The ECU controls the duration that the light is ON for and for how long the plugs themselves are ON for.
The light goes off for a very short time while the ECU continues to cycle voltage using Pulse Width Modulation for several seconds onwards.
Some owners find it useful to cycle the ignition ON/OFF a few times before cranking while other owners have had better success with other voltage plugs and plug controllers.
My 2002 Export CRD uses a very basic system of 11 volt Glow plugs powered ON for a few seconds by the ECU with no error checking other than that the two large relays for the plugs are not open circuit or short circuit.
In the warm climate I am in I can start my Jeep with the plugs dis-connected.....sounds rough and lots of smoke but it works.
I have seen on one of the Jeep sites that a lot of Austrian CRD owners are unhappy with the system that the newer CRDs have and so they revert to fitting the old style 11 volt glow plugs!
