Fedup. 38k, 2.5 years and the glow plugs have burnt out.

Quite normal apprently. :no:

Well not a major problem I thought, 'cus the van is still under warranty.

6 days later, and I've STILL not got it back, hence the reason for dragging the good old reliable vRS out of its winter hibernation that is STILL running on its original glow plugs after 7 years and 87k!

The reason for this crazy delay?

They can't get one of the plugs out because it's seemingly virtually welded itself in, and if they apply anymore pressure it's going to snap, thus creating a major head off and drill out excercise.

Vauxhall are fully aware of this problem it seems, and always authorise the dealer to call a one off 'specialist' that comes out to drill and tap through the glow plug for removal.

Went in yesterday to ask if they knew when he was coming as I need the van. They couldn't give me any idea. They've contacted him, but he's very busy, and will get to them asap.

Meanwhile, would you like a base model Corsa courtesy car in a few days time if yours isn't ready sir?

NO!

WOE btw, not whoa

Edited 7 February, 201214 yr by Mr Ree

You will probably have the same problem on your VRS when they need replacing (at least it will tell you they need replacing on the dash) as its common for them to weld themselves in. Mate just had his done at 125k on his Polo GT and it turns out it was the loom at fault and not the plugs so who knows how long they'll go on for!

Oh dear. Not good.

The peugeot 306 we had (1.9D N/A) chewed through them very quickly.

When my other half bought it he had the glow plugs done. Then a couple of years later and about 20k they needed doing again! I think because they kicked in quite a lot. They seemed to come on nearly every start up.

The worrying thing you have to ask is that is the same going to happen another 2.5 years later!

Phil

Done a set today on a vauxhall 1.9 cdti with no issues , was the cars first set at 100 k

Done a set today on a vauxhall 1.9 cdti with no issues , was the cars first set at 100 k

That's the Fiat engine iirc?

Mine's the 1.7 Isuzu lump.

Ctacking engine, crap glow plugs.

I say cracking engine, but mine has developed a petrol engine 'pinking' noise under load,virtually identical in fact.

Mentioned it and they said yes, they've had this before but don't know what it is or what the cure is. :clap:

I have a 52 Octavia which will not start in below freezing conditions skoda garage said battery so new battery fitted today dead again now I'm again thinking glow plugs? Have u any ideas plz

I have a 52 Octavia which will not start in below freezing conditions skoda garage said battery so new battery fitted today dead again now I'm again thinking glow plugs? Have u any ideas plz

One of my Octys is a 52 plate tdi, never liked starting when cold & if it did, it knocked rattled smoked for a while till all the cylinders worked. Changed all the glow plugs & it was much better but not perfect. Gradually got worse however. When the glow pugs failed on my nephews Feli, it simply wouldn't start when cold. Whilst changing them/ testing them, I found that the glow plugs will stay on for up to 30 seconds if you just left the ignition after the light goes out without starting it. Started experimenting with the Octy, they don't energise for nearly as long, but if you don't put your seatbelt on till the engine's fired up. Waiting till the seatbelt warning chimes have finished seems to be the perfect glowplug timer for mine. (any longer & they start to cool again) Starts fine that way, sometimes goes back to rattling & smoking for a while afterwards but apparently thats because one of the injectors is unhappy when cold? :wonder: If you knew my car, you'd know it's not happy unless something's breaking/failing/falling off.........

Welcome to the forum btw

That's the Fiat engine iirc?

Mine's the 1.7 Isuzu lump.

Ctacking engine, crap glow plugs.

I say cracking engine, but mine has developed a petrol engine 'pinking' noise under load,virtually identical in fact.

Mentioned it and they said yes, they've had this before but don't know what it is or what the cure is. :clap:

Yes its that silly Alfa/fiat common rail lump

Yes its that silly Alfa/fiat common rail lump

No good?

meanwhile, 1 week on and mines still sitting there waiting for this ...glow plug removal 'specialist'. :zzz:

Beggars belief this imo.

Interesting. I have done 135k with an SDi Fabia (which then went to my elder daughter and got to 210k before she traded it in) and 173k in an SDi Polo. Neither of them needed the glow plugs replacing in that time.

The Scenic needed them replacing at about 90k though.

Maybe VAG spec their components better?

It will be interesting to see how the Roomster fares.

Rob.

No good?

meanwhile, 1 week on and mines still sitting there waiting for this ...glow plug removal 'specialist'. :zzz:

Beggars belief this imo.

wonder if the specialist's trick is just to poor coke on them and leave them for a while? lol

wonder if the specialist's trick is just to poor coke on them and leave them for a while? lol

Well he finally turned up yesterday, complete with his one eyed dog!!

Took him 20 minutes apparently. He breaks it then uses some sort of ratchety type tool to rag it out. It's that simple alledgedly.

Asked why they as a a main dealer don't buy one of these devices, and they just shrugged their shoulders and didn't really give me an definative answer. :no:

Needless to say, when I got the usual automated customer service call 6 hours later with the 2 options, excellent or poor, they got the poor one unfortunately.

Well he finally turned up yesterday, complete with his one eyed dog!!

Took him 20 minutes apparently. He breaks it then uses some sort of ratchety type tool to rag it out. It's that simple alledgedly.

Asked why they as a a main dealer don't buy one of these devices, and they just shrugged their shoulders and didn't really give me an definative answer. :no:

Needless to say, when I got the usual automated customer service call 6 hours later with the 2 options, excellent or poor, they got the poor one unfortunately.

There is a knack to using a broken glow plug removal kit. Get it wrong and you need to take the head off. Many dealers 'chicken out' and use 'specialists' to remove stuck plugs/injectors.

In the case of VAG cars, it's extremely rare that the original set are 'welded' in place. A good quality ceramic grease is used on the plugs from the shoulder up to the hex part. I've removed glow plugs at 200k miles and the grease is still as good as the day it was put on the plug - it's extremely stable.

There is a knack to using a broken glow plug removal kit. Get it wrong and you need to take the head off. Many dealers 'chicken out' and use 'specialists' to remove stuck plugs/injectors.

In the case of VAG cars, it's extremely rare that the original set are 'welded' in place. A good quality ceramic grease is used on the plugs from the shoulder up to the hex part. I've removed glow plugs at 200k miles and the grease is still as good as the day it was put on the plug - it's extremely stable.

At the factory during build I presume.

Seems like common sense to me, something that it would appear has passed by with GM.

At the factory during build I presume.

Seems like common sense to me, something that it would appear has passed by with GM.

Yes. VAG tend to use Beru GFK 01 but http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250670902975 is just as good. Beru and some other manufacturers advise against copper slip.

Oh dear. Not good.

The peugeot 306 we had (1.9D N/A) chewed through them very quickly.

When my other half bought it he had the glow plugs done. Then a couple of years later and about 20k they needed doing again! I think because they kicked in quite a lot. They seemed to come on nearly every start up.

The worrying thing you have to ask is that is the same going to happen another 2.5 years later!

Phil

All I can say is they must have been poor plugs, because even when you take that they ran for 15 seconds rather than a couple at most, I had one that had a set of glows for 80k, another at about 180k and that was it.