I've been running for the past 2 weeks with the vacuum line disconnected from the egr valve. Up to and including this morning, the glow plug light operated as it has for the past 18+ months: on for about 4 dings of the chime and out. However when I started the engine after work, the glow plug light stayed on for way past the chime timeout. I waited till it went out, then started normally, except for the first time there was a high idle for about 5~10 seconds then that went to normal too.


I stopped for fuel on the way home and the engine idled while I checked the trani fluid and filled the tank, then I shut it of and finished fueling. When I started the engine, again the glow plug light stayed on for a really long time and the engine started strangely--like it was already under some compression and ready to go, it seemed to speed past the starter motor before it settled down into a normal idle. With this start came a puff of smoke. On this start, though I'm sure just a considence, I got a hard shift on the trani (clunk!).


I've started it 3 times now and each time it's the same thing. Though now I've notice that the glow plug light comes on, flashes off ('cause the engine is fully warmed up) and then comes back on for a really long time before going out. I start it anyway and it's fine, but still the wierd start. I've read about some problem with the glow plug unit but I thought that was only on the '01's? I'm going to locat the glow plug module, unplug it and plug it back in and see if that cures the problem. I think I'll also have to reconnect the egr so I can get that code cleared (after 40 successfull egr system tests) and see if I'm getting some other code.


So what gives?


[edit]


it's about 60 in the morning but this afternoon it's closer to 85 degrees.Edited by: donmiller714