Vanagon L4-1588cc 1.6L DSL SOHC (1983)
Glow Plug: Description and Operation
Fig. 27 Glow plug installation
During cold starts, diesel compression heat is dissipated rapidly through the cold engine so that a pre-heating provision is necessary to ensure
compression ignition. The glow plugs are threaded into the cylinder head so they project into each combustion chamber, Fig. 27. A heating element in
each plug gets red hot whenever current is applied to the plug terminals.
Current is supplied to the glow plugs directly from the battery by a relay which is controlled by the ignition switch. A temperature sensor connected to a
time circuit in the relay controls pre-heating time. The colder the temperature, the longer the pre-heating time. The glow plug light is on when the plugs
are being heated and goes off when the engine is ready to start.
