Flashing Glow Plug Light

[fromrusttoroadtrip]

Hi everyone, been using this forum quite a bit but never posted anything before as I’ve always found an answer on here but this one is a mystery.
Before I start we have a 2002 LDV Convoy (groan) with a Mk6 2.4L Ford Duratorq engine.
We are currently in Albania and recently hit quite a large bump in the road then suddenly the glow plug light started flashing and the speedometer stopped working. I’m not sure if these two things are related but we’ve had no other symptoms apart from the engine cut out once a couple of days later. At the moment I’m thinking there could be a glow plug gone or a sticky relay as we’ve been cycling the ignition on and off a few times each morning to help it start as we’ve had temperatures as low as -7°C lately. The van takes as much as 30 sec to a minute to start sometimes and usually smokes a bit until the engine’s warmed up. It also seems to be lacking a bit of horsepower, not much maybe 10-15% at the top end of each gear.
The OBD reader is throwing up quite a few different error codes which is making it hard to identify the problem (will include below); they reappear each time they’re cleared. Oh and all of this started the day after a friendly Albanian guy took our van’s battery out to put his car battery in and start the van when we ran out of juice, then swapped the batteries over while the engine was still running. He fixed a loose positive terminal by inserting a screw into it but we’re wondering if maybe something he did may have contributed to this issue.
Sorry if this post is long, I’m trying to include as much information as possible in the hope that some of it might piece together and narrow down the problem. We can’t really take it to a garage here as most of them are dodgy and just trying to take us for a ride (even the locals have told us to watch out) so any help would be really appreciated!

Here are the error codes:

===PCM DTC P0650===
Code: P0650 - MIL control circuit

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

MIL control circuit

===END PCM DTC P0650===

===PCM DTC P0404===
Code: P0404 - EGR valve position control performance or range fault

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

EGR valve position control performance or range fault

This DTC may be caused by :

Open Circuit

Short circuit to ground or battery

Damaged or worn vacuum hose

EGR valve assembly

Blocked hoses / filter / valves

Faulty or damaged PCM.

===END PCM DTC P0404===

===PCM DTC P1666===
Code: P1666 - FIP crank reference synchronisation

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

FIP crank reference synchronisation

CPS circuit fault

Open Circuit

This DTC may be caused by :

Signal shorted to ground or signal return.

CPS

Static timing

CSRS wiring between PCM and FIP

===END PCM DTC P1666===

===PCM DTC P0149===
Code: P0149 - Fuel timing error reported by FIP

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

Fuel timing error reported by FIP

This DTC may be caused by :

Static pump timing incorrectly set after a pump replacement.

For additional information refer to:

TSB Number

8/2004

If DTC P1564 is present and the engine is knocking, renew the FIP timing solenoid.

For additional information refer to:

TSB Number

64/2004

For further diagnostic information refer to the appropriate section of eTIS.

Air in the fuel system

Blocked kinked or crushed fuel lines

Outlet fuel connector pressure control valve seized or blocked.

Blocked external filter

CPS circuit fault

FIP supply voltage

CPS

===END PCM DTC P0149===

===PCM DTC P1564===
Code: P1564 - FIP requesting reduced fuelling mode

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

FIP requesting reduced fuelling mode

The FIP has identified a fault that may cause damage to the engine

If any other DTCs are present address these first.

===END PCM DTC P1564===

===PCM DTC P0381===
Code: P0381 - Glowplug lamp circuit

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

Glowplug lamp circuit

Open Circuit

Short circuit to ground or battery

This DTC may be caused by :

Glow plug lamp failure

===END PCM DTC P0381===

===PCM DTC P0216===
Code: P0216 - Injection timing control circuit

Module: Powertrain Control Module

Diagnostic Trouble Code details

Injection timing control circuit

CPS circuit fault

CPS

This DTC may be caused by :

(PCM)

CAN communication lines between PCM and FIP

===END PCM DTC P0216===

[Altransit]

Welcome to the forum

Convoy would be fitted with a 75ps engine, or a 90ps intercooled, but it's the same engine with different mapping.

This engine doesn't normally need the glowplugs for starting, but it could be that the -7 temps are needing them, and one or more isn't working, causing your poor starting issues

[knobby1]

Your error codes point to a possibly duff fuel pump EDC, among other things.....fairly common on the TDDi engines......You may have a VP30 fuel pump I suspect.

Lord Knobrot

[fromrusttoroadtrip]

Thanks for the the replies. The codes would seem to indicate that but I suspect it’s just a red herring as we only changed the diesel pump last year and have had no issues driving.
I know it sounds silly but could a burnt out glow plug cause the flashing glow plug light? We were wondering if it might just be the relay as all three of the relays above the ECU seem to be getting hot.

Thanks

[Altransit]

Only one relay would relate to the glow plugs, and I have no idea where it's located on the Convoy, but either way, it shouldn't bring on the engine light

Convoys are notorious for leaking through the screen and on to the ECU, so you could possibly have a look and see if it has water ingress

[Altransit]

Have a read through of this thread, there may be some ideas. Look, in particular, at the posts by Frag

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=173875&c=1

[Dave Deeda]

Hi, long time ago, don't know if you'll get this, but did you solve the problem ? My glow plug light has started flashing..
Thanks
Dave

[knobby1]

Hi, long time ago, don't know if you'll get this, but did you solve the problem ? My glow plug light has started flashing..
Thanks
Dave

Unfortunately he hasn't been back here since March of 2020.

What fault codes are you getting..??

Lord Knobrot

[Dave Deeda]

Hi, thanks for replying.
I was drawn to this particular thread by similarities with my problem.
Currently no codes...I had a mobile car electrician come out initially to sort out a no headlight problem...I was a bit concerned that he had trouble identifying which relay was which, but in the end he made a wire between a relay and the battery which seemed to solve the problem.
Up to this point he had been turning the ignition on without starting the van to check the lights.
After he went, I started the van once, then second time the glow plugs started flashing and won't start.
Never happened before and I obviously think issue is connected.
Electrician can't see me again until Monday...trying to tell me it's nothing to do with what he did.
I suspect that by constantly turning on ignition to check lights, and leaving ignition on ( thus activating glows plugs ) something has burnt out.
Either that or his wiring is shorting something out. In the new wire he put in it was only meant to be live when ignition on, but it appears live all the time, and when I turn key to try to start, it blows the fuse in the line that he put in..
Thanks
Dave

[knobby1]

Hi, thanks for replying.
I was drawn to this particular thread by similarities with my problem.
Currently no codes...I had a mobile car electrician come out initially to sort out a no headlight problem...I was a bit concerned that he had trouble identifying which relay was which, but in the end he made a wire between a relay and the battery which seemed to solve the problem.
Up to this point he had been turning the ignition on without starting the van to check the lights.
After he went, I started the van once, then second time the glow plugs started flashing and won't start.
Never happened before and I obviously think issue is connected.
Electrician can't see me again until Monday...trying to tell me it's nothing to do with what he did.
I suspect that by constantly turning on ignition to check lights, and leaving ignition on ( thus activating glows plugs ) something has burnt out.
Either that or his wiring is shorting something out. In the new wire he put in it was only meant to be live when ignition on, but it appears live all the time, and when I turn key to try to start, it blows the fuse in the line that he put in..
Thanks
Dave

If it blows a fuse, you have a dead short....You'll need to pull the fault codes to find out what is going on..The glow plug light doubles as a DTC light. When it flashes, you have fault codes stored.

Download Forscan, get the recommended cable and do it yourself.

Lord Knobrot

[Dave Deeda]

Thanks, right, that helps.
Part of me thinks I want the electrician I first called out to put right what I feel he has either caused, or should have found in the first place. He's a nice old guy, says he has 25 years experience, but wondering if he's so old school he has never used a diagnostic kit in his life.
But I've had a few electrickery issues and have wondered if it's time I should overcome my resistance to ' all them wires ',and give it a go...I've always done my own more mechanical stuff, and it's ironic that the first time I listen to the wife saying 'stop being so bloody stubborn and get some help '... it hasn't helped..
So..where you plug in the diagnostic, does it look a bit like a TV scart lead socket, located under the ashtray in an Ldv Convoy 2.4 ? There's something there, I was wondering what it was...
Cheers again

[Altransit]

Yes, looks a bit like a scart socket, that's the kiddy

I didn't know where it was, handy to know it's in the dash top fuse box; the last LDV I had, was old school with no electronics to be seen

[Dave Deeda]

Cheers, I'm beginning to wish mine was bit more old school (it's 2004 ), so it didn't have any electronics..if I get it fixed I'm considering converting to steam engine..

[Dave Deeda]

One last thought before the mobile electrician comes over tomorow ( giving him a chance to put right anything he might have done ) ...if its a question of sorting out a shorting out, and it was put right, would it turn off the flashing glow plug light, or would I still need to plug in forscan to reset the Dtc ?
Thanks

[Dave Deeda]

So..I have sorted out Forscan and run it and came up with some codes..I managed to delete all but one, which is p1665, which apparently associated with the Fuel injectors. Because of what happened leading to it, which was an electrician bridging a headlight relay to try and fix headlights not working; rather than thinking it's mechanical, Im thinking it's an issue of current not getting through somewhere, ie a short.
There seems to be current getting to the ecu ok.The van turns over, will not start.Glow plug light still flashes.is there a straightforward way to see if current is getting to the diesel pump and injectors, because the pump is quite inaccessible ?
Also I have read on another thread somewhere..is there some sort of ecu specifically attached to the diesel pump ? Or maybe I'm getting confused.
This has been going on at least a month, any more help greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Dave