Abstract: A method for controlling a glow plug in a diesel engine, in particular in the preheating phase, is described. According to the invention, it is provided that the time gradient of an electrical variable which varies according to the temperature of the glow plug is measured and compared with a threshold value, and when said time gradient exceeds or drops below the threshold value, the electric supply voltage of the glow plug is changed.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for tracking defective functions in the operation of heater plugs in a diesel engine of a vehicle, provided with a control unit for the control of its heater plugs—the preheater control unit—, by the steps of monitoring at least one operating parameter of the heater plugs and/or of the preheater control unit; generating a fault message when the operating parameter so monitored deviates from a predefined nominal value or nominal state of the operating parameter; storing the fault message. The invention provides for the steps of linking the fault message to a time parameter; storing the fault message together with the time parameter, searching for further fault messages that are stored in the vehicle and linked to the same time parameter; and combining the fault messages that are linked to the same time parameter.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating glow plugs in a diesel engine that comprises a housing and a heater element projecting beyond that housing which interacts with an engine control unit and a glow plug control unit which, following a preheating phase, controls the electric power supplied to the glow plugs in dependence on an input received from the engine control unit. According to the invention it is provided that the engine control unit determines a value representative of a temperature that is to be reached at the heater element and the engine control unit transmits that value as target value to the glow plug control unit which converts that target value using an algorithm stored in the glow plug control unit and taking into account the characteristic values stored in the glow plug control unit.

Abstract: Herein is described a method for the heating-up of a ceramic glow plug by applying a variable electric voltage to the glow plug. In accordance with the invention it is provided that, starting from a base value, the electric voltage increases in a time-averaged manner superproportional to the elapsed heating-up time. The invention relates also to a glow plug control unit for carrying out of such a method.

Abstract: A method and device for operation of glow plugs of a Diesel engine in which the type of glow plugs used is determined, by a parameter typical of the glow plugs, for example, the electrical glow plug resistance, being detected and evaluated. The detected values of the parameter typical of the glow plugs are compared with corresponding data for various types of glow plugs stored in the glow controller to determine the type(s) of glow plug(s) in the engine. After identification of the type(s) of glow plug(s), stored sets of parameters, which correspond to the type(s) of glow plug(s) determined, are likewise called upon to control the glow plugs.

Abstract: A method and device for operation of glow plugs of a Diesel engine in which the type of glow plugs used is determined, by a parameter typical of the glow plugs, for example, the electrical glow plug resistance, being detected and evaluated. The detected values of the parameter typical of the glow plugs are compared with corresponding data for various types of glow plugs stored in the glow controller to determine the type(s) of glow plug(s) in the engine. After identification of the type(s) of glow plug(s), stored sets of parameters, which correspond to the type(s) of glow plug(s) determined, are likewise called upon to control the glow plugs.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for operating glow plugs, that comprise a housing and a heater element projecting beyond that housing, in a diesel engine which interacts with an engine control unit and a glow plug control unit which latter, following a preheating phase, controls the electric power supplied to the glow plugs in response to an input received from the engine control unit. It is provided according to the invention that the engine control unit determines a value representative of a temperature that is to be reached at the heater element and the engine control unit transmits that value as target value to the glow plug control unit which implements that target value using an algorithm stored in the glow plug control unit and with reference to characteristic values stored in the glow plug control unit.

Abstract: A method and device for operation of glow plugs of a Diesel engine in which the type of glow plugs used is determined, by a parameter typical of the glow plugs, for example, the electrical glow plug resistance, being detected and evaluated. The detected values of the parameter typical of the glow plugs are compared with corresponding data for various types of glow plugs stored in the glow controller to determine the type(s) of glow plug(s) in the engine. After identification of the type(s) of glow plug(s), stored sets of parameters, which correspond to the type(s) of glow plug(s) determined, are likewise called upon to control the glow plugs.