump leads
5. Connect one end of the jumpleads (the red) to the positive (red) terminal of you battery
6. Get the other end of the (red) jump lead and CAREFULLY touch the tip of one of the heater plugs - any one that you can touch easily
7. After about 10 seconds remove the lead and quickly try and start the car.

8a. If its starts either replace the relay and hope it works
8b. Take it to an auto-electrican / mechanic who will diagnose the faulty wiring / part (the relay or associated wiring)
8c. Or if you would like you can re-wire the heater plugs using an old mini starter solinoid - I can help you with the details if you decide to do this.

Regards

Dave_G_5

As above, it sounds like the relay isn't working, but it would be worth checking any fuses in the circuit first. What you have done is correct and if the heating circuit was working correctly then the plug would have glowed. Might be worth just removing the relay and seeing if all the contacts on it are nice and clean. You could also feel the relay as someone else turns on the ignition to see if you can feel it click.

alykhalil

attritioner wrote:

This is the relay that controls the heater plugs. This sounds to be your problem



what you have to do is:

1. Put all the heater plugs back in to the car.............
2. Attach the cable (W shaped) that links the heater plugs together
3. DO NOT attach the cable from the relay to the heater plugs i.e you should only have the W shaped wire connecting the heater plugs
4. Get some jump leads
5. Connect one end of the jumpleads (the red) to the positive (red) terminal of you battery
6. Get the other end of the (red) jump lead and CAREFULLY touch the tip of one of the heater plugs - any one that you can touch easily
7. After about 10 seconds remove the lead and quickly try and start the car.

thank you loads mate...you wont believe this...the above method started the car in half a second..so i think its more than confirmed now that something is wrong with the relay....shall i have it replaced or is there a cheaper way ?
i cant believe this...just coz the car wudnt start, i got a new battery, new glow plugs, changed the engine oil and filer..etc..but it turns out to be the relay...huh..

pls advise...shall i get a new relay or is a cheaper option available...?

thank you millions again