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Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:45 pm
by Zedhed
Hi folks.is there supposed to be a glow plug icon on the dash when turning the ignition on?also when pressing dsc button i cant see anything happening with that neither. :(

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:55 pm
by snrbrtsn
The glowplugs work when temps drop <5 degrees thereafter the light illuminates on first start.

Though they normally work all the time, just no requirement for pre start heat, I suggest normally as their sensitive and most often faulty, whether plugs themselves or module! A bit of a weakness though not really needed for starting, but linked to dpf for regen I believe, complex things & systems

Dsc should switch on off the traction control and illuminate a light on dash ??? Try pressing several times

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:33 pm
by Zedhed
Ok thanks bud.should of mentioned though its 2004 3.0 d auto.sorry.i believe there is no dpf on these.am i right in thinking this. ::)

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:41 pm
by Horizon
[quote="Zedhed"]
Ok thanks bud.should of mentioned though its 2004 3.0 d auto.sorry.i believe there is no dpf on these.am i right in thinking this. ::)
[/quote]

Yes, there was no DPF fitted to UK spec E53's
As mentioned the glowplugs are not initiated above 5 degs ambient temperature. Even below 5 degrees failed glowplugs won't be a problem apart from a plume of smoke from the exhaust on start up.

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:13 pm
by Zedhed
Funny you should mention the smoke.it does give a little puff of smoke on morning from cold but thats it then.

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:22 am
by Alan Gunn
No glow plug icon on mine it just say's "PRE HEAING" on the display when it's cold enough that is.

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:45 am
by X5Sport
DSC will go on/off with a long (a few seconds) press.  A short press will part disable the system which can be useful in winter conditions when trying to move the car.  It has sometimes been referred to as 'Snow mode'.

No DPF as said above.

Many EU3 diesels (which the E53 is) have the tell-tale starting puff when fully cold.  Later systems don't do it.  I have never seen a starting puff smoke on my X6 or Škoda Superb.

If you do find that the glowplugs are showing faulty then it is worth changing the controller at the same time as they have a tendency to pack up shortly after the plugs get replaced.  A fault code scan will tell you if they are working or not.

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:51 pm
by Zedhed
Ok thanks peeps.was thinking of investing in a snap on scanner tbh,i reckon it will pay for itself on the x5 alone :)).on the subject,can anyone reccomend a certain model around the £300 mark.2nd hand of course.

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:06 pm
by snrbrtsn
Carly or creator c310, much cheaper at circa £100

Re: Glow plug icon and dsc ?

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:13 pm
by Smeeagain
[quote="snrbrtsn"]
Carly or creator c310, much cheaper at circa £100
[/quote]

Or read this instead - much more information. http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... 797.0.html

But as a point of order, if you ask a question mid post that is entirely different to your original post you aren't guaranteed getting the answers you want i.e. folk who know about scanners and want to contribute to a discussion about them, aren't necessarily know that that question is posed within thread titled "Glow plug icon and dsc", and they may not even read a post about glow plugs