Glow plugs 1999 dse

Hi, I was just wondering if changing glow plugs would be a d.i.y job or best done at a garage? Its struggling to start in the mornings in this cold weather and do not fancy my chances of finding a mechanic on xmas eve! I'm tempted to have a go myself but a bit worried in case i end up snapping one!

Check the glow plug relay first, it's a common failure item on most diesels. Put a volt meter from any glow plug to the chassis, get someone to turn the ignition key and you should see around 12 volts while the glow lamp is on. Much less and it's likely to be relay contacts or a bad connection to the relay.

If they prove to be faulty, dont be tempted to use cheap alternatives, there is a huge difference between OEM and cheap and nasty

Yes m8 its a nice east job, for your first time less than an hour, just be nice and genital taking them out, make sure the socket is all the way home first, do it with the engine very cold (cold mettle shrinks hot mettle expands) just take it nice and easy the first time you do it, the last one next to the bulkhead is a ass to take out i think (or am i thinking of the injector? )

i would of thought changine them when the engine is hot would be better, like removing a rusty bolt, heat it up and come out nice, do correct me if im wrong tho

I took the inlet manifold off to do mine, getting your fingers in to start the nuts on the end of the glow plug was a pain so off it came.

rewmer said:

If they prove to be faulty, dont be tempted to use cheap alternatives, there is a huge difference between OEM and cheap and nasty

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Too bloody right! I changed mine about three weeks ago using spurious plugs, It now takes two runs of the ignition:doh:

They'll be coming back out in the new year, mind you I'll do as datatek says first

I also removed the intake manifold, made an easy job of it.

Too bloody right! I changed mine about three weeks ago using spurious plugs, It now takes two runs of the ignition

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My local Indy demonsrated the difference on the bench. A cheap one and a proper one connected to a battery at the same time, the cheapy took 5 times nonger to heat and only gave out half the heat of the proper one...

Thanks for all the replys. On the subject of relays, wouldnt this be all the time rather than just cold start? I seen euro car parts have denso and beru glow plugs are these both ok?

danrange4 said:

Thanks for all the replys. On the subject of relays, wouldnt this be all the time rather than just cold start? I seen euro car parts have denso and beru glow plugs are these both ok?

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Glowplugs are not needed on a hot start or are needed less on a warm start. If the relay contacts are shot they go high resistance which means you don't get full power to the glow plugs. Worst case you get no power. The relay connector is another source of low power to the glowplugs, look for signs of heating or a smell of burning around the relay socket. First step is always to check the voltage at the glowplugs.
Much easier to change a relay or fix a bad connection than change glow plugs and much less expensive Also it is pretty unusual for 6 items to fail at the same time, loseing one glowplug will not stop the engine starting but it will run rough for a few seconds and smoke.

It starts but takes a long time when cold. Sometimes you can be turning it over for a long time, and somethimes so long you end up having to jump start it? The plugs havent been changed for a while, wonder if i'm best to change them anyway or just volt test them first?

danrange4 said:

It starts but takes a long time when cold. Sometimes you can be turning it over for a long time, and somethimes so long you end up having to jump start it? The plugs havent been changed for a while, wonder if i'm best to change them anyway or just volt test them first?

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Do the volt test then if that's ok, remove one glow plug and get someone to turn key to preheat position, while you watch the glowplug to see if it glows. You'll have to keep the plug earthed to the engine and hold it with a pair of pliers not ur bare hand. For obvious reasons.

danrange4 said:

It starts but takes a long time when cold. Sometimes you can be turning it over for a long time, and somethimes so long you end up having to jump start it? The plugs havent been changed for a while, wonder if i'm best to change them anyway or just volt test them first?

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Could even be the leak off pipes letting air in