How to Detect a Glow Plug Relay Failure in Your Mercedes

 

Even if you are no mechanic or technician, it is at times a bit important to be slightly clued up on certain parts and components of your Mercedes. While recognizing issues with any part/s of a system is no mean feat, a bit of knowledge about them specific to makes and models can be quite useful. One such component is the glow plug relay that can fail in Mercedes vehicles.

It is basically a heating device that helps the engine to start. It is responsible for switching the current for the glow plugs on and off, causing them to heat up rapidly and ignite the fuel in the engine.

The Glow Plug Time Relay: A Double-Edged Sword:

Used as an alternative to traditional spark plugs, they are capable of generating high temperatures to create fuel instead of a spark. Commonly found in diesel Mercedes engines, they use high levels of pressure and temperatures to combust the fuel through engine cylinders. In other words, they serve to supply the heat for cylinders. Poor performance of the plugs means more of starting issues and reduced performance. To avoid issues with the system, bring your Mercedes in for a fix and repair at nearby Mercedes Benz Greensboro auto shop.

Unfortunately, if they sustain the heat for long, they would cause severe damage. Similarly, if they are not powered for long, you will not have enough heat to ignite the fuel successfully. It’s like a double-edged sword. To fix this problem, the glow plugs use a glow plug timer with relay which tells the glow plug to turn on and off at appropriate times and intervals.

In other words, in the absence of the timer relay, the plugs may go out of sync with the rest of the engine system, leading to starting and combustion problems.

Signs and Symptoms of Glow Plug Time Relay Failure:

There are 3 common signs of glow plug timer relay failure. If you have noticed any of them, you must take action right away and prevent the severe damage that can be caused by glow plugs falling out of time with then rest of the engine system. These signs are misfires, illumination of glow plug light, and engine management light. Reach out to the technicians for Mercedes-Benz service Greensboro.