Changing heater glow plugs on a diesel

[SIII]

I've got a diesel Jaguar X-type 56 plate (Ford Mondeo engine) and it does not start as well as my old Discovery. 50k miles on the clock.
How easy is it to change the glow plugs? Wonder if they are all working? Can you test them?
Fairly competant home mechanic, restored a couple of clasic cars, rebuilt engines and gearbox's etc, but have zero expierence on diesels.

Any deiesel mechanics on here?

[maviczap]

Changed them on my PUG 106, but easy to access. Just like mini sparkplugs.

But I know my brother had problems when his seized in the head

From what I've read on my camper van forum to check the glow plugs are working on each cylinder, check the voltage on the electric rail

[Specialone]

My old escort van was crap starting from cold, I'd normally try and start it once the yellow light had gone out.

I discovered that if I waited a further 5 seconds after the light went out before trying to start it, it started 10 times better, almost straight away, I don't know why it worked, it just did.

Try it :)

[andrewsmith]

My old escort van was crap starting from cold, I'd normally try and start it once the yellow light had gone out.

I discovered that if I waited a further 5 seconds after the light went out before trying to start it, it started 10 times better, almost straight away, I don't know why it worked, it just did.

Try it :)

This!

Same on transit connects too

[Specialone]

Thats what I've got now, but that's a good starter though tbh.

[andrewsmith]

Thats what I've got now, but that's a good starter though tbh.

TBH that was only needed with one out the 25 we had!
Shagged battery was the cause of it

[Specialone]

The batteries on connects are very under specced, they are too small.

I've flattened my battery in half a day by leaving the door open so interior light was on, I thought the battery was screwed but 3 years later still going.

A lot of owners upgrade when they need renewing.

[NTECUK]

Before jumping to yank them out .
Check the voltage drop at the rail that joins them . May be a.bad.conecition.
Each plug will have a resistance tolerance . A fulty one will be outside this range.

[maviczap]

Spookily, my Zafira's just been in for a service and they've said it needs new glow plugs & an external temperature sensor to cure a engine management light warning light, which also cuts the revs whilst driving. Not only is this fault annoying its dangerous, as its a random thing, this faul will appear at about 2600rpm & disapear at 2900rpm.

I know the glow plugs aren't anything to do with this, and from what I've read on t'internet the vauxhall ones can strip the thread in the head, my brother had this happen to his.

So I'm in two minds to leave the glowplugs alone, as it only has real trouble starting when its really really cold and this is more to do with non return valves in the injector pipework, and is a known problem.

[wyrdness]

How old's your battery? My s-type was having starting problems and I suspected the glow-plugs, but it just turned out to the the battery that was getting old and needed replacing.

[NTECUK]

Get a code reader and check it out.
Things go on limp home mode to prevent engine damage.
E T S Can trip it.
But Vaxhall are prone to injection wowes as the forums report.

[maviczap]

Get a code reader and check it out.
Things go on limp home mode to prevent engine damage.
E T C Can trip it.
But Vaxhall are prone to injection wowes as the forums report.

ETC ?or do you mean ERG?

This is what the garage man suggested after plugging their code reader in.

[NTECUK]

egr can get stuck open and give starting problems .Had one that the flap broke and it wouldn't start at all. NO code generated.chap was sure it was heaters .

But your post said external temp sensor. The engine temp be more relevant I'd have thought.

[maviczap]

egr can get stuck open and give starting problems .Had one that the flap broke and it wouldn't start at all. NO code generated.chap was sure it was heaters .

But your post said external temp sensor. The engine temp be more relevant I'd have thought.

Yep they did say external temp sensor, I'll check when I pick it up.

EGR is another problem I suspect, although its not just Vauxhalls that have problems with egr's

[NTECUK]

All makes suffer . When the miles get a bit high and the soot builds up
Get a blank and shut it off .
SOme times they can be found on ebay.

[maviczap]

All makes suffer . When the miles get a bit high and the soot builds up
Get a blank and shut it off .
SOme times they can be found on ebay.

mines only done 53k, but too many short journey's won't do it any good neither.

My old bosses brand new Mazda diesel was beset by electronic problems all connected with doing short journey's.

Next car will probably be petrol

[NTECUK]

The newer oil burners are better equiped , but given the high initial cost and fuel cost over petrol , they are best left to the miles crowed .

[busasean]

I changed the glow plugs on my 2005 ford ranger myself, Just squirted a bit of penetrating oil on each and they all came out without a problem. - Ford wanted £441 for the 4 genuine (NGK) glow plugs - that's without fitting.... I got the same NGK plugs from Europarts for £45.60 - a saving of almost £400!!!

They are a 20 minute job - do it yourself, you will be surprised how easy it is.

[Ricky650]

If its anything like any of the mondeo st tdci's that ive had then get your injectors checked, there a common problem on the mondeo diesel engines around 50k ish and cause poor/smokey starting and lower mpg. Also when changeing the glow plugs dont over tighten them as they seem to snap pretty easy.

[ralph]

my landrover was getting hard to start and i took all the glow plugs out and re connected them, switched the ignition on and it was obvious which one had failed as the other 3 glowed red hot not sure about modern systems but the must be similar but speedier