Nissan Terrano II (1993 - 2005) - 1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs

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Mon 19 Jan 2009 17:09
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - willywombat
Please help.

My 1993 Nissan Terrano 2.7 Turbo Diesel wont always start from cold. It either starts fine or takes ages of turning it over before producing clouds of unburnt fuel then starting, more often its the latter.

I had the AA out who said there was no power to the glow plugs and gave me a can of easy start, which works but is no long term solution.

The glow plug relays look fine with no corrosion at terminals and sound as if they are clicking on and off ok, the glow plug light on the dash comes on as normal aswell. The starter motor and battery are both recent so i dont think its them. I have been told to check the earth from the wiring loom but dont know where to find it.

The car was in the garage for two weeks having other work done but for the whole two weeks started fine so they couldnt investigate the problem.

The fact that sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt suggests to me that it is an electrical problem - any suggestions.
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Mon 19 Jan 2009 22:41
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - piston power
Check the obvious first like the fuse for the glow system, you say relay ok have you tested it?

The glow timer is next these can pack up, also the coolant temp sensor if faulty wont give enough power to glow plugs through timer/relays etc.

Check wiring connections in multi plugs for corrosion by waggling when on, i check with a 12 volt bulb on glow plug wire rather than a meter.

As for the earths remove all and clean up with emery cloth follow loom were you can see. good luck.
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Fri 6 Feb 2009 22:57
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - willywombat
Thanks for the advice, i was busy checking those things but with no luck. Then when i was getting someone to turn the engine over while i sprayed easy start into the air intake i saw a spark come from the first glow plug. I then realised that because the AA man told me there was no power to the glow plugs i assumed it was a fault somewhere in relays etc and didnt really check glow plugs. Any way after i saw the spark i new power was getting to at least the first glow plug and i bought new plugs. It turned out to be a corroded connection between the first plug and the power feed disguised by a plastic cover!!!! I cant believe ive put up with hthis problem for ages and it was so simple!!!

Thanks again.
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Sat 7 Feb 2009 14:28
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - piston power
Simple and cost you next to nothing and you learned something! glad it's fixed mate..
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Mon 3 Apr 2017 13:10
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - kbenton

I had the same issue. both the glow plug relays are on the left as you are looking at the engine bay (right hand side if driving). I removed each one from the mounting and held in my hand as I turned the key and could feel both relays were clicking. I removed the cable from the join at the glow plugs and used continuity beep test from that join to determin which relay was for the glow plug timer by unplugging each main white cable and testing from end to end, Mine was white with a black stripe(same colours at the glow plug so there is no joins) I also double checked the relay was connecting by using a been test between both main terminals in the relay. I tested the other large white cable which should read 12v, it is connected direct to the battery so you should have 12v key or no key, I did not. I traced the line back to the battery which was quite difficult through the bird nest of cables, I found it was joined right next to the battery which is where the issue was, it had been rubbing against the battery and eventually worn its way through the cable braking it in 2. repair was as easy as removing the crimped cables from within the connector, snipping out the broken piece, I opened up the crimp with pointy pliers and put in the newly stripped cable and recrimped.

for me this happened overnight and I was scratching my head wondering what had happened, I was still reading voltage at the glow plugs from this relay which also confused me but it had no amps and showed nothing on a test lamp so must have been some bleed through from the smaller relay switch cabling. It would take 10 seconds of turning over before starting and blow a puff of white smoke and would usually start OK for the remainder of the day while it remained warm.

alternatively you could rewire either a 12v straight from the battery back to the relay 12v input rather than trace through the cables although this would be more pain. If your relay isnt switching check the relay switch cables are getting 12v, if nothing check fuses in the car they;re the 3 to the top left hidden. you could wire in a push button switch to the glow plug rail if you are still struggling with the electrics. The mechanic who confirmed my glow plugs were fine initially told me to run new 12v switch cabling to the glow starter relay because he thought it was a electrical fault somewhere else in the system.

I know this thread is really old but I hope it helps others fault find. Also try reading this thread www.offroadexpress.kiwi/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=307...7

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Mon 3 Apr 2017 13:17
1993 2.7 turb No power to glow plugs - Railroad.

Just go a bit careful with Easy Start as serious damage can occur otherwise. If you're going to use it at all then spray it in very small amounts. If the engine ever starts knocking then stop. A totally safe way to start an old diesel is to use a hot air gun in the air intake for a few seconds prior to cranking. This cannot do any harm at all.

Edited by Railroad. on 03/04/2017 at 13:19

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