Glow Plug In Rear Heater

[Graham Smith]

Our Galaxy (2004 Ghia) was bellowing out smoke from around the back of the car and it smelt 'diesely' if that makes any sense.

 

My missus took it to the local Ford dealership, and they've told here that the diesel plug that goes to a heater unit around the back seat area has become faulty and it'll need to be changed.

 

They've unplugged it, so we no longer get the clouds of smoke.

 

They've said it'll cost about

[Scope]

Im having the same problem, and from what I am seeing it is very common.. Luckily my Ford Dealer will have a look and hopefully fix under warranty (which ran out the day I reported it).

 

Have a look at this thread, instructions with photos on page 6.

 

Good luck.

Edited January 11, 2008 by Scope

[Hedge]

Im having the same problem, and from what I am seeing it is very common.. Luckily my Ford Dealer will have a look and hopefully fix under warranty (which ran out the day I reported it).

 

Have a look at this thread, instructions with photos on page 6.

 

Good luck.

Welcome to the growing throng of Aux Heater Mechanics!! I'm guessing the garage means the glow plug in the Aux Heater fitted under the passenger side cill. My MkII 1.9 TDI 2004 has same problem and am checking it out this pm. New glow plug is around

[Beyond Help?]

New glow plug is around

Edited January 11, 2008 by Beyond Help?

[Hedge]

New glow plug is around

[Beyond Help?]

Give stevie m a shout and he will let you know where you can get a new style glow plug from for the cheapest price. Edited January 13, 2008 by Beyond Help?

[stevie m]

I have sent you a message hedge.

 

Beyond help, as far as i am aware the glowplugs with wires are main dealer only. I will look in to it tho. <_<

[SharanTDICarat]

This year my aux hearter, on my sharan, desided to play up after searching locally to find the glow plug I gave up & went to my local VW dealer. The parts guy checked what glow plug I needed via the chasssis number & I was supprised when he said

[blagger1]

Did mine last week (check the Aux / Booster Heater thread) Thread is here.

 

Bought mine off eBay for

[Beyond Help?]

This year my aux hearter, on my sharan, desided to play up after searching locally to find the glow plug I gave up & went to my local VW dealer. The parts guy checked what glow plug I needed via the chasssis number & I was supprised when he said

[systalink]

I'm new to this site and have found the comments really helpful. I'm also having the diesel smell and white smoke issue with my Gal, but it's a really intermitent problem. I took it to my dealer who ran diagnostics and a booster test on the heater ( I had to leave it over night, so that it could be tested in the morning in the cold temps) and they couldn't find a fault. But since then, I've had the smoke again coming into the car. They did say to drive it straight down to them, so that they could check it out, but it happened yesterday and they're not open on a Sunday! Typical.

 

Some people have said that some white smoke is normal - but how much. SHould it be coming into the car via the seatbelt hole as well as the little vent above the tyre? I find the the smell really worrying. I have 2 small children with me in the car and I'm concerned that the smoke and the smell are harmful to them.

 

A lot of people have said that this can be solved by the Glo plug being replaced - why does it happen?, wot is a glo plug and will it defo solve the problem do you think?

 

I'd be really grateful for any help.

[zorgman]

just being to my local vw dealer got a new plug for

[Beyond Help?]

I'm new to this site and have found the comments really helpful. I'm also having the diesel smell and white smoke issue with my Gal, but it's a really intermitent problem. I took it to my dealer who ran diagnostics and a booster test on the heater ( I had to leave it over night, so that it could be tested in the morning in the cold temps) and they couldn't find a fault. But since then, I've had the smoke again coming into the car. They did say to drive it straight down to them, so that they could check it out, but it happened yesterday and they're not open on a Sunday! Typical.

 

Some people have said that some white smoke is normal - but how much. SHould it be coming into the car via the seatbelt hole as well as the little vent above the tyre? I find the the smell really worrying. I have 2 small children with me in the car and I'm concerned that the smoke and the smell are harmful to them.

 

A lot of people have said that this can be solved by the Glo plug being replaced - why does it happen?, wot is a glo plug and will it defo solve the problem do you think?

 

I'd be really grateful for any help.

The glow plug is just that, a plug that's tip glows red hot that sits in the combustion chamber, the unit has a fan that draws air in and the fuel metering pump pumps diesel onto the tip of the plug which causes it to ignite and burn. A flame sensor detects the burning fuel and the device remains lit.

 

What is most likely happening in your car is that the glow plug no longer glows hot enough to ignite the fuel. The heater then tries several times to restart but the plug is covered in unburnt fuel which has a cooling effect, there may even be some pooling of fuel in the heater. After a few tries the heater gives up and switches the fan off and shuts down, but the plug is still warm which cases the fuel to evaporate as white 'smoke' and as the highest part of the process is the air inlet pipe, which is located going into the sill, the smoke rises up into the car.

 

Fitting a new glow plug (the new ones are a revised design to run hotter) should solve the problem.

Edited January 15, 2008 by Beyond Help?

[ninjakev]

I have just replaced the glowplug in my 53 plate Galaxy 130 TDI heater - would have been a straightforward job had one of the studs not sheared on the bracket. All-in it took me 2 1/2 hours and there was no requirement to reset any fault codes. I got the new glowplug from the local VW dealer for

[stevie m]

I wish i had known you wanted a glowplug I know where you can save money. They are main dealer parts as there is only one maker. I don't want to depress you with how much..... Sorry i didn't know.

 

I just read something. If your glowplug was the one with wires then main dealer only. If it hasn't got wires no problem.

Edited January 15, 2008 by stevie m

[systalink]

Many thank to you 'Beyond Help?' Great explanation. That makes a lot of sense. Do you think I should insist that Ford replace it. It's under warranty, but they reckon is has a new Glow Plug alreay. Would they be able to test if it is getting hot enough? They told me that they could only tesy the heater if the tep is low enough? Is this right? Surely there's some way of checking the heater without it being really cold. Any ideas??

[Scope]

Many thank to you 'Beyond Help?' Great explanation. That makes a lot of sense. Do you think I should insist that Ford replace it. It's under warranty, but they reckon is has a new Glow Plug alreay. Would they be able to test if it is getting hot enough? They told me that they could only tesy the heater if the tep is low enough? Is this right? Surely there's some way of checking the heater without it being really cold. Any ideas??

 

I would insist! I reported my problem to Ford the day my warranty finished (second hand warranty from ford garage), dropped it off on monday so they could test first thing on tuesday (as temps are lower in the morning), and picked it up yesterday with a new unit fitted (well, thats what they say, I dont think they have fitted a new unit as it doesnt look new).. But atleast it seems to be working. Started it up this morning (3 degrees outside) and it fired up no problem.

 

If they think its already got a new glow plug it must be something else - and its still under warranty, so..