iveco 35 10 2.8 turbo diesel s-reg.glowplug warning light flashing!?

you don't have glow 'plugs' on this engine, you have whats called a thermostarter, this is a single glow plug with a fuel supply to it, you can see it if you look at the engine, left hand side just below the turbo, looks like an injector (which it is sort of) has a black pipe running from the fuel pump around the frond of the engine clipped to the cam belt cover to the solenoid, then a metal injector style pipe from the solenoid to the thermostarter fuel inlet.

the thermostarter is only operated when the coolant temp is below 2 degrees C (you will note there are 2 temp senders on the thermostat housing, ones for the temp gauge the other is for the thermostarter, it's the one with a lead and inline plug)

if the coolant it below 2 degrees, the glow plug will heat up, the light on the dash will turn on, when it begins to flash start the engine, and fuel will be added to the thermostarter, which will spray a flame down the intake manifold.

the thermostarter continues to operate for 45 seconds after starting,

there are fault conditions shown by the light, but i cant remember them off hand, but if the engine is starting fine, then dont worry about it, it could be the temp sensor needs replacing, as it may be triggering the thermostarter when it's not needed, it's not an expensive part,

but after starting the engine when it's a warm day, pop the bonnet and carefully feel the thermostarters body, it could be very hot so be carefull, if it is hot, and your certian the coolant is above 2 degrees C, then the sensor needs replacing, but as it's only 1 glow plug, it's not as big a deal as if you had the non turbo engine which is indirect injection, and thus can use glowplugs, where 4 plugs will be pulling 80 amps (btw, all glowplugs continue to glow after the engine has started, just most dont tell you that via the light as ivecos do.

Gazz
April 2010