[Vwdiesel] Slowing death of Glowplugs

[Mark Shepherd]

Val says:
As far as I know, glow plugs on A1 and A2 IDI engines are
not
run after the starter engages.  That's a function of the
glowplug
relay.  The relay gets a signal from the starter, which
stops the
glow cycle.  If the GPs come on after the starter signal,
without a power-off of the ignition, then there is a failure
in the relay.  This used to happen often on A1s, for two
common reasons: infant mortality and water-induced failure.

....Aha my relay is not wired up to the starter via the
terminal 50 so my manual switch
that interupts the energising coil on the relay now does
this.

So what is the circuit for the fast plugs that can stay on
longer?

What do you think the 11V on the GPs represents? Is it the
minimum operable voltage?
How red does the GP need to get? Maybe its more crucial to
the TDIs with the lower compression heating?
Miser