Diesel Glowplugs Problem

[Tracey Suntan-King]

Can anyone help please? Is my 2011 Subaru Forester boxer diesel kaput?

Two warning lights are on, one for the engine and the other for the Vehicle Dynamics Control. This gives an error code of P1380 at my local Subaru dealers, who don't want the repair job

This means that one of the glowplugs has gone. Strangely, the car runs fine but I don't feel safe as the ABS And VDC are not active and the hill start function is also inactive. No cruise control either.

Not a lot of info on Google but indications are that replacing a glowplug costs around £425 unless it (glowplug) breaks which can lead to thousands of £.

None of the garages I've enquiried at are ringing me back. If I knew it was definitely going to cost £425 I wouldn't have a problem there appears to be a risk of a much higher bill.

Is it time for a trade in and take the massive hit on value, or repair, or what?

Do glowplugs break easily?

BCF help please!

Thank you

There is a ray of hope, Sid has found one of the glowplugs fuses has blown. So it could just be a fuse, but if the replacement blows (we won't get that till tomorrow) it's the plug and back to the problem above.
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[RhynoCZ]

Glow plugs don't break, just being there. The only time they break is when you force them out. That is the fun part of changing them. If a glow plugs breaks, then it's the head down in 9 out of 10 cases.

The ABS and other systems should not be connected to a glow plug failure. If there is snow where you drive, it is possible the snow covered one of the speed sensors at the wheels, so the system does not know how fast the wheels are spinning, therefore disables the ABS and other systems that are related to the actual speed of the individual wheels.

Even if there is no snow, I'd be checking the sensors and then scale it reads the speed from.

It could also be a faulty ABS pump.

EDIT: https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/got-odd-code-yesterday-p1380-193852.html?
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[mysterious_rider]

Must be a twat of a job to do. Tbh if it runs fine in winter id leave it alone. They are only to assist in cold starts. Early diesels didnt even have them.

Otherwise a garage wont want to give you quotes. Just book it in somewhere you trust. People who ask for quotes are usually cheapskate time wasters. Seen it many a time.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[J4mes]

Paid £2500 to have the plugs changed on my discovery

There are tools around which vibrate them out which you can hire or find a specialist which has one.

[Nexus Icon]

Rhino, as soon as a Subaru throws up an engine light the system turns off all of the driver aids, ABS, Cruise, traction control, etc. and lights up the dash like a Christmas tree. I had the same when the reverse switch broke on my Impreza.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Polarbear]

I changed the glow-plugs on my trusty BMC1500 canal boat diesel. It was a fucking nightmare to get them out without breaking them and this is the simplest diesel known to man.

1/8 turn one way, then back again. Plus gas, slowly slowly catchee monkey job.

Took most of 6 hours to change 4 glow-plugs without breaking them. The trouble is a garage isn't going to do that, it will try and undo, and if it breaks - thats head removal time.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[stevo as b4]

Id be chuffed at having to replace a few glow plugs on a Boxer diesel. Don't start looking up engine faults/damage for these engines whatever you do, as you will see plenty of carnage and destruction.

It's a shame, as the boxer Diesel has quite a nice and mellow unobtrusive sound compared to the VAG TDI knockers or the Harsh Ford TDCI engines etc.

[Suntan Sid]

[J4mes]

Any way any way to trace the wires at all? Or bell it out with a meter?

I'd stick a new fuse in and give it a whirl!

[Suntan Sid]

I should be able to get some new fuses tomorrow morning, local motor factors has ordered them in, they had every amperage apart from the one I needed, obviously!

I was wondering if the fuse that has blown directly protects the glow plugs. Going by what's written on the fuse box, I'm guessing it doesn't, if that's the case what does it protect.

No garage, so too dark and cold to be doing anything at the moment!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[mysterious_rider]

Well they are to protect the car from a fire. When you put the ignition on they will be live. Not too sure if for few seconds or perma.

Either way if its touching frame... Not good.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[J4mes]

If it protects the glow plug control relay it might be worth pulling it out and checking it. Is it just a basic 4 pin relay or does it look complex?

[Rogerborg]

[Suntan Sid]

Some intense googling has turned this up.
From page 13 page of this Subaru press release document:-

https://www.motorshow.me/GalleryDocs/Doc2774.pdf

[robs321]

[mysterious_rider]

Best thing is to run the engine hot first. Then strip it apart.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[Suntan Sid]

Well, got the new fuse, no difference!

Just spoken to the main dealer service centre and yes it's a known problem.
Their view of the problem is, with it being a 4 year old, 60k mile, engine they don't expect it to be the glow plugs it's more likely to be the glow plug relay.
They take the view that if one, or more, glow plugs were on the way out, then we would get the specific glow plug warning light on the dash, (which we're not getting), not just the engine management light.
They also said, if it had been the PTC Heater fuse, throwing up the warning lights, once the fuse is replaced the dasboard warning lights would disappear, although the fault code would remain in the system, until it's cleared.

For starters, it's £73 + vat just for a diagnostic hook up!
Then it's fingers crossed that it's just the relay.
If it's the glow plugs, it's fingers and toes crossed that they come out in one piece.
The service manager is confident they can get them out without damaging anything, he says the problems highlighted on the web, usually, stem from hamfisted attempts to remove them by owners, who then give up and take the vehicle to the dealer. Hmmmm, all we can do is take his word for it, I guess!

Specialist tools required, very inaccessible, middle of winter, no garage, so there's no way I'm looking at anything other than basic maintenance right now!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[RhynoCZ]

He is right about the glow plugs removal. If you do not know what you are doing, you can end up taking the engine head off to clean the bits of the plugs from the head and the combustion chamber.

I was thinking it could be the relay, as I had nothing better to do and googled the fault code, some people just changed the relay (£60 or so, not sure how old the page was) and the car ran like a champ again.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[bugeye_bob]

Have you tried any Subaru independents for a price ?

[Suntan Sid]

[Suntan Sid]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Tracey Suntan-King]

Thanks for all the comments and advice, chaps.

Also big thanks to Sid for spending so long hunched over the fuse board squinting at the hieroglyphics therein.

Booked into main dealer so no more to do now, except consider what car to have next and when
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[Tracey Suntan-King]

[Suntan Sid]