vRS glow plugs?

[Adenuf]

Mine is becoming increasingly difficult to start in the morning now. Great for the rest of the day, but after 11 years and 104,000 miles now, I think it quite reasonable to expect they may be in need of replacement?

 

I've asked my friendly Skoda techie if he'd care to do them for me along with the usual annual service.

 

His reply was "GLOW PLUGS?!!! (by text)

 

Am I being cynical and unjustifiably expecting something somewhat unpleasant lurking about this pending job?

I AM having bad feelings here.

Edited 7 March, 2016 by Adenuf

[sepulchrave]

Mine is becoming increasingly difficult to start in the morning now. Great for the rest of the day, but after 11 years and 104,000 miles now, I think it quite reasonable to expect they may be in need of replacement?

 

I've asked my friendly Skoda techie if he'd care to do them for me along with the usual annual service.

 

His reply was "GLOW PLUGS?!!!

 

Am I being cynical and unjustifiably expecting something somewhat unpleasant lurking about this pending job?

I AM having bad feelings here.

 

Yes, they're usually seized in their threads after all this time.

[Adenuf]

Yes, they're usually seized in their threads after all this time.

So what is the solution?

 

Is he p'raps anticipating them snapping I wonder? 

 

Head off, drill out and re-tap?

NO, please?

[sepulchrave]

So what is the solution?

 

Is he p'raps anticipating them snapping I wonder? 

 

Head off, drill out and re-tap?

NO, please?

 

The solution is to test the glowplugs and only attempt replacement of any that have actually failed.

 

When attempting replacement, flood the plug thread with penetrant while the head is cool, then leave it overnight, in the morning get the engine hot, as the head heats the penetrant will be drawn further into the thread, once the head is hot, try to TIGHTEN the glowplug slightly, if the plug moves a fraction then the seizure is broken and you can start to work it loose, do NOT try and wind it all the way out immediately but work it back and forth to clean the thread before removing it entirely. It's essential to use the exactly the right sized deep socket as well.

If this doesn't work and the plug is still seized then balance the potential cost of wrecking the head against the slightly tougher cold starting you face during the winter.

[Hardcore]

When i had a glowplug fail in my BLT Ibiza FR, i got the EML coming on to advise of it.~
It was a 9 year old car at the time i replaced them. 

The night before i removed them, i sprayed some plus gas on the area

Next day I went a short drive so the engine was warm, but not up to full operating temp.

They all came out really easily. Squeaky thread on one but no hassle at all.

I'd replace all 4 rather than just one if you go for it as the difference in resistance between old but working ones vs new ones is quite large and it caused my EML to come on intermittently when i just replaced the 1 faulty one. Replaced all 4 and was sorted.

[KenONeill]

The solution is to test the glowplugs and only attempt replacement of any that have actually failed.

 

When attempting replacement, flood the plug thread with penetrant while the head is cool, then leave it overnight, in the morning get the engine hot, as the head heats the penetrant will be drawn further into the thread, once the head is hot, try to TIGHTEN the glowplug slightly, if the plug moves a fraction then the seizure is broken and you can start to work it loose, do NOT try and wind it all the way out immediately but work it back and forth to clean the thread before removing it entirely. It's essential to use the exactly the right sized deep socket as well.

If this doesn't work and the plug is still seized then balance the potential cost of wrecking the head against the slightly tougher cold starting you face during the winter.

And take note, by penetrant we mean "specialist dismantling lubricant", not just a Water Dispersant.

[Adenuf]

I think I've frightened my techie friend off.

 

Not heard from him since! 

Must be bad 

[vrs180]

It's an away job provided the correct size deep socket is used and flexi drive is used between the socket and extension otherwise the glow plug will snap.

[Adenuf]

Found a man that my local Vauxhall dealer use when they have a 'sticky' one, and have done for years.

GUARANTEES to get them out and swapped for £60, even if they snap.

 

Nobody knows what or how he does it, as he has a guard dog that circles him whilst working apparently.

 

I shall make sure I can get the plugs tomorrow before ringing him.

 

Anyone any suggestions as to which are the very best quality plugs to buy please?

[sepulchrave]

Found a man that my local Vauxhall dealer use when they have a 'sticky' one, and have done for years.

GUARANTEES to get them out and swapped for £60, even if they snap.

 

Nobody knows what or how he does it, as he has a guard dog that circles him whilst working apparently.

 

I shall make sure I can get the plugs tomorrow before ringing him.

 

Anyone any suggestions as to which are the very best quality plugs to buy please?

 

It doesn't matter, they're all the same and do the same job. Buy some that fit.

[Breezy_Pete]

Some great advice in this thread. I've only ever changed one glow plug, on a little diesel Fiat owned by a female workmate. It went smoothly, but it did occur to me at the time that due to access issues, and if I hadn't had an ideal 1/4" drive deep socket to be sure of getting a straight 'go' at it, it could easily have ended in tears (hers and/or mine).

[KenONeill]

Found a man that my local Vauxhall dealer use when they have a 'sticky' one, and have done for years.

GUARANTEES to get them out and swapped for £60, even if they snap.

 

Nobody knows what or how he does it, as he has a guard dog that circles him whilst working apparently.

 

I shall make sure I can get the plugs tomorrow before ringing him.

 

Anyone any suggestions as to which are the very best quality plugs to buy please?

Bosch, or Bosch, or Bosch. Accept no substitutes.

[np1985]

Sorry to drag up an old thread, but I've been trying to replace the glow plugs on my vRS and I'm finding it nigh on impossible. Ive got a 10mm deep socket with an extension bar, but I cant seem to get a good grip on the plug (wrecked a couple of sockets trying!).

 

Its almost as if the gap around the plug is too narrow for the socket get over it, if that makes sense?!

 

Anyone else had any issues like this?

[coskev]

Wrecking sockets?

There is plenty of room around the glow plugs,I would guess your soctet is not deep enough.

So its not going down the glow plug far enough.

I've done the glow plugs on mine,and my brothers T5 transporter and both sets were easy to change with no dramas.

[Tech1e]

I too am confused how you would wreck a socket.

Was it made of chocolate?

[Guest]

Dead easy job to change all four on the PD engine. Done loads of them without problems even on older vehicles. Just make sure they are copper greased when re-fitting and use the right socket for the job.

[np1985]

Wrecking sockets?

There is plenty of room around the glow plugs,I would guess your soctet is not deep enough.

So its not going down the glow plug far enough.

I've done the glow plugs on mine,and my brothers T5 transporter and both sets were easy to change with no dramas.

 

 

I too am confused how you would wreck a socket.

Was it made of chocolate?

 

As in the inner lining of the socket keeps getting destroyed, I took a picture to show you what I mean.

 

Ive used a 10mm deep socket, plus a couple of other sockets that claim to specialise in removing spark/glow plugs but had no joy. Is there a specific tool I need to be using? Im totally baffled as Ive changed spark plugs in the past with little trouble (know they're different to glow plugs, but still)

Edited 15 June, 2016 by np1985

[Tech1e]

I just use a regular 10mm deep socket.

[kellaway86]

You must be buying some nasty cheep sockets. Highly recommend halfords advanced range - life time guarantee and they stand up to some abuse!

[Guest]

My sockets are Snap-On, Facom and Koken. Never had any issues using them on glow plugs. As another member has already said you do need a deep socket and to get it on the end of the plug nice and squarely.

[sepulchrave]

Take the rubber insert out of that socket, it's stopping it going on far enough. Or it's for 10mm spark plugs and is too big for the glow plugs which is why it won't fit down the hole properly.

Edited 15 June, 2016 by sepulchrave