Hello,
I post this extract, from another discussion forum, just out of interest to us Toyota owners. It seems to have some merit. What do other think ?
Quote " With so many people having problems with diesels in cold weather, I thought I would pass on details of a successful 'bodge' I carried out 2 years ago on a Toyota Hilux, which has had no problems starting in the cold weather this week.
On most diesels, the heater plugs are controlled by an assortment of timers, relays, sensors etc. These are all expensive, and a pig to diagnose when they go wrong. So, having tested the heater plugs on the Toyota and narrowed the problem down to one of the two control boxes, I simply bolted an old Lucas starter solenoid under the bonnet, ran a thick cable from the battery to the relay, then another cable to the heater plugs. The solenoid is operated by a push switch on the dash. To start from cold, push the switch and hold in for 10 seconds. Then turn the ignition key while still pushing the switch. Release the switch when the engine fires." - (#1780) John Davis, 3 Jan 02

Will work OK, John, as some stationary engines still use the same system... The advantage we have is that of afterglow, which keeps the plugs on at a reduced level after starting to cut down emmissions and smooth out idling - (#1781) david miller, 3 Jan 02

Thanks David. Your reference to "afterglow" is new to me but, I am always impressed, in this present cold weather, how my iced up Masterace starts, and runs, so well. I suppose the afterglow feature is built into an electronic box with sensors etc being energised by manifold temperatures etc. Sounds very logical - (#1783) John Davis, 3 Jan 02

John
I finally rectified my starting problem. It wasn't the glowplugs in the end but some dimwit mechanic who connected the cables up wrong when I had the head gasket replaced last March. It cost me an unecessary £100 for a relay and a fiver for a fusible link. It was David that put me on the right track in the end (again many thanks David) but when I was at a point when I thought I would never sort the problem out, I considered putting something together like your excerpt suggests. A direct feed from the battery to the plugs via a springloaded switch on the dash. Fortunately it didn't come to that in the end. Morale of the story is don't trust garages! Tell you what though, I'm impressed by the fact that I've been starting without plugs and no problems for the best part of 9 months, it suffered when the frosts came though!
regards
Ian - (#1787) Ian Dunse, 3 Jan 02