You could compare photos of another GP hole, some engines use inserts from factory. ETKA does not list anything specific in that area.

Have you tried to thread back in the old glow plug (with stuff still around it)? If it goes back in and tightens to 15Nm, it is a threaded insert (and you get the engine back in working order, at least for the time being).  If not, it's just a mangled leftover of the thread and you need either a helicoil or a new head.

Edited 28 December, 201411 yr by dieselV6

Brill - thanks Owl

Just phoned him (Alan) - he's coming to take a look at 10.30 in the morning.

 

Fingers crossed.

Yep, fingers crossed for a good result in the morning.

Update:

Car had HeliCoil fitted. Bit scary to watch. Drill/tap/fit HeliCoil.

 

Glowplug now fitted and torqued up to 15Nm (11 ft/lbs). Removed and replaced it a couple of times and used anti-seize compound.

Did the same for the other 3.

 

Car running and fault codes now clear for the glow plugs.

 

Will now be paranoid for a while until I'm satisfied that all is ok. WIll check the torque settings again tomorrow.

 

As a matter of interest, on a cold start( say -3 Deg Celsius), is the glow plug duration fixed irrespective of the number of glow plugs that are actually working?

I noticed when starting the car after the glow plugs had been fitted that the "coil" symbol on the dash illuminated for roughly the same duration as it did when only one glow plug was working.

 

Thanks to everyone for the helpful contributions.

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by nidgep

As a matter of interest, on a cold start( say -3 Deg Celsius), is the glow plug duration fixed irrespective of the number of glow plugs that are actually working?

I noticed when starting the car after the glow plugs had been fitted that the "coil" symbol on the dash illuminated for roughly the same duration as it did when only one glow plug was working.

Glowplug preheat time is a function of coolant temperature and recent engine runtime. So its unaffected by faulty plugs, after all the one plug thats working wont start the engine any better by longer glow times. Note that the glow plugs continue to be powered (afterglow) for several seconds after engine start, to aid rapid stable combustion/emission conditions. Glow plugs also are powered during warmer weather starts even though the light goes out quickly.

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by xman