what the heck is going on with my Glow Plug Control Unit?

[Artie Fufkin]

Just replaced GP's with the correct mitsu plugs MD092392 and its now doing exactly same thing as incorrect plugs like I described in a previous thread:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/glow-plug-rant-12035.html


With (old) correct plugs normally turn key hear click, 2nd click ... turn key all the way. Then click, click, click, ect. for about 8-10 clicks and its all good.

With incorrect plugs its turn key, click, NO 2nd click when expected, turn key, a second click maybe 8-10 seconds, final click a longggg time later. Guessing 20-25 seconds.

This is WITH THE CORRECT PLUGS.

Starts amazingly but not sure what is going on since its the correct OEM Green Top Mitsu plugs.

VERY CONFUSED.

Starting to wonder if all the clicking originally is the way its supposed to work or not?

Any ideas guys & gals?
Thank you.

Artie

[Artie Fufkin]

I want to meter the entire cycle but I have metered the final portion (2nd to 3rd click) and its 5.8v. Guessing 1st to 2nd click is 12 volt range.

Anyone meter the original click click click cycle? Don't want to install old plugs and meter but will if I have to.

AF

[Artie Fufkin]

no one has any ideas on this?

AF

[mararmeisto]

Could be the water temp sensor on top of engine block. What is your water temp gauge doing on the dashboard? Does it register a change in temperature (i.e. after you've been driving for a while, is the engine "warm")?

If that sensor is no longer working properly, the ECU thinks the engine is "cold", fires the glow plug circuit to keep cycling, which is why you hear the repeated clicking.

[Artie Fufkin]

mararmeisto,

Thanks for the reply.

Water temp sensor seems to being doing exactly as expected.

Which sensor on top of head is water temp? The slightly larger one (with 2 wires) or the smaller one to the right of it (with one wire I believe)?

Like I said, I'm starting to wonder if all this clicking with old GP's is actually normal.

AF

[jrrodger]

Mabye it is just me but your old plugs do not sound right. I think your new plugs sound like they are working properly from my perspective.

the order for mine is
turn key
<click> start glow at 11-12 V
wait about 2-4 seconds
<click> stop glow at 11-12 V
turn over engine and start up with (glow system going on lower voltage)
engine warms up for about 20 seconds
<click> stop glow at lighter voltage (suspect about 5 V but it is harder to tell because the alternator is charging the system)

when you have the mulitple clicks happening during engine warm-up this usually means you have a faulty glow plug in the system. Usually only one plug goes at a time.... I had this problem last year and the new plugs fixed things immediately.

I have a voltmeter in my gauge pod, so I can take a video with the clicks if you like

[bionic]

..check your primary high amp relay. (its the first click one which should also click off)

[Artie Fufkin]

Mabye it is just me but your old plugs do not sound right. I think your new plugs sound like they are working properly from my perspective.

the order for mine is
turn key
<click> start glow at 11-12 V
wait about 2-4 seconds
<click> stop glow at 11-12 V
turn over engine and start up with (glow system going on lower voltage)
engine warms up for about 20 seconds
<click> stop glow at lighter voltage (suspect about 5 V but it is harder to tell because the alternator is charging the system)

when you have the mulitple clicks happening during engine warm-up this usually means you have a faulty glow plug in the system. Usually only one plug goes at a time.... I had this problem last year and the new plugs fixed things immediately.

I have a voltmeter in my gauge pod, so I can take a video with the clicks if you like

Thanks jrrodger.

Yes, mine is now doing exactly what yours is. I've seen so many post about the constant clicking being normal. I confirmed with meter what is going on now and now realize people have it incorrect with all this clicking.

So I guess I owe an apology for my rant a year ago however it seems to reopen the door about after market plugs. Since the 6.3v NKG's I put in initially were doing what the OEM Mitsu's are wouldn't that indicate the NKG's actually work correctly?

AF

[jrrodger]

Yes I have the NGK and they work now as well as the original Mitsu ones until one of the OEM ones bit the bullet.

[Artie Fufkin]

Yes I have the NGK and they work now as well as the original Mitsu ones until one of the OEM ones bit the bullet.

thanks jrrodger for the confirmation. I'll keep the NGK's around as spares then..

AF

[Mazdax605]

Hey guys,

Just yesterday afternoon my 89 delica was acting strange. I had driven about 6 miles home and parked the van knowing I would be going back out in about 45 minutes. When I went to leave I waited for the relay clicks and then started the van. Shortly thereafter the relay kept clicking on and off. I know it was turning on the glow plugs as I could notice the dash lights dim. What should I be looking for? Is it damaging the glow plugs when doing this?

Thanks,

Chris

[FalcoColumbarius]

Hiya Chris,

With the super glow system you will hear the ECU relays clicking on and off as the glow system tunes the temperature of the cylinders to optimal ambient operating temperature. It's not just a one off on-off system, it's normal to hear additional clicks after the engine has been started. It seems odd that you would get a lot of additional clicks after forty-five minutes off, mind you ~ ten kilometres might not completely bring the engine's operating temperature up to ambient and perhaps forty-five minutes was enough to sufficiently cool the motor in this situation?

Falco.

[PHIL]

Hiya Chris,

With the super glow system you will hear the ECU relays clicking on and off as the glow system tunes the temperature of the cylinders to optimal ambient operating temperature. It's not just a one off on-off system, it's normal to hear additional clicks after the engine has been started. It seems odd that you would get a lot of additional clicks after forty-five minutes off, mind you ~ ten kilometres might not completely bring the engine's operating temperature up to ambient and perhaps forty-five minutes was enough to sufficiently cool the motor in this situation?

Falco.

Agreed with Falco. How long did the clicking go on for? Was it a minute or two, or did it continue for the duration of your drive.

I'd suggest the only damage IF there is indeed a fault in the system, would be shortened life, since glowplugs are good for a certain number of cycles (many many cycles of course), but the afterglow system doesn't give them full starting voltage, as far as I can remember, so it wouldn't be anything significant, but that of course depends on how long the system continued to pulse them?

[Mazdax605]

It did it again tonight. It was clicking like a metronome at one point. What controls the relay?