Preglow Indicator Lamp

[ahoythere]

Hi

When starting my '98 E300 TD (W210), I go through the standard procedure of waiting for the orange preglow light on the dash to extinguish before turning the ignition.

Recently, the light has started extinguishing but it comes on again as soon as the motor is running and remains on for about a minute before going off again. Is the engine trying to tell me something? If so, what? I have to say, the car is coming up for a service and the engine is a bit juddery and rattley when starting up. I wondered whether this is the reason the preglow lamp is coming on again??

Can anybody explain what the 'preglow' process actually involves and whether any parts (relating to preglow) need to be changed as a matter of routine.

Many thanks.

 

[BlackC55]

There is no routine to the pre-glow system.

You quite simply have a glow plug or two that are faulty. My advice is to have them all changed as the job it 2,5 hours labour to remove the manifold to gain acess to them.

 

[ahoythere]

Thanks for that BlackC55. Just to be clear, is it the lamp coming back on after the engine has started that indicates a fault with the glow plug(s) or the fact that the engine judders a bit just after starting?

 

[BlackC55]

The reason the car judders is because the glow plugs are not working properly.

The glow plugs are not working properly causing the light to stay on.

 

[ahoythere]

Thanks for clarifying that - replacement glow plugs it is then!