Changing the glowplugs on a Hippo

Hi All,

I have a 2000reg 2.0L XDi, just had a new clutch and it feels like a new car !

So i decided im going to give it a proper, full service.

I want to start off with a change of glowplugs.

On cold Mornings The engine takes a few more seconds to start and it gets a bit lumpy on a coldstart.

So i think the glowplugs need changing.

or can it be anything else ? afterall it starts like a dream when its mild, its only a bit ruff starting in the cold weather.

After all they are the original plugs, over 10 years old ! So they could do with a change and hopefully that will sort my problem.

I understand that a couple of the plugs are a bit aquard to get to, alternator need removing etc to get to them ?

Please can someone tell me how easy they are to change ? will it be a half hour job or a days work ?

Cheers peoples

Its not too bad a job. Takes an hour or so. Firstly though I would check that the glow plugs are defective as there is little to be gained if they are not. My XDTi is a little rough starting in the cold also but there is nothing wrong with the plugs. Actually it sounds like a box of bolts in a concrete mixer when it is warming up but it goes okay and there is no smoke while running, just a few seconds while starting.

3 plugs are accessable, 1 plug is behind the fuel pump!

Thanks for your help guys.

It doesnt sound too much of a pain to change them.

Anyway ive allready purchased a new set so it wont do any harm to change them.

do all diesels start ruff in the cold ?

mine starts a treat but mines a td4

just remember to line up your crankshft before removing the fuel pump.

I just changed the 3 accessable ones and it starts a treat now.
Maybe I was just lucky.

Maybe ile just change the ones i can get to

3 new ones have got to be better than 4 old ones lol

2.0_hippo said:

Hi All,
So i decided im going to give it a proper, full service.
I understand that a couple of the plugs are a bit aquard to get to, alternator need removing etc to get to them ?
Please can someone tell me how easy they are to change ? will it be a half hour job or a days work ?
Cheers peoples

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so long as you line up th fuel pump/cambelt and change the plug on the right as you look in at it,that one is so hard to reach that id bet it is totally origional,while the others have been changed at least once or also never.
for the first time doing it,and doing it by the manual,if you'got the tools,you should be done in less than half a day,but dont use that as a rule,take your time

oh youll have to at least loosen the fuel pump,if its the same as my di

Had a look today but didn't fancy havin ago at the glowplugs, how the f**k do you get them out?

when you get to do it may I ask you to take pictures, please, I'm preety sure previous owner had never done them so mine are 13 years old and have 220.000 km on the engine

baptista said:

when you get to do it may I ask you to take pictures, please, I'm preety sure previous owner had never done them so mine are 13 years old and have 220.000 km on the engine

Click to expand...

I think mine are the original ones

melliott said:

Had a look today but didn't fancy havin ago at the glowplugs, how the f**k do you get them out?

Click to expand...

What tools do i need to get the glow plugs out?