marionacht8
Ka preheating lamp issue
Summary of the thread
A 2008 Ford Ka with a diesel engine had issues with the preheating lamp staying on, the check engine light being constantly illuminated, and smoke during acceleration. The initial suspicion was a defective glow control unit, possibly due to a faulty cable or plug connection. After professional inspection, it was confirmed that the problem was indeed the glow control unit and a faulty connection, which were both repaired, resolving the issue.
Did this summary help you solve your problem?
4 comment(s)
marionacht8 (community.author)
I've only focused on the control unit so far. How did you figure out it was the glow plugs and not something else in the system? Any specific tests you ran or signs you noticed?
idaklein67
For me, the mechanic ran a diagnostic check that pointed directly to the glow plugs. But before that, I noticed rough idling, especially on cold starts, which is another sign. Honestly, it's probably best to get it checked out professionally, unless you have the diagnostic tools yourself.
marionacht8 (community.author)
Thanks for the advice! I took it to a workshop, and you were spot on – it was indeed the glow control unit and, as I suspected, a faulty connection. They replaced the unit and fixed the wiring; cost me about 95€. The preheating light is behaving normally again, the engine light is off, and the smoke is gone. Appreciate the help!
rmh_community_comment_box_header
community_crosslink_scanner_headline
community_crosslink_scanner_intro
community_crosslink_scanner_title
community_crosslink_scanner_price
community_crosslink_rmh_headline
community_crosslink_rmh_intro
community_crosslink_rmh_title
community_crosslink_rmh_subtitle
community_crosslink_rmh_brand
FORD
community_crosslink_rmh_model
KA
idaklein67
Sounds familiar. I had a similar issue with my old Opel Corsa – preheating light stuck on and engine light glaring at me. In my case, it was also related to the glow plugs. Did you check the glow plugs themselves or just the control unit?