Glow Plugs - How to bypass the Timer?

[Hill Billy]

Hi guys, I need help. My Bakkie is stuggeling in the cold. Apparently it is the Glow plug Timing Unit. SAC is asking R1600 for the part but Gemini is only R1250.

This is still to much, now I'm thinking of rigging some push-button switch that I can hold in and so do the job of the timer unit.

Seems like the more stuff is automated the more they break

Anyone have an idea of how to do this?

Cheers

[duppa]

A four pin relay and a decent push button will do the trick although sometimes one tends to press the button to long and then damage the glow plugs, so both has it s pro's and cons. I have two vw diesel bakkies (old ones ) and they both work fine with the push button, and if the engine is ok you will only need to push it once in the morning and it should start easily during the rest of the day

[Hill Billy]

Thanx Andre

Any chance of drawing a picture for me, I seem to function better that way.

Maybe take a few photo's of you're vw's setup.

Can I use the current GP relay in the setup, cause it should handle the amp/volts better. Keeping this in mind do I need a "stronger" switch or will any switch do?

[Hill Billy]

I found the problem with the Glow plugs.

It seems that when the Bakkie went to SAC, they "adjusted" a wire that was connected to the engine. SAC had all kinds of explanations of what the problem was… SAC even forgot to put the skidplate below the tranfercase (I think it's called) back and a few other problems.

(I'll try and take some photos and post it.)

After SAC said that it'll cost me 1600 just for the little computer/timer and then Labour will still be added, I decided that I'll do it myself... (since then I found that a generic unit can be had for +-R750-950 at the Auto spares places).

One afternoon after work I was looking at the engine bay and thinking..., then I saw that on the engine is broken connector. I crawled under the Bakkie and looked and looked, finally I saw that there was wire that would fit that connection point on the engine.

After connecting the wire to the engine, my glow-plugs started working....
10cents vs 2000+....

SAC will never see me again.
I must say that my experience with SAC has not been great. What I find fascinating with these service stations it that afterwards they give you this courtesy call to find out if you're happy. If you are not happy, it's useless telling the lady about you're problem/bad service ect. I'm still waiting for SAC & Toyota to respond to my complaints....

[Marty]

What SAC branch did you go to?
I had all my mods done in the one in Centurion. But for my normal services I take it to Boksburg (Close to work)

[Hill Billy]

The one you mentioned.
I was truly disappointed.
The problem was not with "tuning" but with everything else they did.
One of the main things I think is that they don't listen to what the client is telling them.
If you want more info on what they did or did not do, rather PM me I don't want to go into all the sorted detail in this post. Just be careful out there, let other people pay the school fees...Diesel is duur!

[Marty]

Thats 100% I understand...
I am just glad you found the problem.

[BenHur]

If you change the glowplugs for spark plugs all your problems will go away

[Hill Billy]

mmm, but then again, what'll I do for for fun... I'm now kinda addicted to the smell for burning oil in the morning!!!!

on a side note:
The reason I went to diesel was that I was told that I'll have a much easier time finding diesel in Africa than pertol and that diesel is a little bit more reliable --> is there any truth to this?

What would be the main advantages pertrol vs diesel - for overlanding purposes specifically.

[OOOOMS]

That may have been so in the past, however Malawi, Bots, Zambia (not Zim) petrol and diesel is available in almost all regions. Not sure how far you want to travel?

[Hill Billy]

Any idea what's the status of leaded vs unleaded?

How much damage will you do if you swop between the two?

Not much further than Zambia for now.