Sk Changes His Glowplugs - Well 2 Of Them

[seatkid]

Despite having a top brand battery (exide ultra) kept on float charge when not used and in a warm (5-8 deg) garage. I noticed over the last couple of weeks an increasing reluctance to start on the first attempt. At first I put it down to a small leak under the fuel filter where I drained it (following a couple of hiccups which sounded like water in the filter - cured) and didnt tighten it enough. But today it took three lengthy attempts and was lumpy to boot for four or five seconds. As the car will be stuck in an open air airport car park for the next ten days I thought I'd better get this sorted.

 

So, having recently covered the topic of changing glowplugs, I removed the engine cover, unplugged the busbar from the glowplugs, and using a meter measured no.1 and no.3 open circuit - no2 and no 4 look ok at 0.45 ohm.

 

Phone around - SEAT dealer - "Is it a model with a glow plug heater?" - youre the experts - tell me - "I don't know sir but we dont have any anyway, but if we did they would be

[Nick]

Great thread SK and good timing too. My 1.9tdi has taken a few more cranks since it's been cold, so after reading your thread I had a look at my glow plugs. That bus bar is a tight bitch to get off! Found 1 at 220 ohms, 1 at 5.5k ohms and 1 as as good as open. The 4th I didn't get too yet but may as well replace all 4. I'm ringing round to get prices.

Wow! Ford wanted

[seatkid]

And after a frosty night in the open - started at first touch! :D Fixed!

 

I would recomend anyone who has cold start problems to check their glowplugs, it is very quick easy with a cheap meter or even a light bulb. Yes the busbar requires quite a yank! I reckon glow plugs are a consumable depends on the number of cold starts.

 

 

And if youve got a (MK 1 maybe MkII as well) TDI, remove that cover and check your pipework!

 

(Close up)

[Bigjeeze]

Hmmmm.... looking at those pics it seems like you've been rubbed up the wrong way!! :huh:

[Jeff115]

Good post seatkid,

 

Regarding the crankcase ventilation piping - you were probably in no danger of those noxious fumes from the crankcase reaching you in the cab if the piping did wear through due to the 10mm circumference of greeny-grey gunge on the inside of the crankcase ventilation piping :huh:

 

Only kidding - did you take a look at the inside of the crankcase ventilation piping?

 

I'd be interested in knowing the condition of your 1998 tdi and the mileage,

 

Regards,

Jeff.

[seatkid]

And after 8 nights in Luton airport long term car park, on a damp dark night......

 

It started first touch! Fantastic! :unsure:

 

I really recommend everyone check their glowplugs Its quick and easy with a cheap meter, and makes a world of difference to those cold starts.

 

 

Jeff115: Will examine the contents of CCV piping once I get over my holiday!

[Guest MATT]

ok seatkid,

 

firstly, to what degree of cranking is unacceptable? ie, in the summer, mine seems to start almost instantly, however, now it is getting cold, it sometimes takes about 3 turns of the engine to start - is this "normal"?

 

secondly, will they change the glow plugs at the 40,000 mile service?

OR how many miles should a glow plug last for?

 

is it worth doing anyway?

 

i have not yet had a situation where the car wont start, but if you think its worth doing, i will do it anyway.

 

MATT

[seatkid]

however, now it is getting cold, it sometimes takes about 3 turns of the engine to start - is this "normal"?

No, my experience is that if your battery is in good condition, it should start on the first turn.

secondly, will they change the glow plugs at the 40,000 mile service?

No - I'd be surprised if they knew what a glow plug was.....

how many miles should a glow plug last for?

Its life is more dependent on the number of times (coldstarts) the plugs are used. The thermal cycling is probably what kills them. Mine appeared to have some evidence that they failed near the tips.

is it worth doing anyway?

Its certainly worth testing them. Anyone with a meter and a little DIY knowledge can check them easily.

i have not yet had a situation where the car wont start,

You dont really want to get to that situation do you?....it could be very costly depending where you are!

 

The thing is, there are 4 plugs, when one goes - you may not notice apart from the engine rattling and being noisier when starting. With 2 gone I needed to turn the engine over 3 times to start in relatively mild weather. I reckon with 3 gone and you would be struggling in winter. and what about the stress on your battery?

 

Its a 10-15min job to change them all, but watch out where you buy them. Dealers are expensive, but avoid very cheap ones from discount motor places. Use a good brand (I got NGK from my local Delphi distributor at

[Guest MATT]

No - I'd be surprised if they knew what a glow plug was.....

:unsure: :o

 

i will give them a test at the weekend, and see what there like, thanks for the quick reply.

 

MATT

 

P.S. SLOW DOWN PEOPLE! i cant keep up with the amount of posting on this forum lol.

[sanjsanj]

how do you mean check your glow plugs with a light bulb?

what do you do with the light bulb and glow plug?

[Asdrew]

hi, have a '98 galaxy and recently it won't start after you have had it running. the glow plug light doesn't come onat all but if you leave it for about 20 mins the glow plug light comes on and it starts. could this be the glow plugs not working or is it more likely to be the ecu?

[Geege]

And after a frosty night in the open - started at first touch! http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif Fixed!

 

I would recomend anyone who has cold start problems to check their glowplugs, it is very quick easy with a cheap meter or even a light bulb. Yes the busbar requires quite a yank! I reckon glow plugs are a consumable depends on the number of cold starts.

 

 

And if youve got a (MK 1 maybe MkII as well) TDI, remove that cover and check your pipework!

 

(Close up)

 

Hi Seatkid - I have the EXACT same marks on my Crankcase Ventilation pipe due to the engine mount. (Seat Alhambra 1.9TDI 90bhp 1998 Mk1, AHU engine).

 

Did you manage to do a mod at all?

 

Do you know the part number for a replacement should I need one (although it isn't completely worn through).

 

Regarding glowplugs - what OHMs is acceptable range of values for the glow plugs?

[Saif Rehman]

Wow, this topic is nearly 7 years old! Luckly Seatkid is a regular member/contributor here so no doubt he will answer your query pretty pronto.

[seatkid]

errm .... wrap some duck tape around the pipe. Glowplugs usually fail open circuit, they should be less than 1 ohm (cold) Edited August 8, 2012 by seatkid

[Geege]

According to my Ford Galaxy Haynes manual it recommends to torque the new glow plugs to 8 Nm. Is getting the exact torque important? Or can I just tighten to a fairly tight/hand tight?

 

I'm considering buying a low torque 5-25Nm torque wrench just to do this job this winter. I plan to replace all for glow plugs in my Seat Alhambra AHU

[Geege]

Any suggestions regarding the torque, or should I do them up hand tight?

[Geege]

Well I've just measure my battery and glow plugs and I think I need to replace them. No wonder it is beginning to struggle in the cold weather.

 

Battery is only reading 12.2 - 12.3v (cold)

 

Glow plug 1 - I can't even get any readings, doesn't display anything thing on my multi-reader. I assume this means it is open.

Glow plug 2 - reads 6.33kΩ

Glow plug 3 – 0.318kΩ (318Ω)

Glow plug 4 – seems okay at 0.6Ω

 

I think I should just replace all four, along with the battery in readiness for winter.

[seatkid]

I would leave glow plug 4 alone. Just nip them up the same as you would a spark plug. Just enough to compress the washer a bit.

[treesurveyor]

1996 1.9 TD 225000+mi

 

Been going through this lot wide eyed, and new I'd found the solutioni.....BUT when I took the cable connector off one of the glow plugs it shattered!!! Is this only a Ford main dealer part.?..I have no idea what its even called....

 

Plus, I am struggling to get the air filter cover off to change the air filter.

 

Apart from not wanting to start now its cold.( I have glow plugs ready to change when I source the top joining cable) when I do get going its mostly fine, but then power drops off, most noticeably when I decelerate, but also sometimes on motorway, although I think I am lifting off the pedal a bit then. Seems to go fine, still maintaining cruise speed, after I dip clutch and rev a little.... but there is then a big cloud of smoke for a short burst. I have just changed the fuel filter, and noticed a difference, but still puffy occassionally. Have also just put injector cleaner in tank.

 

I read some bits about the MAF sensor, is this the plug on top of the pipe behind the air filter? I have removed it temporarily, but still getting drop off and smoke. Should I keep it connected?

 

Any help much appreciated

 

Phil