Glow plug nightmare!!!

HYBRIDNI · Jan 17, 2015

Chaps ran into some trouble with what should have been simple job.

Went to change glow plugs but 2 wont come out.

They have unscrewed to what appears to be the end of the threads (using other that came out as reference) but now just keep spinning won't come out.

Do you think these have snapped? Or since threads have screwed out are they just stuck?

Never dealt with this so any advice appreciated.

Pikey · Jan 17, 2015

if they've unscrewed then try Mole grips and a pry bar to lever them out. unliekly to have Snapped as the broken bit would have come away.

They could just be spinning having stripped the threads out of the head but they wouldn't have moved upwards if that was the case.

lynall · Jan 18, 2015

Could be carbon has coated the tip of the plug making it larger diameter or the heating coil has blown out the side of the plug again making it larger dia.

HYBRIDNI · Jan 18, 2015

Got it...with threads out but still stuck noticed the little skinny threads inserts were almost unscrewed. Used mole grips to tighten them...glow plugs pulled out. No 2 was very close to threads being stripped...luckily just tiny bit at very start of thread so managed to coax it back in and it torqued nicely..... Pheeeeew!!!!

THEengineer · Jan 18, 2015

HYBRIDNI said:
Got it...with threads out but still stuck noticed the little skinny threads inserts were almost unscrewed. Used mole grips to tighten them...glow plugs pulled out. No 2 was very close to threads being stripped...luckily just tiny bit at very start of thread so managed to coax it back in and it torqued nicely..... Pheeeeew!!!!

you were very lucky:clap2:mine ended up with me swapping the head,one snapped

HYBRIDNI · Feb 1, 2015

Aye I was. Its a bridge I might have to cross next time they need swapped out but hopefully I teased that one in gently enough. I swear...you wanna see the guys workshop (who I bought it off). He was kitted out with all the goodies inc post lift etc. He did all the maintenance himself....and he was bloody useless. Everything is done crap and Jesus, I'm faaaaar from being an expert yet. But I would never have botched like this....everything is over or under tightened and everything I go to touch is threaded..just discovered the rear diff plug is threaded too...COMPLETELY. Guy would be better off selling up his tools as he doesn't know how to use them! He was in middle of rebuilding an old van....tell you what...I pity the person that buys it. Guaranteed death trap)

HYBRIDNI · Feb 1, 2015

Even the flipping oil filter was threaded!

THEengineer · Feb 1, 2015

HYBRIDNI said:
Aye I was. Its a bridge I might have to cross next time they need swapped out but hopefully I teased that one in gently enough. I swear...you wanna see the guys workshop (who I bought it off). He was kitted out with all the goodies inc post lift etc. He did all the maintenance himself....and he was bloody useless. Everything is done crap and Jesus, I'm faaaaar from being an expert yet. But I would never have botched like this....everything is over or under tightened and everything I go to touch is threaded..just discovered the rear diff plug is threaded too...COMPLETELY. Guy would be better off selling up his tools as he doesn't know how to use them! He was in middle of rebuilding an old van....tell you what...I pity the person that buys it. Guaranteed death trap)

sounds like all the gear no idea,by threaded do you mean he cross threaded everything?

HYBRIDNI · Feb 2, 2015

Yes every bloody bolt. He is a danger to have anywhere near a vehicle. I dunno how the old thing survived in his care. The inability to use bolts and screw is beyond anything I have ever seen. Ibe spent 400 quid putting right his cock ups so far. And hes apparently an enthusiast!!!!

trax · Feb 2, 2015

did you do it cold? i try to do glows with the engine hot. i've broke one glow in before and it's a pita. one stuck in and not leaking would probably be fine for cold starting

Hairball · Feb 2, 2015

Out of interest ,, is there was way of testing to see if they are working without taking them out

trax · Feb 2, 2015

you can check resistance to give an idea

HYBRIDNI · Feb 2, 2015

trax said:
did you do it cold? i try to do glows with the engine hot. i've broke one glow in before and it's a pita. one stuck in and not leaking would probably be fine for cold starting

No warm...but these hadn't been changed in many years...huge difference since swapping.

Chris CLK320 · Feb 4, 2015

Were you saving as a service item or sorting out a problem, I am keen to know what issues old glow plugs cause?

Chris CLK320 · Feb 4, 2015

Sorry should have been Changing

mikescuba · Feb 4, 2015

I have had my 1990, Defender 200 tdi for five years now. The guy I got it off used to proudly state that he had it for 19 years and it never went to a garage or been washed. I haven't changed the glow plugs. When I start it I don't even give it time to activate the glow plugs and it fires up on the first contact. Puts out a puff of black smoke on start up then off I go.

HYBRIDNI · Feb 4, 2015

It starts on the button, but once started was weak for few seconds then idling bit rough regardless of weather. Changed plugs just because only owned it a short time so going over everything myself...but once plugs changed, instant !massive improvement...still starts on button but stronger and isn't half as rough idle immediately afterwards.

Glow plug nightmare!!!

HYBRIDNI

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Pikey

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lynall

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HYBRIDNI

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THEengineer

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HYBRIDNI

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HYBRIDNI

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THEengineer

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trax

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Hairball

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trax

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HYBRIDNI

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Chris CLK320

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