Glow Plugs

[Guest galaxian]

Thinking of changing the glow plugs on my 98 Gal - Done 73k on originals & taking a while to fire up. Is this a straight forward job, eg, like changing spark plugs, are there any special tools needed, anything else to beware of ?

 

thanks

[Masked Marauder]

You can get a special glow-plug tool, but a deep socket can be used.

 

To check them, just hook them up to the battery and the tip should glow very quickly. Or you can just change them all anyway if your going to take them out....

[italiastar]

A friend of mine with a p-reg Vectra (apologies for using such bad language here) has a problem with a siezed glowplug - apparently this is quite common as my boss had read reports about the same thing happening on other cars - if so why don't dealers loosen them during services.

[Topbloke]

the main reason that us mechanic's dont lossen them is that they only get changed when there is a poor starting fault and we suspect the glow plugs .

On the vectra seing that you mentioned it, these glowplugs very rairly get turned on because they only come on when the tempreture drops to a certain level typically -5 degs, the reason for this is that it is a direct injection engine and compression are typically higher. therefore if the are not being constantly used they wont need changeing very often if at all. we have to draw the line somewhere in what to lossen perhaps we should lossen the exhaust clamps so that when it needs changing they are not seized. :lol: B) B)

 

in reply to the orignal post they are not to bad to change and if you are going to take them out it would make sense to change them all as if one has failed and you find which one it is by testing them put the other three back and one new, sods law says that very soon one of the others will go down

[italiastar]

we have to draw the line somewhere in what to lossen perhaps we should lossen the exhaust clamps so that when it needs changing they are not seized.

 

Thank you for your reply - point taken, but exhaust systems don't cost

[Topbloke]

if he is experiencing cold start problems and it is definatly a glowplug problem then it will have to be removed to cure the problem,there is a know cold start problem with the vectra (omega) and that is fuel draining away from the pump/filter over a period of time, this is usually down to the injector seals, because the injectors are in the middle of the head they use what is known as a bridge to take the fuel from the outside of the engine to the injector, between the injector and the bridge is a seal, these age or get nipped during fitment causing air ingress allowing the fuel to drain back, it has been known for the fuel tank to be coated internally with engine oil due to the bridge seals sitting in oil in the head and the seal allowing the oil into the fuel system. if your friend has been to the maindealer and all the possibilities have been explored and they still come up with the glowplugs then he will have to make a decision of what to do, sell it or payup

[Ivor_E_Tower]

FYI - about 5 years ago I ended up changing the alternator on my parents' 1974 Volvo. All the bolts undid with no extra undue effort, having never previously been loosened - not bad eh, and shows that if the correct materials/plating are used, threaded items will not seize in place.

[johnb80]

FYI - about 5 years ago I ended up changing the alternator on my parents' 1974 Volvo. All the bolts undid with no extra undue effort, having never previously been loosened - not bad eh, and shows that if the correct materials/plating are used, threaded items will not seize in place.

But it would be fair to say, the environmental conditions for the alternator mounting bolts are nowhere near as harsh as the glowplug. Alloy heads are always a nightmare with things like this especially when differing materials are involved. Usually a good application of copper based grease helps but never seems to cure it completely. Now cast iron heads on the other hand ........

[italiastar]

Thanks, Topbloke - Apparently the car is high mileage and full of parking dinks - from what he said, I think it was just the fact that the light was on - no problem starting - although these cold nights may change that, so looks like the best thing he can do is run it till it breaks as the car is probably not worth the cost of taking the head off etc etc.

 

Goo to see that stuck glowplugs do not seem to be a general problem on that VW PD engine.