Wingnut
Top Post Dawg
First and foremost....Big thanks to member Fred (samfisher) who did the experimenting to find this info out. This mod will help a lot of folks with cold start problems who cannot rectify them with a timing adjustment.
Now as we all now, some cars have a difficult time starting when it is just above the freezing mark. This is due to the fact the glow plugs do not come on if the temps are above 9*C or 48*F (or somewhere around there). Any warmer and the ambient temp is usually ok to start fine and any colder than that and the plugs will glow to asist with starting. Of course there is a margin of error a few degrees either way. Also, atmoshperic pressure will affect your glow time too. The higher the pressure, the shorter the glow time. Thats why people at higher elevations will have a longer glow time, even above 9*C.
So in order to extend the glow time, you simply have to log into the engine module and make an adaptation change in group 12.
Here are the directions:
1) Turn on ignition
2) Go to engine controler
3) Log in using 12233 as the code
4) Click on Adaptation and go to group 12.
5) Change adaptation number from 32768 (default) to somewhere around 32700
6) Click test, then save the new value.
7) Close controler
8) Turn off ignition and turn back on again.
9) Go to the engine controler & log in again.
10) Go to adaptation block 12 and you should see a change in the second window. This value is the amount of time in seconds that the glow plugs will be active.
Note, you must do this with a cold engine to be able to see the results of your adaptation. You can do the adaptation at any time, but won't notice anything till the engine temp is cold. Also, the new glow time will not appear in the second window (no units) after you do the adaptaion. You must turn the ignition off & on and re-log in to the engine controler to see the results of the adaptation.
I did some experimenting at different temps and this is what I found:
Engine coolant temp was at 7.2*C
Normal glow time is 1.01 seconds
I then changed the adaptation value to 32700 (same ECT)
Glow duration is now 2.88 seconds
And finally, I changed the adaptation to 32650
Glow time was 6.61 seconds:
Now, in my opinion, this last adaptation seting is too much. We only need a few seconds of glow as these plugs get hot very quickly. If you adapt it to this setting, you may prematurely burn out your plugs? Now having said that, everyones car is different and you may have more or less glow time than me at that setting & temp. You will have to adjust it according to your own cars needs. I would recommend setting it to 32700 first and see if your car starts ok and then leave it. If not, and you need a litle more glow time, adjust accordingly. I also have to mention, that this adaptation was done on an ALH engine. I have not tried it on a 1Z(pre 99.5) or BEW PD engine. Hopefully others will experiment and post their results.
For reference, here are some screen shots I took at 13.5*C
Stock setting - no glow
And with an adaptation setting of 32650
glow time is 2.57 seconds
So basically, what you need to do, is find out at what temperature your car has a hard time starting and adjust the glow time according to that temperature. Around 3 seconds is all you need, so if you have a hard time starting the car at 13.5*C (56*F), then set the adaptation to around 32650. If you car starts fine at that temp, but has a hard time around 7*C (45*F), then set the adaptation value to around 32700. Again, this is only my own car and yours may differ slightly. I am also very close to sea level, so if you are higher than sea level, your values may differ also...this is just a guideline.
I hope this helps out all of you who have cold starting issues. But also be aware that glow time is not the only thing to affect cold starts. Do not do this mod to mask another underlying problem. Poor injection timing (mechanical) will also affect cold starts and you should check & adjust that as well before trying this adjustment.
Good luck to all and thanks again to samfisher for the legwork on finding this info out.
Disclaimer: Even though i did this to my car, you are doing it to your car at your own risk. If you blow glow plugs at a high rate, you are your own warranty. This is for informational purposes only
Now as we all now, some cars have a difficult time starting when it is just above the freezing mark. This is due to the fact the glow plugs do not come on if the temps are above 9*C or 48*F (or somewhere around there). Any warmer and the ambient temp is usually ok to start fine and any colder than that and the plugs will glow to asist with starting. Of course there is a margin of error a few degrees either way. Also, atmoshperic pressure will affect your glow time too. The higher the pressure, the shorter the glow time. Thats why people at higher elevations will have a longer glow time, even above 9*C.
So in order to extend the glow time, you simply have to log into the engine module and make an adaptation change in group 12.
Here are the directions:
1) Turn on ignition
2) Go to engine controler
3) Log in using 12233 as the code
4) Click on Adaptation and go to group 12.
5) Change adaptation number from 32768 (default) to somewhere around 32700
6) Click test, then save the new value.
7) Close controler
8) Turn off ignition and turn back on again.
9) Go to the engine controler & log in again.
10) Go to adaptation block 12 and you should see a change in the second window. This value is the amount of time in seconds that the glow plugs will be active.
Note, you must do this with a cold engine to be able to see the results of your adaptation. You can do the adaptation at any time, but won't notice anything till the engine temp is cold. Also, the new glow time will not appear in the second window (no units) after you do the adaptaion. You must turn the ignition off & on and re-log in to the engine controler to see the results of the adaptation.
I did some experimenting at different temps and this is what I found:
Engine coolant temp was at 7.2*C
Normal glow time is 1.01 seconds
I then changed the adaptation value to 32700 (same ECT)
Glow duration is now 2.88 seconds
And finally, I changed the adaptation to 32650
Glow time was 6.61 seconds:
Now, in my opinion, this last adaptation seting is too much. We only need a few seconds of glow as these plugs get hot very quickly. If you adapt it to this setting, you may prematurely burn out your plugs? Now having said that, everyones car is different and you may have more or less glow time than me at that setting & temp. You will have to adjust it according to your own cars needs. I would recommend setting it to 32700 first and see if your car starts ok and then leave it. If not, and you need a litle more glow time, adjust accordingly. I also have to mention, that this adaptation was done on an ALH engine. I have not tried it on a 1Z(pre 99.5) or BEW PD engine. Hopefully others will experiment and post their results.
For reference, here are some screen shots I took at 13.5*C
Stock setting - no glow
And with an adaptation setting of 32650
glow time is 2.57 seconds
So basically, what you need to do, is find out at what temperature your car has a hard time starting and adjust the glow time according to that temperature. Around 3 seconds is all you need, so if you have a hard time starting the car at 13.5*C (56*F), then set the adaptation to around 32650. If you car starts fine at that temp, but has a hard time around 7*C (45*F), then set the adaptation value to around 32700. Again, this is only my own car and yours may differ slightly. I am also very close to sea level, so if you are higher than sea level, your values may differ also...this is just a guideline.
I hope this helps out all of you who have cold starting issues. But also be aware that glow time is not the only thing to affect cold starts. Do not do this mod to mask another underlying problem. Poor injection timing (mechanical) will also affect cold starts and you should check & adjust that as well before trying this adjustment.
Good luck to all and thanks again to samfisher for the legwork on finding this info out.
Disclaimer: Even though i did this to my car, you are doing it to your car at your own risk. If you blow glow plugs at a high rate, you are your own warranty. This is for informational purposes only
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