Hi,

I'm after some advice or help.

The engine I'm having a problem with is a 1.9TDI PD on a 57 plate. It has covered @ 69,000 miles

My missus came home this evening and told me that the CEL light had come on. She said there was no apparent change in performance and no signs of smoke from the exhaust. When she got home I also started the car and ran it for a few minutes on the drive with no difficulty starting or running.

I fitted my fault code reader and it found 1 fault, P0674, Glow Plug 4 electrical fault.

The question is would it be OK to still run the car around for a few days and also to drive to the dealership, or do I run the risk of damage?

I was also thinking of doing the glow plug replacement myself and checking the harness for corrosion on the contacts, and maybe using some silicon contact grease when reconnecting. Never played with glow plugs before, can I go to my local Euro Car Parts or better off getting them from the dealers?

I was going to look this evening but as usual these things happen when it's dark and cold!!

Any help gratefully accepted,

Colin.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=79819

Check out this link

Edited 26 October, 201114 yr by freelanderman

Thanks, I was reading that earlier tonight which made me think it could be a DIY job.

Do you think it would be OK to drive the car under these conditions?

I would drive it. Even if one glow plug is dead, it just "might" seem moderately tougher to start from cold in the mornings. (The only time the glowplugs actually really do anything)

Forgive a novice question but what actually ignites the diesel then?

I thought the glow plugs had voltage applied to them ready to glow hot on start up, then after 20 seconds or so the voltage was removed and through the heat of the combustion cycle the plugs stay glowing? Is this right?

If I had a faulty plug would I be running on 3 cylinders?

It turns out the fault was noticed within a minute of start up so must have occured on the starting cycle.

The diesel is ignited by the air in the cylinder getting hot when it is compressed, hence the term 'Compression Ignition Engine'. Diesels have a much higher compression ratio than spark ignition engines. If you get a cylindrical bicycle pump and half close the outlet with your finger and quickly expell the air, the air will feel quite warm.

A non functioning glow plug will only be noticed when starting, the car should run perfectly well once started. With winter approaching and with one failed glowplug, it will make sense to replace all four of them.