glow plugs testing and replacement 2.1 d8

[omega]

in this cold spell with temps down to -12 my car has been starting first time so this morning with it - 2 i was surprised that it would not start.turning over fine but no go.suspecting it was a glow plug proplem i whipped out the air filter and a few blasts with easy start and she fired up,went for a run and got her nice and hot and shes starting first time so i was 90% sure that it was glow plugs.
now i had a spare set that i had removed from a car i scrapped as they looked quite new but thought id test them first to check.
the way i do this is get a set of jump leads and connect them to the battery then i clamp the neg to the body of the glow plug{round the nut] then but the positive to the top of the glow plug.after a few seconds the plug should glow a nice cheery red if they are good.make sure you make a good connection with the positive else it will spark and dont touch as its hot

now before i start ripping the car apart i checked that the glow plugs where reciving power so with a test light i switched on the ignition and when the glow plug light came on checked that the glowplugs where getting power by touching the top of the plugs with the test light.and they all where.
so time to get the spanners out

[omega]

you will need a assortment of 8, 12.13,17,and a screwdriver

first job was to remove the battery earth so nothing shorts out,then i started on the black air intake that says 12valve on it there are 2 13 mil nuts towards the back of this that i used a deep socket to remove.then at the front there are 2 8mil to remove.then remove the clip that holds the metal pipe to the intake and free it from the clip in the center.then remove the rubber air pipe jublie clip then you can lift of the intake.
with this out of the way i started on number 1 this is the one behind the fuel pump,useing a small 8 mil spanner i removed the nut that holds the electrical connection on and lifted the wire out of the way then useing a 12mil ring spanner i tried to remove the plug but found there was no clearance to turn the spanner.so i then loosend no 1 and 2 fuel injection pipes [17mil] for clearance and removed it,then inserted the replacement tightened it up.DO NOT REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL WIRE.
This is because when you come to remove number 2 the wire will be to tight and you will have to remove it again.
number 2 and 3 plugs are done the same as number 1 but on number 3 there are 2 electrical wires as this is where the power comes in so dont forget,we then get to number 4.
clearance here is a bit tight so i used a 8mil socket on a screwdriver type thing.this was a cheap item from the pound shop but did the job,to remove the plug i used a 12mil deep socket with a extension[3/8 set] and2 mins later its out.
then replace plug .but on wires on each plug,retighten fuel pipes,replace air intake and jobs done
took me about a hour and a half
sorry no photos as i dont know how to post them but i think you get the idea
when i checked the plugs i had taken out 1 was not working,2 where fine but number 4 had no tip on it just hope its not done any damage.

[Gary406]

good post nigel,

sure this is worth going to the good old knowledge base

[kemik007]

Snap!!! got the same prob with my 2.1td estate, only I changed the glow plugs back in march this year

The last set was from Halfords and at £47 were expensive

I had originally changed for a set of champion from the local motor factor they lasted about 12 months.

Can anyone recommend a maker or type to use or are is it a trip to the main dealer?

I check mine with a resistance meter (Ohm meter) remove the elecrical connections and test from the block of the engine to the top of each Glow plug the reading should be about 0.9 Ohms.

Any that dont read or are open circuit are U/S

Steve

[carlb]

i use bosch ones and they have never let me down i did have some ngks but they didnt last long

[Gary406]

any make should be ok ,

but when i replace my glow plugs i will probably get bosch ones

[Gary406]

also keep away from dealer, you dont need use the dealer for glow plugs

any good motor factors or halfords will have bosch ones

NGK also make glow plugs , there another reliable make

[mark21TD]

These are what you wont,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GLP001-BOSCH-DURA ... 1c12a7b12f