No Glow Plug Light. Help!

[M65]

Hope someone can help with this. Basically, pulled out of the car park to come home from work tonight and all was well. Drove about 500 yards and the stereo went off unexpectedly. Thought it was a bit strange but got it back working. Drove about 24 miles home with no more problems, then got about quarter of a mile from home and the stereo went off again. Thought Id check it out when I got home.

Pulled up outside and fiddled with the faceplate for my Alpine making sure it wasnt dirty etc. The engine was off at this point but when I went to turn it on again, no glow plug light at all. The engine started but it was very laboured. The service light for the car came on about a week ago but mileage wise it isnt actually due yet. I dare say there is some sort of connection but thats just my guess based on bad luck with cars!

So, has anyone had this happen to them or know what would cause these weird electrical gremlins, especially the lack of glow plugs? Oh by the way, I had no trouble with lights, wipers, heaters etc on the drive home.

Thanks in advance people.

[Richard.roberts]

Soz cant help with your prob but ive got the 150 derv and for some reason my glow plug light will work fine through the summer months but weardly stops working through the winter(colder) months completely backwards how it should but seems to start the same through eaither

[Critch]

How long had it been sat before tried starting again?

[AntSSSS]

The glow plug coil light will only come on from a cold start. If you have driven the car and then turned off and back on - the light will not illuminate.

[M65]

Critch, AntSSSS - I think you were both getting at the same thing. I had actually only left the engine off for about 2 or 3 minutes before trying again. I did start the car up and although it started, it was rough as a bears backside. Really lumpy and laboured to start.

However, since I posted my original post, I left the car for about 20-30 minutes or so. I went out and tried the car again and it fired up spot on. However, still no glow plug light. Now, if its just like Richard.Roberts answer above then I will be happy with that. So long as the car starts! Just seems odd with the stereo cutting out twice too on the same journey.

[Critch]

If its still no joy on the morning.

then I'd suspect an electrical fault more than likely behind dash. And I'd start with stereo loom if after market stereo fitted make sure factory loom hasn't got trapped and chaffed somewhere.

Ideally you could do with a multimeter to test glow plug circuit.
And also some form of live data to view block temp

[M65]

Fingers crossed it fires up OK in the morning! As soon as the stereo packed up for the 2nd time, I thought I would have to look behind it to check the wiring. It is an aftermarket one and its a bit cramped behind there so I will check it. Will have to wait for weekend for that though as I leave for work when its pitch black and get home when its pitch black.

[M65]

Well, got in the car this morning and all seemed well - apart from the stereo still not working but thats not massively important. Got about 20 miles into my 25 mile journey to work though and the lights started to go dim, wipers started slowing down, relays were clicking like mad and the dash got all festive and lit up like a Christmas tree! Lost power steering, ABS light was on, nothing on the dash worked so no heater, no rear demister etc etc. Just about managed to limp to a garage round the corner from work who diagnosed a goosed alternator. Currently lubing up, ready for penetration!

[AntSSSS]

Classic failure

[Ziggy]

Have a look on carparts connextion in the saab section. There are some discounted alternators in there, that may or may not be suitable for the vec