Xantia Clock Resetting to Zero

[ecohouse1]

Hi Folks

I am wondering if my battery is getting tired as over the last few weeks my clock resets to 0.00 and date 1/1 when I start the engine on my TD. I notice that the central locking sometime locks and unlocks with a vigorous clunk then the next is more a sedate sound. Also at the same time as my Clock zero'd the GPs seemed down as it coughed and smoked for a few seconds. I changed 3 & 4 GPs (as they were the most accessible) but couldn't get 1 & 2 out, although I have since bought a 12 mm deep 1/4" socket with a hinged handle to get in behind the pump to get purchase, so will tackle these at the weekend, if it ever stops raining!

Anyone else had this.

Haven'thad to put the radio code in - so all a bit wierd!

Big Diesel battery on charge at the house so will try that also.

Thanks

Alan

[Old-Guy]

Check the battery earth to engine circuit - it sounds as though the volts are dropping way down under the heavy loads when the GPs are heating and then even more when the starter is cranking. Radios seem to hold their codes unless the battery is totally flat or disconnected.

Jim (M) reckons that the best tool for removing GPs is a deeply cranked ring spanner - this allows you to fit a dummy wire to the end of the GP so it can't disappear down the back of the pump - in any case, stuff loads of rag just under the plugs to catch the nuts when you drop them or the cable flicks them off!

[andmcit]

Best suggestion on glowplugs I've read here is cutting a notch out of the ring end of the
electrical ribbon so that it can be fed onto the last inaccessible plug whilst the washer
and nut are already on the top of the fitted glowplug.